THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 12, 1996 TAG: 9604100093
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Children will have a summer place at Willett Hall, where Ports Events has scheduled a series of shows on four Thursday mornings.
``We wanted to broaden our horizons at Willett, booking entertainment year around,'' Ports Events director Linda Lamm said Tuesday. ``We've done that with outdoor entertainment with events almost every month of the year.''
Ports Events wanted to do something different and was ``not looking to do the same thing other cities are doing,'' Lamm said.
``Mothers are always looking for something to do with the kids. We think this will help.''
A highlight of the summer shows will be the July 25 performance by Joanie Bartels, who sings and plays guitar.
``She's really well-known by people who watch children's shows on television,'' Willett manager Whit Collins said. ``She's on PBS, Nickelodeon and the Family Channel - things like that. We've already had calls from parents wanting to be sure they get tickets for her.''
Two of the four shows are productions by the American Family Theater of Philadelphia.
The summer season will open June 20 with ``The Wizard of Oz,'' produced by the theater, and will close Aug. 8 with ``Beauty and the Beast,'' another American Family production.
``This is children's theater - a story line and some music,'' Collins said.
The second show of the summer, ``Circus Beserkus'' July 11, was described by Collins as ``zany fun.'' It will feature a stage full of clowns doing magic, juggling and comedy acts.
``We're getting a lot of response to these shows as the word gets out,'' Collins said. ``I think this is going to be a good thing for us.''
All shows will begin at 11 a.m. Tickets are $4 for children and $6 for their grownups. A $1 discount per ticket is offered for those in groups of 10 or more.
Collins said he anticipates a lot of busloads from day-care facilities.
Tickets are now on sale at all Ticketmaster locations, including Willett Hall Box Office, or they can be paid for on a charge card by calling 671-8100.
For more information, call Willett at 393-5144. by CNB