Youth in Arts Presents The Paper Princess and the Piñata

The Paper Princess and the Piñata, a new musical theater production for children created by Youth in Arts and based on the popular Paper Princess books by Bay Area artist/illustrator Elisa Kleven, comes to the Marin Center Showcase Theater in San Rafael on Saturday, February 5, 2011. With performances at 2 and 4 pm, the show is intended for children ages 3 to 10 and their families. General admission tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children. Order tickets through the Marin Center Box Office online or by calling (415) 499-6800.

Kleven’s Paper Princess picture books are gentle adventure tales, illustrated in the artist’s unique collage and watercolor style. The Paper Princess, created by a Little Girl, is carried away on the wind to explore her world. The new play was written by Youth in Arts Director Miko Lee, adapted from three Paper Princess books and a fourth Kleven title, Hooray, a Piñata!

The production captures the bright imagery of Kleven’s books using digital projections and original props and scenery recreated in three dimensions by Youth in Arts' professional visual artists. The Princess and her friends will be brought to life via live action and puppetry, with bilingual songs in Spanish and English highlighting themes of creativity, color, shapes, counting and friendship.

As a leading arts education nonprofit in the Bay Area, Youth in Arts contracts with nearly 50 accomplished working artists, bringing them into schools as Mentor Artists for pre-K–12 students. The Paper Princess project showcases the work of several of these artists onstage.

Music for the production was composed by Miguel Martinez, a professional Bay Area musician who teaches for Youth in Arts. Nydia Algazzali Gonzalez, who performs locally with Mexican son and mariachi ensembles and serves on Youth in Arts’ education staff, will also perform in the show along with Zenon Barron, founder of Ensambles Ballet Folklorico de San Francisco.

In honor of The Paper Princess and the Piñata, we're giving away a copy of The Paper Princess signed by author/illustrator Elisa Kleven. To enter to win, send an email to contests@marinmommies.com with "Paper Princess" in the subject line by 11:59 pm PST on Saturday, February 5. We'll choose a winner at random on Sunday, February 6.

For more information on this production and on Youth in Arts, call (415) 457-4878) or visit www.youthinarts.org.