5 Reasons Old MacDonald’s Farm is a Must-See!

Every parent knows the song, but you’ve never heard it quite like this! For Old MacDonald’s Farm, the re-imagined classic tune takes center stage alongside two farmhand puppeteers and over a dozen animal puppets to tell the story of a day in the life on a farm. The energetic production is the latest offering in the Theater for the Very Young series at the Center for Puppetry Arts and is enjoyable for young and old alike.  From the layered textures of the set design to surprise sensory features during the show, no trick was spared to grab and keep the attention of even the littlest theater goer. Here are five reasons Old MacDonald’s Farm is a must-see!

1. Old MacDonald’s Farm is familiar fun! As a mom of two small children, I spend a significant amount of time with entertainment geared towards the Pre-K set, so I’m knee deep in corny and over-exaggerated. This show is neither. Campy? Yes, but in just the right way to keep the audience clapping, singing and toe-tapping to the tune most parents can sing in their sleep.

2. The story line is both engaging and interactive. The audience is really a part of the show. Even the pre-show craft makes an appearance during the performance, so make sure your little one hangs on to their creation and has it accessible once you’re inside the theater. The boundary between the audience and performers has been intentionally reduced to facilitate a feeling of whimsical play that both children and their parents can enjoy.

3. Sensory experiences bring a day on the farm to life! From sprinkles to bubbles and everything in between, children are able to get a sense of the sights, sounds and even the feel of life on a farm. During the show, the puppeteers bring the animals into the audience for children to touch.
4. The show was designed with little ones in mind. The show was created specifically to cater to the developmental stages of young children and is recommended for ages two and up. The show is performed using overt puppetry. The puppeteers are visible and fully integrated into the action. Animal puppets are as close to scale as possible and fabricated from materials that closely mirror their real-life counterparts.

5. It’s a fresh take on a classic. Much like the recently renovated and expanded museum itself, the show adds a new perspective to a vintage favorite. Adapted and directed by the Center’s head puppeteer Amy Sweeney, the well-known children’s tune is the thread that ties together simple lessons about animals and harvesting crops that young children can understand.

Old MacDonald’s Farm runs Thursday through Sunday in the Downstairs Theater and closes September 11. Tickets are $10.25 (members) and $20.50 (non-members) and include admission to the show, the Worlds of Puppetry Museum and entrance to the Create-a-Puppet Workshop where guests can create their own Cheerful Chicken rod puppet and perform with it on the classroom stage. For show times or to purchase tickets visit www.puppet.org or call the ticket sales office at 404-873-3391.