CAC's Educational Series delights young eyes, enriches minds

The Community Arts Center annually hosts an Educational Series for school-aged children from Lycoming and Sullivan counties, four morning performances that give them the opportunity to see a professional stage show at no cost. Performances weren’t offered during 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions, but the 220 W. Fourth St. showpiece – a wholly owned subsidiary of Pennsylvania College of Technology – is again entertaining and illuminating young visitors, some of whom have never experienced live theater.



"We partner with a coalition of school districts to coordinate transportation, and the shows tend to be very well-attended," said James R. Dougherty III, executive director, who said about 1,000 turned out for a recent "Pete the Cat" production and even more were on hand for "Secrets of Space" (pictured below) on May 6. The Educational Series at the CAC is sponsored and underwritten by a host of area organizations: Penn College, Lycoming College, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania, the Lycoming County Visitor’s Bureau, the County of Lycoming, the City of Williamsport, Hudock Capital Group, the Woodcock Foundation for Appreciation for the Arts, UPMC, Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield, C&N Bank, Riverview Bank, PPL Electric Utilities, Woodlands Bank, First Citizens Community Bank, Truist, Williamsport Kiwanis, Junior League of Williamsport, and the Williamsport and Newberry Lions Clubs.

– Photos by Larry D. Kauffman, digital publishing specialist/photographer

A daylong drizzle does little to pour cold water on enthused, inquisitive Jersey Shore Area School District students ...

... bounding past CAC volunteers to access their seats in a landmark venue.

Schoolchildren eagerly await the dimming of the house lights and the electricity of that "Curtain up!" moment.

James R. Dougherty III, the Arts Center's executive director, welcomes his young audience.

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In a production that heightens its illusions with digital media, "Secrets of Space" characters Suni and Mae dream about journeying far beyond our solar system.

Castmates Philippa O'Hara (left) and Catriona McFeely take their audience on an interactive journey across the galaxy.

With dazzling imagery that honors curricular advice from leading space experts, the pair explore the wonders of the cosmos.

"Once upon a time" is a good place to begin a story, as well as to open children's eyes to the magical worlds of science and stagecraft.