New children’s theater fit for families

The Springfield Playhouse, a collaboration between Upside Down Creative Group and Springfield Little Theatre, will produce interactive theater aimed at children.

“Springfield has an active theater community, but it didn’t really have a children’s theater,” said Jeff Jenkins, artistic director of The Skinny Improv, which is a part of the Upside Down Creative Group. “It was a niche that we saw something could be done in.”

Jenkins said the community is in need of more entertainment geared toward children.

“There’s a strong sense of family in Springfield, and this is another venue for families to do something together,” he said.

The first play will be “The Magical Adventures of the Three Lil’ Pigs,” which Jenkins adapted from “The Three Little Pigs.” It runs at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 9-11 outside of the firehouse at 1201 S. Campbell Ave.

The 2005-2006 season consists of three other shows in October, February and April: “Bunnicula,” “Hansel and Gretel” and “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.”

Tickets are $3 for lawn seats, and concessions and face painting will be available.