Hays Arts Council presents the national touring theatre production “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley” Tuesday, January 13, at 7 p.m. in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center, Fort Hays State University.
This Broadway-style musical comedy from the Dallas Children’s Theatre Company has been touring throughout the United States and Canada since last October, running through May of this year. TIME Magazine includes Dallas Children’s Theatre in the “TOP FIVE” children’s theater companies in the U.S.
Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, Jeff Brownʼs beloved childrenʼs book, “Flat Stanley,” was written in 1964 and has become a literary and pop cultural phenomenon.
Stanley Lambchop is a normal 10-year-old boy–too normal, if you ask him.
His wish for adventure is granted when a bulletin board flattens Stanley, enabling him to mail himself all around the world. Stanley–the ultimate exchange student–searches the globe, visiting Paris, Los Angeles, Hawaii and more. In this heart-warming one-hour musical adventure, Stanley learns there is no place like home, and that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.
More than 950 second and third grade students from Hays, Ellis, Victoria, Russell, Plainville and Damar will be guests at a special matinee Tuesday afternoon.
“Flat Stanley is the biggest (and most expensive) family musical theatre production Hays Arts Council has ever offered,” said HAC Executive Director Brenda Meder.
“Fortunately, we were able to afford bringing in this show because of our local underwriting from the Robert and Patricia Schmidt Foundation and through a very nice award from the Mid-America Arts Alliance,” she said. “I was thrilled to be able to contract with the company for our audience!”
Tickets for the evening performance are available at the Hays Arts Center, the FHSU Memorial Union and at the door before 
the performance. Cost is $5 for ages 13 and under and $7 for ages 14 and over.
This project is also supported in part by regional touring grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission.