By COOPER SLOUGH
Hays Post

The Hays Arts Council is bringing “The BFG” — Big Friendly Giant — to the Beach-Schmidt Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Jan. 16, at 2 p.m. Put on by the Dallas Children’s Theater, Roald Dahl’s classic children’s book will come to life with puppets, people and a multitude of special effects.

“We don’t get to do as many wonderful, big, spectacular theater productions for youth and family as I wish we could,” said Brenda Meder, director of the Hays Arts Council, “so we make sure what we do bring in are really good productions.”

The story follows a young orphaned girl named Sophie, living in a girl’s orphanage run by the grouchy Mrs. Clonkers. One night, Sophie sees a cloaked giant blowing something via a trumpet-like object into a bedroom window down the street. Upon investigation the giant snatches her up and carries her to his homeland of Giant Country, where the adventure begins.

Sponsors for the production include the Robert and Patricia Schmidt Foundation, the Heartland Community Foundation and Midwest energy.

The box office opens at 1:15 p.m. on the day of the show, and tickets are $5 for children and $7 for adults.

“Our goal is to provide the opportunity, the experiences and the outreach,” Meder said, “for quality arts experiences for families and young audiences.”

For more information on the Hays Arts Council, visit their website, or call (785) 625-7522.