Back when social gatherings were possible, the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa hosted world-class performers and artists as well as nationally-recognized education programs and popular community events such as the Clover Sonoma Family Fun Series.
This year, as Covid-19 keeps forcing live events to go online, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts continues to host events online, and the center recently announced that the Clover Sonoma Family Fun Series is returning in 2021 with five free virtual performances that will entertain and educate children and their families while they stay at home to slow the spread of the pandemic.
“We’re thrilled not only to be able to offer the Clover Sonoma Virtual Family Fun Series this year, but to do so completely free to families. It’s one way we can give back to the community that means so much to us,” Melanie Weir, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts Education and Community Engagement Manager, says in a statement. “This is only possible because of the generosity of Clover Sonoma, Exchange Bank, and the Evert Person’s Youth Access Fund supplied by the Ernest L. and Ruth W. Finley Foundation.”
The series kicks off on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 23–24, with “Pete The Cat,” a musical adventure based on the book series by Eric Litwin. The song-and-dance show is produced by TheaterWorksUSA, which brings beloved productions to venues across the country–and now online–for schooltime performances.
In February, the series mixes science and comedy with the bombastic “Doktor Kaboom.” The educational and engaging one-man performance showcases the scientific method using humor and explosive experiments that are actually tied directly to curriculum standards. The Doktor goes kaboom on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21–22.
Next up, “The Snail & the Whale” tells the heart-warming story of a tiny sea snail hitching a lift on the tail of a giant humpback whale on Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 13–14. The virtual production, inspired by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s acclaimed picture book, teaches lessons on friendship while providing live music and fun that is appropriate for audiences ages four and up.
In April, the massively popular “DiNO Light” show streams into homes for a glow-in-the-dark adventure. Kids’ entertainment company CORBiAN Visual Arts and Dance, in collaboration with Lightwire Theater, brings the fan-favorite showcase to life with neon lights and cutting-edge technology. Families are encouraged to watch “DiNO Lights” in the dark for the full experience when the show streams on Saturday and Sunday, Apr. 17–18.
Finally, bilingual kids’ music sensation Sonia De Los Santos shares her cheerful songs about nature, everyday life, and her own Mexican heritage in a virtual concert performance on Saturday and Sunday, May 15–16. Singing in Spanish and English, De Los Santos s musically inspired by various Latin American rhythms from Mexico, Colombia and Peru as well as American folk traditions. For this performance, De Los Santos will also give online audiences a sneak peek into how she and her friends make music, as well as special cultural demonstrations.
