Ahnquist's IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE delights every tastebud!
By Mithra Ballesteros, First Stage Children's Theater
In 2007, when First Stage decided to introduce theater productions for really little kids, the First Steps series was born, and IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE became the inaugural production in that series. It featured Jordan Ahnquist as the young mouse who pops into the kitchen of a boy home alone. The show was extremely successful, and this fall, First Stage is remounting the production and adding its sequel, IF YOU TAKE A MOUSE TO SCHOOL, to the spring calendar. In both productions, Jordan Ahnquist once again plays the inquisitive, some might say hyperactive little mouse.
Children in the audience roar with laughter as Ahnquist grapples with a giant straw, desperate for a drink of milk. This audience knows what it means to be too small in a large-sized world. Ahnquist says, "The play calls for big bits with props. I keep it honest by remembering that the mouse is just trying to achieve a pretty simple goal. Kids relate to that." Ahnquist prepared for the role of the young mouse by shadowing his mother who is a 1st grade teacher and by hanging out with his two nephews, ages 1 and 3. The preparation has paid off. Audiences love Ahnquist and families are flocking to see the show, which was extended and which still sold out. Ahnquist looks forward to playing the mouse again in March of 2010. And First Stage hopes that audiences don't wait to reserve seats, because with Ahnquist in the title role, tickets to IF YOU TAKE A MOUSE TO SCHOOL will disappear lickity-split!
Photo of Jordan Ahnquist as "Mouse" by Mark Frohna.
In 2007, when First Stage decided to introduce theater productions for really little kids, the First Steps series was born, and IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE became the inaugural production in that series. It featured Jordan Ahnquist as the young mouse who pops into the kitchen of a boy home alone. The show was extremely successful, and this fall, First Stage is remounting the production and adding its sequel, IF YOU TAKE A MOUSE TO SCHOOL, to the spring calendar. In both productions, Jordan Ahnquist once again plays the inquisitive, some might say hyperactive little mouse.
Children in the audience roar with laughter as Ahnquist grapples with a giant straw, desperate for a drink of milk. This audience knows what it means to be too small in a large-sized world. Ahnquist says, "The play calls for big bits with props. I keep it honest by remembering that the mouse is just trying to achieve a pretty simple goal. Kids relate to that." Ahnquist prepared for the role of the young mouse by shadowing his mother who is a 1st grade teacher and by hanging out with his two nephews, ages 1 and 3. The preparation has paid off. Audiences love Ahnquist and families are flocking to see the show, which was extended and which still sold out. Ahnquist looks forward to playing the mouse again in March of 2010. And First Stage hopes that audiences don't wait to reserve seats, because with Ahnquist in the title role, tickets to IF YOU TAKE A MOUSE TO SCHOOL will disappear lickity-split!
Photo of Jordan Ahnquist as "Mouse" by Mark Frohna.
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