Welcome to the Theatre in the Park Blue Curtain Project!

Theatre in the Park presents professional theatre through a new initiative focused on educational theatre for the ever-growing young mind. This project presents plays and musicals at the performance level you've come to know and love with Theatre in the Park, while choosing stories that invite audiences to think AND learn. Activities and workshops tied to current educational standards surround each performance.

This project has the ability to hire professional actors who perform at the Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center for school and local field trips, as well as take the show on the road to area schools and learning centers!

Spring Tour - "She Persisted The Musical"

Script and Lyrics by Adam Tobin
Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma
Adapted from the Book Written by Chelsea Clinton And Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger
Book Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger

February/March 2026

She Persisted, The Musical is the trailblazing, Theatre for Young Audiences new musical, based on the best-selling children's book written by Chelsea Clinton and beautifully illustrated by Alexandra Boiger.
Fourth-grader Naomi's field trip to a Women's History Museum turns into a time travel adventure where she encounters inspirational women who have overcome barriers and made waves throughout U.S. history. From activists to athletes, artists and more, the musical features the stories of female trailblazers such as Harriet Tubman, Virginia Apgar, Ruby Bridges, Sally Ride, Florence Griffith Joyner, and Sonia Sotomayor.

Registration for "SHE PERSISTED THE MUSICAL" will open in November 2025.

"EL OTRO OZ" - Fall 2025

A new musical, inspired by "The Wizard Of Oz" traveled to over 6000 students during Hispanic Heritage Month in the fall of 2025.

This bilingual musical and New York Times Critic’s Pick by Mando Alvarado, Tommy Newman, and Jaime Lozano, returns in a reimagined production! Click your heels together tres veces and take a transformative journey with this salsa, merengue, and Mexican folk-infused musical inspired by The Wizard of Oz. As her fifteenth birthday approaches, Dora, a contemporary Latiné teenager, struggles with her family’s ideas about tradition and dreads her impending quinceañera! But, when Dora gets swept away to a strange new land, she learns how to celebrate her unique rhythm and embrace her cultural identity.

Photo of Elise Bowles playing DORA, a character based off of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz

Lily Polkadot and Sky Square perform for an audience of children

"Polkadots The Cool Kids Musical" - Spring 2025

The story of Lily Polkadot, rooted in real history, toured schools during Black History Month visiting over 4000 students

The plot follows 8-year-old Lily Polkadot who just moved to the “Squares Only” small town of Rockaway. As the first Polkadot in an all Square school, Lily faces an almost impossible task of gaining acceptance from her peers. From daily bullying to segregated drinking fountains, Lily’s quest seems hopeless until she meets Sky, a shy Square boy whose curiosity for her unique polkadot skin blooms into an unexpected pal-ship. Inspired by the events of The Little Rock 9, Polkadots serves as a colorful history lesson for children, reminding them that our individual differences make us awesome, not outcasts.

Educational standards for this production included a Post Show Lesson on the "Squa-dot" one of the COOLEST new dance moves, as well as an Educational Resource Guide with lessons in Social Emotional Development, Fine Arts, English, Math, Social Studies, and Performing Arts

"The Magical Pinata" - Fall 2024

During Hispanic Heritage Month we toured the story of Cucha and the crazy characters she meets on her journey.

A seemingly plain clay pot magically transports Cucha, a selfish and lonely girl, from her town of Zapotoco, Mexico, to a mysterious jungle filled with eccentric characters. Using her knowledge of English and Spanish, Cucha encounters Parrot Rivera, a jungle muralist who paints the future; Señor Chapulin, a soccer star with the heart of the present; and Burro Burrito, a farmer who plows the past. But the evil Monkey King and his silly Sidekick know the clay pot is really a magical piñata and scheme to steal it from her. Through Cucha's journey, she discovers the magic of the mundane, the roots of cultural pride and the power of sharing.

Not only did all students learn dance moves that helped them learn animals used in the story like Grasshoppers, Ticks, and Bees, but there were lessons in the ares of Grammar, Social Studies, Allusions, Performing & Fine Arts, and Social Emotional Learning invluded in the Educational Resource Guide

Characters from The Magical Pinata hold a clay pot in front of a young audience

a photo of cast members in Awesome Allie

"Awesome Allie: First Kid Astronaut" - Spring 2024

In the Spring of 2024, the Blue Curtain Project presented "Awesome Allie: First Kid Astronaut" which took students on a journey to outer space!

Yesterday Allie was just a normal kid, but today she’s headed into outer space! With the help of her trusty talking dog Captain Chaos and Rover the Dancing Robot from Mars, Allie’s on a mission across the solar system to save Earth, and maybe learn some things about science along the way. But she’d better be home in time for dinner! Grab your space suit and get ready for an adventure that’s out of this world!

With educational standards in Engineering, Planetary Science, Social/Emotional Learning, Math and more, students were engaged and excited throughout the tour and loved learning the "Groove-powered, Sugar-high Sparkle Rocket" dance after each performance!

"Frida Libre" - Fall 2023

The Blue Curtain Project's inaugural tour, "Frida Libre" dove into the history and heritage of Frida Kahlo. Students were enamored with the story, sights, and sounds of the show!

Alex may seem like a quiet, shy boy, but he secretly holds big ideas inside his head. He wants to be a luchador (wrestler) and defeat bad guys in the ring. His life changes when he meets brave and colorful Frida, an unusual girl who dreams of being a doctor so she can help people. Forced to do a science project together on butterflies and metamorphosis, the pair discovers how true friendship can help you overcome fear and transform your dreams into reality.

Educational standards include Fine Art, Hispanic Heritage, Theatre, Biology, and more! Students loved learning choreography to "Los Huesos" following the production where they learned the bones of the body through dance and song!

An image that says 4 Step Educational Process

Each Blue Curtain Project production comes with a 4 Step Educational Process for your young learners!

Step 1

A Blue Curtain Project performer visits the classroom(s) for a Pre Performance Engagement lesson a week before the performance.

Step 2

Educators are given a State Standard Curated Educational Resource Guide including lessons in Performing Arts, Fine Arts, Math, Writing, and Social/Emotional Learning

Step 3

Enjoy a field trip to the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center OR have the show come to YOUR school tailored to fit your space and needs.

Step 4

Choose between three Post Show Activities that cater to your school’s current curriculum – this can be taught by a member of our staff or supplies given to your educators.

Performance, Pre-Engagement Lesson, and Educational Resource Guide have been curated with Kansas Sate Department of Educational Standards in Health, Dance & Creative Movement, Fine Arts, Writing, Math, Science, Music, and Social Studies.

Enjoy a Field Trip to the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, or a Tour performance that comes to YOUR school!

	The Theatre in the Park Blue Curtain Project will bring excellent educational theatre experiences to our local and regional communities through diverse stories that address current educational standards and enlighten hearts, challenge minds and fill spirits.
	The Blue Curtain Project will set the standard for all educational theatre across America.