Disclosure :: Our magical opening night event would not have been possible without our amazing team of community sponsors :: Columbia Children’s Theatre | Paige Phillips Photography | The Little Gym | Bedazzled Unicorn Designs | PDQ | TnT Sweets |
On April 15, Columbia SC Moms Blog joined Columbia Children’s Theatre for a carnival extravaganza opening night event for Seussical. Families of all ages from Columbia, Lexington and the surrounding areas came together for a special evening of carnival games and activities, exciting entertainment, delicious food, giveaways from local favorites and one-of-a-kind preshow activities! The house was packed and it was truly a night to remember!
Activities Under the Big Top
The Little Gym, known as the world’s premier experiential learning and physical development center for children ages four months through 12 years, brought their balance beam so guests could “walk the tight rope,” as well as their “big top” parachute and “acrobatic” mat for testing out their tumbling skills. Kids loved trying out activities that made them feel like part of the show!
Facepainting
Bedazzled Unicorn Designs, one of Columbia’s newest facepainters on the scene, is full of talent and created custom designs from a wide selection of carnival, Seuss and every day favorites. Children emerged looking like the Cat in the Hat, a bejeweled princess and their favorite animal. Everyone was so excited about the finished product!
Carnival Games
In the true spirit of all things Seuss, guests could participate in PillsBerry Bowling! After knocking the pins down, each participate had to the opportunity to select a prize!
Seuss Character Cutout
A crowd favorite was the Seuss character cutouts! Parents and children alike loved taking their turns becoming the next Cat in the Hat and Horton. And the best was when the characters from the play poised themselves!
Photo Fun
We were thrilled to have Paige Phillips Photography capturing all the fun and special moments from the evening! Specializing in children’s and family photography, she has the amazing ability to snag the best candid shots, as well as give direction to ensure everyone looks their best! If you’re looking for a photographer, she’s your gal! Here are a few of our favorites from the night.
Delicious Food and Theatre Inspired Treats
So. Much. Food. PDQ, one of Columbia’s best options for fresh food, including, hand-breaded chicken, chopped when you order salads and homemade dressings provided endless trays of tenders and nuggets, tons of sauces, delicious fresh baked cookies, tea and hand squeezed lemonade (yes, they really make all this from scratch in their restaurant and you can taste the quality – no freezers or microwaves in this restaurant)!
We also had custom cupcakes from TnT Sweets, a delicious local baker whose flavors are out of this world! Their spread included a variety of their best options and designs for each guest to feast on. And let me tell you, there was not a crumb left in site by the end of the night!
Right before the show started, everyone grabbed a buttery bag of popcorn to enjoy with the main event.
Costume Contest
Once tummies were full, guests found their seats in anticipation for the show. The best part of the Children’s Theatre is it is completely kid-friendly. In fact, colored mats adorn the front seating area encouraging little ones to sit with one another to enjoy the show up close. As everyone settled in, the costume contest took place. The kids marveled at the opportunity to get on stage and show off, and the crowd cheered for each and every participant. And let me tell you, there were some great costumes! Choosing a winner was really difficult!
The Show
Finally, after much anticipation, the show started. Known as the premiere theatre for families and young audiences, the Columbia Children’s Theatre proved their reputation once again! The performance from some of the Midland’s best actors was spot on, and the excitement of the crowd could be felt as the show took place both on and off stage! And the best part was, it was a production parents enjoyed as well!
Meet the Cast
The good news was, guests didn’t have to leave right away! The cast came out and spent one-on-one time with the kids, signing autographs and taking pictures.
The excitement was through-the-roof all night long, and we were thrilled to bring the families of Columbia a truly one of a kind, fun-filled evening!
Want to See More?
We have TONS of great pictures from the night thank to Paige Phillips Photography! Check out our album on Facebook and feel free to tag yourself (and friends), as well as share.
