The Gala Goes Family-Friendly with Metro Theater Company’s Toy Fest

A few times a year, our kids will watch us dress up in our fanciest duds and head to a black tie fundraising gala while they sit at home with the babysitter, seething with envy and picturing the glamorous night head of us.

But at some events, we wish we were right back with them. Eating dried-out chicken and dancing to oldies music in constricting get-ups isn’t the fun we imagined. Our kids, our couch and a giant bowl of popcorn sound mighty inviting around that 9 p.m. mark.

With A PLAYful Celebration: Toy Fest, Metro Theater Company (MTC), which creates professional theater for kids, has put to rest snooze-fest fundraisers and created a gala straight out of our wildest imaginations. With Toy Fest, parents and kids alike can enjoy non-stop fun from dinner through dancing, and best of all, help support award-winning programs that treat kids to the best in children’s theater.

An event for the ages. And all ages.

On Sunday, April 2, throw on your snazziest toy-themed attire and head to The Pageant in University City where MTC will transfer this rock club into a magical toyland for one spectacular evening.

During Toy Fest, you and your kids will have the chance to play with a collection of toys and participate in hands-on activity stations hosted by Circus Flora, Missouri History Museum and Kinetic Tapestry. Enjoy interactions with costumed characters throughout the evening and show off your best moves when Vote 4 Pedro rocks the house and dance floor with a mix of pop hits. And of course, as with any good gala, dinner, cocktails and an auction are part of the experience.

With Toy Fest, MTC wanted to create an event that thrilled both kids and adults, and therefore, made sure the littlest partyers were part of the planning process. Led by youth chairperson Tessa O’Bryan, 20 kids, ages seven through 18, joined the event committee to give their insights on what would make a memorable event.

 “MTC’s overall mission is inspired by the intelligence of young people,” said Ron James, communications director for the organization. “How could we have a gala where adults stand around deciding what’s good for them? The kids came up with amazing ideas, brainstorming everything from food to activities to roaming characters. It was important to engage them and make them part of a great event.”

Supporting theater that informs and entertains today’s youth

Like last year’s inaugural event, A PLAYful Celebration: The Monster Rumpus, the gala is themed to pair with MTC’s 2016/2017 mainstage production. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane tells the story of a toy rabbit whose adventures took him around the world. A toy-inspired event was the perfect tribute to Kate DiCamillo’s iconic character and a way to celebrate MTC’s lineup of thought-provoking productions.

Proceeds from Toy Fest will help MTC bring free and low-cost arts experiences to youth through live theater as well as interactive school programs which use the stage to teach geography, math and community building. In addition, MTC’s renowned “Say Something, Do Something” program continues to empower kids to make a difference by role-playing ways to intervene in bullying situations and provide support to the victim.

Said James, “It’s really important that every child has access to theater. There’s so much out there right now that kids are taking in, but not sure how to deal with, whether it’s bullying or racial inequity. MTC takes those situations and then creates or finds plays that speak to young people and allow them to have conversations in a way that’s entertaining and engaging.”

For instance, MTC’s recent presentation, And in this Corner…Cassius Clay explored racial oppression through the lens of history by telling the story of Muhammed Ali while this year’s production of Edward Tulane examined the importance of empathy and redemption. Over the next year, MTC will delve into the idea of identity and how kids can take control of their own path, regardless of where they come from.

According to James, most of MTC’s plays don’t offer a clear answer to kids’ questions, but allow youth to speak freely among themselves and with adults.

“One of the best things I’ve ever heard was when a student was asked if our shows were ‘kid-friendly.’ He said, ‘No, I’ve seen kid-friendly plays – they talk down to us and tell us what we should believe. Your shows are more kid-erly – they get us thinking and listening to our own ideas.’ That’s so in line with our mission. We’re not here to preach, but help kids see the world around them in different ways.”

To continue helping MTC bring theater to kids around St. Louis, join them for A PLAYful Celebration: Toy Fest on April 2 starting at 4 p.m. Tickets are $195 for adults, $90 for teens, and $50 for kids ages 12 and under, and can be purchased now through the Metro Theater Company website. For more information on purchasing a Family Package or table, call 314-932-7414, ext. 106.