THE UGLY DUCKLING to Play Des Moines Community Playhouse, 1/18

The Des Moines Community Playhouse presents "The Ugly Duckling," Friday, Jan. 18. This story is part of the 2012-13 season of Friday Funday, a creative participatory story theatre program for children ages 4-6. Performances are at The Playhouse, Friday, Jan. 18, at 9:30 and 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM. Shows are approximately 45 minutes in length. Admission is $5 per person, adults and children. Reservations are suggested and can be made online at dmplayhouse.com or by calling The Playhouse ticket office at 515-277-6261.

January's featured story is "The Ugly Duckling." In this story, the poor Ugly Duckling is teased by all the other barnyard animals. He runs out into the world to discover where he belongs. Eventually, he returns home, teaching everyone that it's okay to be different.

Join the Clubhouse at The Playhouse Gang each month, October-June, as they dramatize a favorite story using their imaginations and the costume pieces and props they find in their magic trunk. Audience members learn the Clubhouse pledge and secret handshake, and listen for the word of the day. They even help act out the story.

Upcoming stories in the Friday Funday season include "The Mitten," Feb. 15, 2013; "Puss in Boots," March 8, 2013; "Little Red Riding Hood," April 12, 2013; "Stone Soup," May 18, 2013; and a special Friday Funday event, "Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly," June 13-15, 2013.

The Playhouse is Iowa's oldest and largest producing theatre. Located at the 42nd Street exit of I-235, the theatre has presented a full season of shows since 1919 and also offers a wide variety of educational experiences including classes for ages 4 to adult, theatre trips to New York, and volunteer opportunities onstage and backstage.

For more information on Friday Funday and other Playhouse educational offerings, contact The Playhouse education department at 515-974-5365. For tickets to Friday Funday, contact The Playhouse ticket office at 515-277-6261.