Some of my favorite childhood memories include my roles in The Valley Players’ summer productions of “Alice in Wonderland” (Dodo Bird) and “Cheaper By The Dozen” (Flapper) in my Southeast Texas hometown of Liberty.
I was a shy kid, so the experience of working with a team to create a production that the entire town attended provided an opportunity for me to grow. The skills I learned during those summers (working on deadline, memorizing lines, and speaking in front of a crowd) have served me well throughout my lifetime.
The Magik Theatre provides these same opportunities for the kids of San Antonio and the surrounding region. Founded in 1994 by Richard Rosen, his goal was to create theatrical experiences that ignite imagination, spark curiosity, inspire empathy, and foster a lifetime love of learning.
Their summer camps, known as Camp Showbiz, give kids hands-on theatrical experiences from playwriting to tech roles (lighting and sound) to acting. They also offer camps during the school year that include puppetry, dance, and improv.
The Magik’s shows throughout the year are performed by professional actors backed up by experienced techies, so the production quality is high. Their most recent show, “The Velveteen Rabbit,” runs through Dec. 29. It is a heartwarming holiday story that every age will enjoy. Children in the theatre were captivated and laughed at all of the appropriate places, as did their adult companions.
After the hour-long show, the actors took questions from kids in the audience, providing them a chance to learn about the production.
This spring, “Elephant and Piggie’s We Are in a Play” and “Lotería: Game On!,” will close out the 2024-2025 season, its thirtieth.
If you are feeling generous this holiday season, your donations to the Magik allows them to offer field trips so that area students are able to experience the wonder of live theatre.
The Magik Theatre is located downtown in Hemisfair at Beethoven Hall, 420 South Alamo, and paid parking is available at several nearby lots along with free parking on the street after 6 p.m.
Treat yourself and your loved ones to a night at the theatre!
Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., author of “San Antonio’s Passport to Fun,” has been blogging about San Antonio since June of 2010. Follow her at facebook.com/SanAntonioTourist so that you’ll never miss a post. Her love affair with the Alamo City began at Hemisfair in 1968. She moved to San Antonio in 1979 as an 18-year-old college student, and San Antonio has been her home ever since. Denise completed certification to become a professional tour guide in 2019. Please contact her at sanantoniotourist at gmail dot com if you’d like for her to curate a fabulous San Antonio experience for you!