Elm Street Brings 'Dinosaurs Before Dark' To Woodstock Audiences

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Dinosaurs have come to life this month at Elm Street Cultural Arts Village with ”The Magic Treehouse: Dinosaurs before Dark.”

The popular book series, “The Magic Treehouse,” has partnered with Music Theatre International to bring the books to the stage.

Elm Street has taken advantage of the opportunity, and opened its first show of the production June 10. The show will run through June 24.

Dinosaurs Before Dark is the first book in “The Magic Treehouse” series.

“The show captures the adventure of the book series,” said Hannah Schug, director of the show. “It’s educational for the purpose of the show and books, but it is the adventure and excitement that really makes the books (and show) special.”

The musical tells the story of Jack and Annie discovering a hidden treehouse stashed with books. As they go pouring through the books, the treehouse spins and transports them into a time where they are reading about in a specific book.

In this particular show, that time will be the land of dinosaurs. The production is a high-spirited journey musical that will have the whole family enjoying a dino-dance.

“We are also really excited about the partnership with Tellus Museum on this project,” said Siobhan Brumbelow, staff member at Elm Street. “They will be supplying dinosaur fossils to display and we will have actors as ‘curators’ so that guests of the theatre can understand the relevance of the show and this history.”

The production itself had a lot of obstacles for the volunteers at Elm Street, who were tasked with making tons of dinosaur costumes from scratch and transforming the stage into a land of dinosaurs.

“It’s all a part of the challenge that makes it exciting,” added Kaitlyn Pierce, scenic designer for the show. “You have to create it new, and shows like this really let you open up your imagination.”

Shows will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesdays, June 17 and June 24 for families to see during the summer and 2 p.m. June 13-14 and June 20-21.

Group rates are available upon request. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. For more information and to inquire about tickets, visit elmstreetarts.org or call 678-494-4251.

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Photo: from left to right, Anna Duer, Emma Hershberger, Aislin Steiner, and Derek Hamm, Haven Newbold, and Abby Turner discover the world of dinosaurs from the Magic Treehouse: Dinosaurs before Dark, playing at Elm Street Cultural Arts Village. Credit: Elm Street Arts