Photos: A Magic Ride Through the Imagination

With scarves swirling and faces and bodies animated, the members of Magic Carpet Theatre kept parents and children rapt as they brought classic characters to life in the Tuesday morning.

Theatre members Catherine Zardus, Nancy Kammer and Lise Lacasse acted out characters from stories such as Where the Wild Things Are and The Sneetches. Using only scarves, books and a couple of hats, the acting group's biggest prop is the imagination.

"When you are little, you have picture books, but as children grow older, they need to have the ability to make those pictures in their mind," said Zardus, the troupe founder.

The theatre company, which gained non-profit status in 2008, will celebrate its 20th anniversary this fall. Over the years, they have performed for thousands of children in schools and libraries throughout the state.

LaTanya Topps of Novi found herself smiling and engaging in the show as much as her children, Brooke, 3, and 19-month-old Colin.

"I really enjoyed it," she said, adding that she "liked the imagination and the audience participation, and that they used poetry and different genres" of children's tales. 

The show began at 10:30 a.m. and was moved into the library from its scheduled location in because of the extreme heat.

One poem and four stories later, the magic carpet ride through literature came to a close, but the doors to the realm of the imagination, the theatre group hopes, will remain open.

"The imagination is a key to becoming a good reader, and ultimately a better writer, as well," Zardus said. "In this age of technology, it is especially important to foster the imagination."

The show was part of Novi Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department's Sizzling Summer Art Series. The Tuesday events of the series will be capped off next week with The Amazing Clark magic show at 10:30 a.m.