Metro Theater Company recently hosted a whimsical spring fundraiser, Ladybug Picnic, at the new Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. The May 2 event was a celebration of Metro Theater’s return to live performances following a year of digital programming. The gathering also served as a fundraiser in support of the company’s professional theater and programs for young people that foster an inclusive community and nurture meaningful learning through the arts.
The event featured a three-course upscale picnic dinner served at socially distanced tables, as well as live music and a live auction. The theme coincided with Metro’s presentation of “The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show / La Oruga Muy Hambrienta Espectáculo.” The Drama Desk-nominated production, created by Jonathan Rockefeller and inspired by Eric Carle’s beautifully imaginative stories, has been performed more than 2,000 times worldwide. Metro Theater’s production included an extended run due to popular demand. The bilingual English-Spanish show, presented April 25 to May 24, featured an all-St. Louis cast on an outdoor stage on the lawn of the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center in downtown Kirkwood.
During the Ladybug Picnic, some of the 75 puppets from “The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show / La Oruga Muy Hambrienta Espectáculo” appeared throughout the evening with table visits and mini performances. The fundraiser also included a short puppet-making activity, a special behind-the-scenes look at how the puppets bring Carle’s beloved stories to life, and the opportunity for guests to take photos with the larger-than-life puppets.
The event’s host committee included Rosalind Early, Nancy and Tom Garvey, Ed and Susan Grooms, Jane and Ken Jones, Marcia Kerz, Ellen Livingston and Edward Levitt, Suzie Nall, Margaret O’Brien, and Amber and Kenneth Simpson.
Proceeds from the event benefit Metro Theater Company’s mission of respect for young people and a belief in the power of live theater to transform their lives.
Ladybug Picnic guests included:
