Pilot leads series

Elia Powers

He is one of the most recognizable cartoon characters in literary

history.

“The Little Prince,” a staple in foreign language classrooms and

on children’s bookshelves, is coming off the page and landing on the

Julianne Argyros Stage at South Coast Repertory for a 10-day

performance run that begins tonight at 7 p.m.

Directed by Anne Justine D’Zmura, the play is an adaptation of

Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s tale of a pilot who crashes in the Sahara

Desert and meets a child who shares stories of his world.

“It’s a classic story,” said Repertory producing artistic director

David Emmes. “We were looking to do a strong literary piece -- a show

that has substance.”

Featuring Jessica Goldapple as “The Little Prince,” the play is

one of three productions in this year’s Theater for Young Audiences

series.

As part of its community outreach program, South Coast Repertory

plans to invite as many as 3,800 students from elementary schools in

the Santa Ana Unified School District to attend free matinees from

Feb. 15 to 17.

Orange Unified School District students have been invited to

attend a musical performance of Pinocchio from June 7 to 9, and

Newport-Mesa Unified School District students will see the show from

June 14 to 16.

The Orange County Board of Education honored South Coast Repertory

for its recent efforts with the “Outstanding Contributions to

Education Award” at its Thursday board meeting.

“I nominated them because of their unique approach to California

history,” said Jim Thomas, the board’s coordinator of visual and

performing arts.

Thomas said he is particularly impressed with the Repertory’s

educational touring shows, which have visited Orange County schools

since the late 1960s. The Repertory often commissions California

playwrights to create historical works from a child’s point of view,

he said.

“I haven’t heard of that being conducted in any other state,”

Thomas said.

The current traveling show, “Birdman: The Amazing Aeronautical

Adventure of Glenn Martin,” is about an Orange County flight pioneer

who, in the early 20th century, flew round-trip from Balboa Pier to

Catalina Island. The show is touring from now through April 30 at

county schools.

South Coast Repertory offers additional youth programming,

including free, year-round theater conservatory classes for children

in underserved areas.

“They are in wealthy and poor neighborhoods, exposing kids to

theater who might never have been to shows before,” Thomas said.

Emmes said he is pleased the Repertory is receiving recognition.

“There’s been a lamentable erosion of arts education in

California’s schools,” he said. “We are trying do something about

it.”