01 SEPTEMBER 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Robyn Bushong 409.744.7848
FAX 409.740.2336 Email: RBush1147@aol.com
GALVESTON’S GRAND 1894 OPERA HOUSE PRESENTS
SERIOUS FUN PERFORMANCE “TOMÁS AND THE LIBRARY LADY”
ON NOVEMBER 13
The Serious Fun Series continues at The Grand 1894 Opera House with the Childsplay National
Tour presentation of Tomás and the Library Lady on November 13 at 10am and Noon.
Presented as part of the Harris L. Kempner Children’s Series at The Grand, Tomás and the
Library Lady will inspire audiences in grades Kindergarten and up, as this imaginative play
celebrates the wonder of reading. “Sincere… a vivid picture of what education, imagination and
creativity can do for anyone. David Saar’s free flowing and charming staging cleverly pulls the
audience into this compelling and touching story,” says The Arizona Republic.
Tomás loves stories! Grandfather tells them stories every night during the long summers, when
the family leaves Texas to pick crops in Iowa. Soon Tomás knows all the stories by heart, and
that’s when Papa Grande tells him there is a place full of stories he’s never heard before: the
library. When Tomás meets the library lady, nothing is ever the same again.
This timely story encourages children to look beyond the confines of poverty, language barriers,
and cultural intolerance to find joy in reading. The inspiring true story of Tomás Rivera, who
grew up in a migrant worker family, befriended a librarian in Iowa, and learned to love books
and the places they took him. Tomás went on to a successful career in academia and became the
Chancellor of the University of California at Riverside. Adapted from the well-loved book by
prolific children’s author Pat Mora, this play can be readily understood by both English- and
Spanish-speaking audiences.
Ticket prices range from $5 to $10. Advance, pre-paid school groups are offered a discount.
For information about this and other performances scheduled, contact The Grand's box office at
409.765.1894, 800.821.1894, or visit The Grand’s web site at www.thegrand.com. The Grand
1894 Opera House is located at 2020 Postoffice Street, in historic downtown Galveston. The
theatre is accessible by trolley. All major credit cards accepted.