Family show slated for Sept. 15 opens HAAA season
(This article first appeared in the September print edition of the Hendersonian.)
With every generation, living beings from prehistoric times seem to have a knack for working their way into popular culture.
Those of a certain age were enchanted when that “modern Stone Age family” called The Flintstones lived their cartoon lives alongside all types of dinosaurs. They even had one for the family pet.
Later, along came the spine-tingling creatures of “Jurassic Park,” the lovable “Rex” from “Toy Story” and “Yoshi” from the video game world.
So, safe to say, dinosaurs are firmly planted in today’s culture as they take their place in the movies, as favorite toys, as motifs on T-shirts and other clothing, for birthday party themes and in the gaming world.
And this fall they will come to life when Henderson Area Arts Alliance opens its 2026-27 performing arts season with “Dinosaur Dimensions.”
The 90-minute show will be offered locally in two daytime performances for schoolchildren from Henderson, Union and Webster counties and also as an early evening public performance at Preston Arts Center on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Professor Curt Courteous, the show host, has a special knack for bringing to the stage this world filled with life-size puppets, robots and animatronics, said Kensington Eck, executive director of Henderson Area Arts Alliance.
“The children who see the show are learning (about dinosaurs) and they don’t even know they’re being taught something,” she said. “It’s very rewarding.
“It’s so exciting,” Eck continued, noting that she first screened the show a year ago at an art showcase as she was looking for events to present at the PAC this season. “The kids get so excited when the dinosaurs come out.”
She described “Dinosaur Dimensions” as “big, bright and colorful,” and she’s excited to offer the school performances to grades K-3 in all three counties.
“That’s a ‘magic age,’” she said. “They’re so willing to participate in sing-alongs, clapping along to music and answering questions” from the professor/host.
“It’s fun and mystical,” she added, noting that this is something different from previous offerings.
Eck said in her quest to find a really strong family show to open the season and build on the momentum of the opening of the school year and a highly successful Summer Arts Camp she was delighted to find “Dinosaur Dimensions” as an option.
Shows like this and the memories they create help inspire lifelong arts lovers and build audiences, which is still a struggle for presenters in the post-COVID period.
Some features of the show include:
• An 8-foot-tall Dilophosaurus who roams unencumbered through the stage area
• A 24-foot-long Brachiosaurus neck that emerges from backstage
• Five additional animatronics
• An elaborate “Jungle Laboratory”
• Multimedia experiences
• Special effects and science experiments
• A fast-paced storyline
Tickets for “Dinosaur Dimensions” (Adults $35 and Students $25) are now on sale at the PAC box office. It is also still an option to purchase season ticket packages (a complete season package or a Pick 3 package.) Ticket information is available at haaa.org.
Curtain time for the season opener is 6 p.m.
Other events in the new season are:
• Sunday, Oct. 25, the Broadway musical “Hadestown”
• Friday, Nov. 20, music from the Boy Band Project
• Friday, Dec. 18, “Blue Suede Christmas,” an Elvis-themed show
• Saturday, Feb. 13, The Louisville Orchestra (free show), with a special guest TBA
• Thursday, March 11, Artrageous, featuring visual arts as performing art
• Saturday, April 24, country artist Deana Carter
All season shows are presented at Preston Arts Center on the campus of Henderson Community College. Curtain time for all shows except the opener is 7 p.m.
Ticket information is available at haaa.org.
