JANESVILLE — Holiday time is family time, and kid’ shows are on tap in December at the Janesville Performing Arts Center, with performances of “The Littlest Christmas Tree” and “Annie Jr.”
‘The Littlest Christmas Tree’
“The Littlest Christmas Tree” focuses on the importance of love and acceptance and has heavy anti-bullying messaging packed into a 30-minute show, according to Suzie Baldwin, the director of education and outreach at JPAC.
The show follows a little Christmas tree that anxiously hopes to be picked by Santa Claus for his home alongside some of its much larger and “nicer” appearing counterparts.
Children from kindergarten through third-grade will be performing and singing 7 original songs in this show, which will be at JPAC, 408 S. Main St., Janesville, on Saturday, Dec. 7, and Sunday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m. on both days.
“The kids are what make this show so great,” said Robyn Doege-Brennan, the vocal director for both “The Littlest Christmas Tree” and “Annie Jr.”
“They are so eager to learn and do. It's music that's not too hard for them but it will challenge them enough. It's going to be an adorable show,” Doege-Brennan said.
Watching the “littleƵ” perform will be an enchanting experience and reinvigorate your love of theater, according to Baldwin.
‘Annie Jr.’
“Annie Jr.” will follow “The Littlest Christmas Tree,” with opening night Friday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. The show will also run on Friday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m.; Saturdays Dec. 14 and 21 at 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sundays Dec. 15 and 22 at 2 p.m.
JPAC is in its 20th Anniversary season. In honor of this itƵ staging the classic “Annie Jr.” “Annie” was the original performance used to raise funds for JPAC to open its doors 20 years ago, according to Baldwin.
“‘Annie’” is so iconic,” said Baldwin. “Arguably the most famous theater character of all time. Everybody has had some form of exposure to this show, whether through a play, or the movie and is connected in some way shape or form to this story. Audiences get so excited for ‘Hard Knock Life’ or ‘Easy Street.’ It just made sense to bring this back to our stage with the season and anniversary.”
“Annie Jr.” is based on the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, “Annie.”
It takes place in 1930s New York City. The main character, Annie, is determined to find the parents who abandoned her on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie eventually foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations, finding a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy, according to JPACƵ website.
Annie Jr. will be performed by fourth-grade through high school ages and the performance will take about an hour total. The show was double-cast due to the high number of children eager to participate so each night will have alternating casts.
“Supporting the arts is always the right choice, and supporting youth in the arts is always the right choice — these kids have been thinking of you and can't wait to show you how hard they’ve worked,” Baldwin said.
Tickets for both shows can be purchased online at or by calling (608) 758-0297.
