Lunchbox Theatre rocks in downtown Fort Myers

"Cinderella Confidential" is one of this year's plays at the Lunchbox Theatre. COURTESY PHOTO Florida Repertory Theatre announced the opening of its popular Lunchbox Theatre Series with the fun, exciting and educational musical, "Schoolhouse Rock Live!"

Sponsored by Pamela Templeton and Fort Myers Toyota "The Family Store," the theater series for children and families opens on Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in the Fort Myers River District.

"This is a season of breaking new ground with our Children's Theatre program," said Florida Rep Associate Director Jason Parrish. 'Schoolhouse Rock' is the first musical for the program, we're reviving last season's hit, 'ZAP!' and, thanks to the generous support of Pamela Templeton and Fort Myers Toyota, we've formed an unprecedented partnership, and the Lunchbox Series has a new home in the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center."

Each year Florida Repertory Theatre's Education Department produces three plays for children and families that are the centerpiece of the Rep's educational and outreach programming. These plays perform in the River District as the Lunchbox Theatre offerings. It also tours schools and venues throughout Southwest Florida for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

This season the Pamela Templeton/ Fort Myers Toyota Lunchbox Theatre series features three unique plays that make learning fun for children, and will play every Saturday at 11 a.m. through April 11 at the Art Center.

"Schoolhouse Rock Live!" is a musical based on the popular television series from the 1970s, and is designed to engage learners of all ages. Audiences will join Tom the Schoolteacher as the Schoolhouse Rock bunch comes to life to help him learn all he needs to know about science, math, history and grammar. It's a hip and entertaining show that packs 12 Schoolhouse Rock tunes into 40 exciting minutes of singing and dancing while students and parents alike learn their reading, writing and arithmetic, and are sure to leave humming "I'm Just a Bill," "Conjunction Junction," "Interplanet Janet" and many more.

"Schoolhouse Rock Live!" opens the Lunchbox Series, and is followed by two plays by renowned playwright Eric Coble. "Cinderella Confidential" opens on Jan. 31, and tells the classic fairy tale through the eyes of two TV reporters competing for the inside scoop on the mysterious One-Shoed-Woman. On Feb. 28 "ZAP!" is back. Florida Rep commissioned "ZAP!" in 2007, along with the Lee County Electric Cooperative, to tell the story of electricity.

Tickets to Lunchbox Theatre are $12, and admission includes the performance, a boxed lunch provided by McAlister's Deli and an interactive workshop with the cast. Tickets are available online and through Florida Rep's box office at 332- 4488. Please do not call the Art Center for ticket information.

"Schoolhouse Rock Live!" plays on Jan. 10, 17, 24 and April 11.

"Cinderella Confidential" plays on Jan. 31, Feb. 7, 14 and April 4 .

"ZAP!" plays on Feb. 28, March 7, 14 and 21.