wmlogo022021

Disney's Winnie thePooh: A New Musical Stage Adaptation coming to Houston!

winnie1
The acclaimed, record-breaking run of Disney's Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation, created and directed by Jonathan Rockefeller, will be arriving in Houston beginning October 4. The celebrated show for families of all ages, will bring Pooh, Christopher Robin, and their best friends Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, and Owl (and Tigger too!) to Houston, with performances running through October 9 at the Hobby Center’s Zilkha Hall. Tickets will go on sale on June 17. For tickets and more information, visit thehobbycenter.org.

winnie2
winnie3

Inspired by the beloved books by A. A. Milne and the classic Disney featurettes, Disney's Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation was welcomed in New York beginning in October 2021 garnered rave reviews where it was called "A perfect introduction to live theater. It's a captivating adventure with spectacular puppetry," (Mommy Poppins); "Charming and whimsical stage show that Pooh surpasses every expectation I had for it," (The Laughing Place); "Winnie the Pooh is delightfully first-rate," (Theatre Pizzazz); "Irresistible.," (DC Metro Arts); "An hour of bountiful joy," (New York Theatre Guide); "Mesmerizing life-size puppets and original Sherman Brothers tunes, the beautiful new Winnie the Pooh musical is must-see," (Theatrely); “The new 'Winnie the Pooh' musical Is sweeter than honey." (Toy Insider), and "Enchanting!" (Time Out).

"The music, the spectacular life-size puppets, and the charming performances are the perfect way to introduce (or re-introduce) audiences to live theatre, and this is a must-see show for Winnie the Pooh fans of all ages. We are excited to bring the Hundred Acre Wood across the United States so that audiences of all ages can join us for this heartwarming production," said Jonathan Rockefeller.

In a new story from the Hundred Acre Wood, this fresh stage adaptation is told with impressive life-size puppetry, telling exciting new stories featuring characters that have played iconic roles in the lives of children for generations. Accompanying the magical, modern narrative is an original score from Nate Edmondson, which features some of the songs written for the animated feature from The Sherman Brothers', including Winnie the Pooh, The Blustery Day, The Wonderful Thing About Tigger’s, Whoop-De-Dooper Bounce, and A.A. Milne's The More It Snows. 

Casting will be announced shortly. The creative team includes set design co-designed by Jack Golden and Joshua Warner, lighting design by Jamie Roderick, costume design by Lindsay McWilliams Original music and orchestrations by Nate Edmondson, and puppets built by Rockefeller Productions (lead builder Matthew Lish).

For tickets and information, visit www.thehobbycenter.org

Celebrate 4th of July in The Woodlands - July 3 & 4, 2022

4thofjuly woodlandsmommy
Residents in The Woodlands will have the opportunity to celebrate American’s Independence freedom with a variety of festivities and fireworks for the Fourth of July holiday.

The 2022 holiday schedule offers entertainment and activities for everyone to enjoy, beginning with the Star-Spangled Salute on Sunday, July 3, 2022.

On Sunday, July 3, at 8:30 p.m., The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion welcomes Houston Symphony Orchestra to the Main Stage for the Star-Spangled Salute, sponsored by the Howard Hughes Corporation. Tickets are not required for this free event. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. Please visit www.woodlandscenter.org for more information.

Festivities continue on Monday, July 4, 2022, at 9 a.m. with the South County Fourth of July Parade in The Woodlands Town Center. The 1.3-mile parade features marching bands, fire engines, clowns, floats and more! Please note the roads will be closed during the parade. For parade map and more details please visit www.4thofjulyparade.org.

After the Parade, Red, Hot & Pool offers a fun cool down at all Township pools from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The lifeguards at each pool will provide fun activities from noon to 4 p.m. Light refreshments will also be available while supplies last. Red, Hot & Pool 2022 is presented by Kroger. Please note, daily fees will apply for residents and non-residents. Entry is free for season pool pass holders.

The celebration will continue into the evening with the 25th annual Red, Hot & Blue Festival featuring entertainment at five locations in The Woodlands from 6 to 10 p.m. All locations, with the exception of Hughes Landing, will feature strolling entertainment and concessions.

  • Northshore Park will feature musical entertainment by Johnny and the Spinsations. Please be advised, Northshore Park vehicular access will be affected on the following dates for the event. For the most up to date information regarding access, residents should visit www.redhotblue.org:
    1. July 2 through 3: Limited, minimal vehicular traffic for additional set-up. 
    2. July 4: No vehicular access for safety and security.
    3. July 5: Reopening with limited vehicular access.
  • Town Green Park will have two stages for music from Rock Hound and Redd Sky Band.
  • Waterway Square Park will include live music by Time Warp and the Fourth of July Parade Awards at 7 p.m.
  • Rob Fleming Park will have live music by Common Ground. Due to limited parking in the Rob Fleming Park area, residents are encouraged to walk or bike to the event. 
  • Hughes Landing will feature musical entertainment from John Barraza Project. 

The annual celebration will culminate with an 18-minute Fireworks Extravaganza at approximately 9:30 p.m. with four launch locations. Residents can enjoy both the sights and sounds of the fireworks extravaganza by tuning into KSTAR Country 99.7 FM, which will broadcast the choreographed patriotic soundtrack for the 2022 event.

  • Adjacent to Northshore Park: Primary fireworks display near Lake Woodlands.
  • Town Green Park: Secondary close-proximity (special effects) display. Please note there may be limited visibility of the primary display at Town Green Park due to trees and buildings. 
  • Waterway Square District: Fireworks display near Timberloch Place and Waterway Avenue.
  • Rob Fleming Park: Fireworks display in the Village of Creekside Park. 

Coolers, picnic baskets and lawn chairs are permitted. A variety of concessions and beverages will be available for purchase. Glass, oversized beach umbrellas and pop-up tents are prohibited. 

The Red, Hot & Blue celebration is sponsored by Waste Management, The Howard Hughes Corporation® and America’s ER + Urgent Care. 

Disney’s Frozen, The Hit Broadway Musical, coming to the Hobby Center

Company of the Frozen North American Tour photo by Deen van Meer
Frozen
has been created for the stage by an award-winning team and features the songs you know and love from the original Oscar®-winning film, plus an expanded score with a dozen new numbers by the film’s songwriters, Oscar winner Kristen Anderson-Lopez and EGOT winner Robert Lopez. Joining them on a creative team that has won a cumulative 16 Tony Awards are Oscar winner Jennifer Lee (book), Tony and Olivier Award winner Michael Grandage (director), and Tony winner Rob Ashford (choreographer).

Caroline Bowman as Elsa and the Company of Frozen North American Tour photo by Deen van Meer

Collin Baja Sven and F. Michael Haynie Olaf in Frozen North American Tour photo by Deen van Meer

Heralded by The New Yorker as “thrilling” and “genuinely moving,” Frozen has joined Disney Theatrical Productions’ megahit The Lion King on tour across North America, and the critics agree, “It’s simply magical!” (LA Daily News).

“Disney’s struck gold! Sumptuous sets, gorgeous costumes, and plenty of special effects to wow the audience!” raves the New York Post. “With the magic, the dancing, and all those iconic tunes, Frozen was born to be a stage musical!” writes the Evening Standard. The Los Angeles Times declares “the North American tour is irresistible in its creativity and verve” and The Hollywood Reporter proclaims that Frozen is “thawing hearts from coast to coast!”

Start at $35 and are available by phone at (800) 982-2787; online at www.TheHobbyCenter.org or www.BroadwayAtTheHobbyCenter.com; the Hobby Center Box Office (800 Bagby, Houston, TX 77002) and all Ticketmaster outlets. Discounts available for groups of 10 or more. For more information, please call (888) 451-5986 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Photo Credit: Deen van Meer

Magical Dads Day at Woodlands Children's Museum, June 18

Hughdini 2022
AbracaDAD! The Woodlands Children’s Museum is celebrating Father’s Day with a magical twist! On Saturday, June 18, children can create a magical day with dad by enjoying a magic show and other spellbinding activities at the museum.

Free Family Movie Nights in Creekside Park

Creekside Park Movie Night
Don’t miss the fun and free Family Movie Nights each month this summer at Creekside Park® Village Green in The Woodlands by The Howard Hughes Corporation.  

The featured movie lineup starts with Space Jam: A New Legacy on Wednesday, June 8, followed by Sing 2 on Wednesday, July 13, and ending with Clifford the Big Red Dog on Wednesday, August 3. Showtimes for each movie night are from 8:30 – 10:00 PM. Come early to enjoy a DJ playing music from 6:30-8:30 PM.

“The popular Creekside Park Movie Night series is a time for family and friends to come together and enjoy music and a family-friendly movie,” said Kim Phillips, Vice President of Marketing for Howard Hughes. “Creekside Park Village Green also features several restaurants if you would like to have a have a meal before the movie begins.”

Creekside Park Village Green is located at 26400 Kuykendahl Road between Creekside Forest Drive and New Harmony Trail. Creekside Park Village Green highlights a scenic tree-lined park with lush perennial landscaping, pergolas and a water splash pad.

Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs, with no glass containers permitted. For additional information and a list of movies, visit www.TheWoodlands.com and click on Things To Do, Events.

The Woodlands Township is the Park Sponsor of Creekside Park Movie Nights.

New ABA Therapy Services available in The Woodlands

apara
Get to know Apara Autism Center! The company offers evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, caregiver ABA training, feeding therapy programs, and speech and language therapy programs. Witha a new location opened recently opened at 121 Vision Park Drive, Ste. 250, The Woodlands, TX 77584, Apara Autism Center is now enrolling!

ABA therapy is an evidence-based treatment for individuals diagnosed with Autism or related disorders derived from years of scientific research. Studies show that early intervention, sometimes as young as 18 months, can improve abilities in children diagnosed with Autism.

"The earlier intervention can begin, the better for long-term outcomes." - Center For Disease Control

ABA therapy helps individuals learn new skills, change behaviors and improve their quality of life. ABA therapy can help with various disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and developmental disorders such as Down syndrome.

Through positive reinforcement, kids are taught what a parent expects in certain situations and are rewarded when they follow those expectations. This helps them understand social rules and boundaries while also giving them tools for future success. When implemented at an individualized level, ABA Therapy can decrease challenging behaviors while increasing appropriate and wanted behaviors such as communication and daily living skills.

"I have a strong passion for early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI). I believe ABA is a proven and effective method of teaching children with Autism, and it is a great privilege to collaborate with families and team members to help individuals learn the skills they need to live a more independent life. "Alexa Kramer, Clinical Director at Apara Autism Center The Woodlands

Apara Autism Center in The Woodlands, TX, is a center-based program dedicated to the principles of ABA Therapy. Their BCBA's create individualized ABA treatment plans for each client based on their initial and ongoing assessments and collaborate with the family and community resources to help your child reach their fullest potential.

Apara is dedicated to making meaningful improvements in the lives of those they serve. Their team in The Woodlands provides superior clinical outcomes and life skills training for clients in a highly supportive, compassionate, innovative, and collaborative environment with caregivers, payers, and communities.

“Apara Autism Center genuinely cares about the children served, their families, and the staff who are employed. There is a culture of diverse, educated, and experienced staff. The quality of ABA therapy for the children and family training is superb! Apara is by far the best ABA therapy clinic in Houston.”  - Beth A.


In Addition to ABA Therapy, children with Autism may benefit from these other types of Therapies  offered at Apara Autism Centers 

Feeding Therapy

Apara's feeding therapy program is designed to work with those individuals who engage in problem behaviors around eating new or common foods. Feeding therapy is based on behavioral principles and evidence-based practices to address concerns such as texture sensitivity, general mealtime problem behaviors, and refusal to feed themselves, among others. The Apara Autism Center's feeding program will also be individualized and implemented with additional parent/caregiver consent after all physiological and oral-motor concerns are ruled out by medical professionals.

Speech and Language Therapy

Sticking to their mission and beliefs in the need to combine ABA Therapy with other disciplines, Apara Autism Center offers in-house Speech Therapy. Their Speech Therapy follows evidence-based practices and includes individualized treatment plans for each child receiving Speech services. Their BCBAs and SLPs collaborate with parents to create and maintain a highly effective program for your child.

Caregiver Training

Caregiver training is an integral part of the ABA therapy services program. Apara Autism Services believe that the more training a parent has in ABA and their child's specific programming, the better outcome we will see in the future. In addition, each family will have one-on-one meetings with their BCBA and will be highly involved with their child's programming and goals. 

apara2

Apara Autism Center is a leading provider of ABA therapy in Texas. They understand the difficulty of dealing with uncertainty and are prepared to assist you with their collaborative developmental therapy support. If you're looking for ABA therapy near you, they have centers in Houston, Dallas, and surrounding areas. Apara Autism Center employs a team of Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT) that can assist you with resources to help comfort your child during stressful times. If you need more information, don't hesitate to call (844) 272-7223 or contact them with your questions and concerns.

The Woodlands Township to host Memorial Day event, fireworks display

memorialday 1
The Woodlands Township invites residents and visitors to the Memorial Day in The Woodlands event on Sunday, May 29, 2022, at Town Green Park, 2099 Lake Robbins Dr., from 5 to 9 p.m.   

Memorial Day in The Woodlands pays tribute to all military service men and women who gave their lives in service to the United States. A care package drop-off booth will be available onsite to accept donations of recommended items for current troops. The complete list of suggested items is available at www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/memorialday.   

Lt. Col. Dean A. Smith, Commander U.S. Air Force 341st Recruiting Squadron, will serve as keynote speaker, along with the Our Community Salutes swearing-in ceremony. Our Community Salutes recognizes, honors and supports local high school seniors who plan to enlist into the U.S. Armed Services after graduation. The event will feature live music by Level One Band.

The evening will conclude with a dazzling fireworks display, presented by Woodforest National Bank, choreographed to a patriotic soundtrack, weather permitting.   

Concessions will be available for purchase at the event and strolling entertainment will on hand. Please note, the beverage booth will be cashless. Guests may pay with cash but will need to have exact change. Coolers, picnic baskets, blankets and lawn chairs are permitted. Glass is prohibited. 

Free parking, generously donated by Timberloch, Inc., will be available at the orange, yellow, blue and white lots at 2002 Timberloch Place. Other designated parking areas include

The Town Center Parking Garage and Gold Lot, 2005 Lake Robbins Drive, and the parking lot located at 9669 Grogan's Mill Road.

Memorial Day in The Woodlands is produced by The Woodlands Township Parks and Recreation Department and sponsored by Woodforest National Bank, Waste Management and The Howard Hughes Corporation®. For the most up-to-date information on the day of the event, including weather updates or postponement of any kind, please follow The Woodlands Township Parks and Recreation Facebook page at www.facebook.com/townshipparksandrec