The world premiere performance of "Water Rocks! The Musical" will be held at the Ames City Auditorium in Ames, June 16 and 23, at 7 p.m. Water Rocks! is an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach youth water education program.
The hourlong musical will provide entertainment for all ages, and includes award-winning musical numbers from 10 years of Water Rocks! youth programming, as well as new pieces created for the show. "Water Rocks! The Musical" will be reprised June 23 at 7 p.m. in the same venue. The performances are presented free of charge thanks to support from sponsors.
"The show tells the story of four quirky students, dreading a looming science exam, who are given an amazing chance to become water and explore the world," said Jacqueline Comito, co-writer and co-producer of the musical and director of Iowa Learning Farms at Iowa State. "In a whirlwind tour of all things water, they discover water's origin story, experience its transformations and feel its connection to humans. As one of my favorite lines in the musical says, 'Maybe we became water so we can become better humans.'"
From its inception in 2012, Water Rocks! has used original music as a teaching tool that connects with people of all ages and helps convey science-based information in fun and memorable ways.
"Music is not only a universal connector to learning, it also communicates emotions," continued Comito. "Covering genres from rap to jazz and pop to punk rock, there is music in 'Water Rocks! The Musical' for every taste -- and it all helps communicate the science and inspire the empathy important to all of us."
"We developed the musical as a new teaching and outreach tool that extends the reach of our programming to engage parents and community members as well as Iowa's youth," said Comito. "These performances in Ames are just the beginning. We are offering a complete royalty-free production kit to schools or other groups to help extend the mission of Water Rocks!. The messages are relevant, the music is great and the show is fun -- a combination we hope will entice many future performances."
Information about showtimes is available on the Water Rocks! website. The Ames City Auditorium is located at 520 6th St., Ames.
Sponsors of "Water Rocks! The Musical" include ISU Extension and Outreach, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, and City of Ames Smart Watersheds.
Categories: Iowa, Rural Lifestyle