Athens families and children, as well as other members of the Southeast Ohio area, are invited to come experience Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure at MemAud.
Tuesday, Feb. 25, the Ohio University Performing Arts and Concert Series will host an immersive learning experience and performance from Erth Visual and Physical Inc. that explores the unknown ocean depths where prehistoric marine reptiles lived eons ago and possibly still today.
Andrew Holzaepfel, senior associate director of student activities, is excited to bring Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure to OU’s campus for the first time.
“We got strong recommendations from other presenters that this was a very strong performance with broad appeal and high quality,” Holzaepfel said.
The show will have two performances: one for the public, ticketed at 7 p.m., and one earlier in the day for local children, who will be bussed in for a free performance.
The Performing Arts and Concert Series strives to accomplish three specific goals: provide programming for OU students, provide programming for faculty and staff and serve Southeast Ohio, both from an educational standpoint and an arts and entertainment standpoint.
Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure aims to fulfill goal three. It’s not that Holzaepfel thinks students, faculty and staff of OU wouldn’t enjoy the production, but he believes it’s better served as an opportunity for families and children to be entertained while still learning.
“I think it’s going to be really great entertainment and very enjoyable for families to come,” Holzaepfel said. “So I’m hoping we’ll have a lot of community members coming out to support it.”
In the future, Holzaepfel hopes to start a smaller series throughout the year dedicated to family programming. The programmers used to host something similar in years past but have since strayed away. However, Holzaepfel feels this production is a step in the right direction.
Holzaepfel hopes for a strong Southeast Ohio family presence for the public performance, but he also is excited to see the children bussed in from local schools to have a fun day through something educational and beneficial.
“It will be interactive,” Holzaepfel said. “There will be some children that will be up on stage.”
Students are impressed with the educational outreach initiative through the Performing Arts and Concert Series.
“I think it’s important to foster education from a young age,” Catherine Lawrence, an undecided freshman, said.
Students also appreciate the wide variety of programming offered through the series.
“I think it’s important because there aren’t just college students here. It’s a whole community,” Isabella Krusling, a freshman studying psychology, said. “It’s important to cater to the community as well and spread the wealth of opportunity.”
