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As part of its weekly “Story Time!” series, the San Benito County Free Library collaborated with the production team of San Benito Stage Company’s “Moana, Jr.” for a special reading on May 7 in the children’s area at the library.
“Moana Jr.” cast members, Bella Prak (Moana) and Rodney Puffer (Maui), assisted SBC Free Library’s program coordinator, Juan Perez, with the readings. They shared three stories—the “Pop-Up Peekaboo! Disney Moana” board book, “Disney Moana: Pua Saves the Day Sound Book” by Pi Kids, and “5-Minute Moana Stories (Storybook Collection).” Prak and Puffer also performed two songs from the stage company production—“Warrior Face” and “You’re Welcome,” for an audience of 20 children, parents and caregivers.
The collaboration was the first between the library and stage company—an idea “Moana Jr.” co-producer Shelby Schipsi approached the library with as a way to promote the musical production, which runs until May 17.
“I have always loved the library and thought it would be a fun opportunity for our actors to partner with Mr. Juan to do a Moana-themed story time,” Schipsi said.
“As a producer, you have to get creative when advertising the show. Since ‘Moana Jr.’ is fun for the whole family, I figured this was a good way to get the word out to more families.”
Perez, who has worked with the library for nearly seven years and currently leads the Story Time! program, said the Wednesday series is one of the longest running programs the library has offered.
“I invite community partners and organizations to come and share the limelight with me,” he said.
“Moana Jr.” vocal director Jula Prak said she is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the library and hopes it sparks an interest for children to come see the production. The kids know the movie, she said, and so reading the books with live-action characters is fun for them.
The San Benito County Free Library’s Story Time! is open to preschoolers on Wednesdays from 10 to 10:30 a.m. in the children’s area, followed by snacks provided by the library. A bilingual Story Time! is held on Thursdays from 4 to 4:30 p.m. Livestreams can be found on the SBC Free Library’s Instagram and Facebook pages. For more information, call 831-636-4107 or email library@sanbenitocountyca.gov. For up to date schedule changes, visit the library’s calendar of events.
SBSC’s “Moana Jr.” continues on May 16 at 7 p.m., and May 17 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at San Benito Stage Company’s new location: 549 San Benito Street in Hollister.
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