CCT's SandBox Series: Abuela

Columbus Children's Theatre is running Abuela from October 17 through October 25, at their space at 177 E. Naghten Street. It's part of their Sandbox Series, and the whole thing is a 30-minute immersive experience built for young audiences. The show takes its name and its starting point from the picture book Abuela, and it spends those half hour celebrating imagination, family, and cultural heritage.

Since it's immersive, it's not the kind of show where you just sit in a seat and watch. It brings the book's themes to life through interactive activities, bilingual storytelling, music, movement, and creative exploration. The bilingual element is a nice touch, and the interactive parts mean the kids get to be part of the story rather than just listening to it. It's short enough to hold a young child's attention without overstaying its welcome, and the focus on family and heritage gives it a warm, grounded center.

Behind the show is Columbus Children's Theatre, a company that works with children and families through live theatre and theatre education. They talk about a few things they keep at the front of their work: discipline, integrity, team-building, and communication. They run three different programs. There's the Performance Series, their year-round lineup of family-friendly plays and musicals cast with local talent in age-appropriate roles. Then there's the CCT Academy, which offers acting, singing, dancing, and improv classes for students ages 2 to 18, alongside a national award-winning Summer Youth Performance Conservatory. And they have a Touring Company that takes in-school performances to students across Ohio.

Abuela runs from October 17 to October 25 at 177 E. Naghten Street, Columbus, OH 43215. It's a 30-minute show, so it's an easy one to fit into a weekend afternoon with the kids.