It might be uncommon to see second and third grade students volunteer to pick up trash, but that is exactly what has happened during California State University, Dominguez Hills’ (CSUDH) Teatro Dominguez community-based theater troupe performances at local elementary schools this semester. When the college student actors— in character as a coyote, an aardvark, a sea cucumber and other sea, land and sky animals—ask the young audience for volunteers, the children nearly launch from their seats with excitement, eager to save the environment with a quick demonstration on how they can help keep Earth clean.
This semester, students enrolled in THE339: Multicultural Children’s Theatre are performing the musical “Coyotita,” written by Bill DeLuca, professor of theatre arts, and Naomi Buckley, theatre arts instructor, at eight local elementary schools, with additional public performances at Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum and the University Theatre. According to DeLuca, the class and Teatro Dominguez aims to teach CSUDH students about leadership while helping educate local children about cultural and environmental issues in a fun way.
Two weekend performances will be open to the public:
Saturday, December 13, 2 p.m. at Dominguez Rancho Adobe Museum (18127 S. Alameda St., Compton, CA 90220)
Sunday, December 14, 2 p.m. at the University Theatre (CSUDH, 1000 E. Victoria St., Carson, CA 90747)
