NU Theatre presents free children's stories this summer at Leary Theatre, Artpark

Here comes Lily with her purple plastic purse! And Alexander, as usual, is having a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day." Pierre just doesn't care!

Yes, Niagara University Repertory Theatre is back and better than ever with fast, furious and fantastically funny children's tales brought to life by trained actors.

This summer, NU Theatre's 39-year tradition of entertaining children and families with its N.U.R.T. storytelling troupe continues. N.U.R.T. will present a rotating repertoire of free children's stories outdoors in the Village of Lewiston at Artpark during its "Free Family Saturdays" in July. N.U.R.T. will perform near the upper level sandbox area at 1 and 3:00 p.m. Saturdays, July 11, 18 and 25 and Aug. 1. Reservations are not required.

Amanda Lytle Sharpe, adjunct theater professor and N.U.R.T. director, said, "Our free children's theater performances will include about 40 minutes of children's stories in rotation. The production is fun for the whole family, but is especially appropriate for children ages 3 to 12. And we ask that children are always accompanied by an adult."

The N.U.R.T. troupe also will perform at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. every Thursday from July 9 through Aug. 20 in the air-conditioned comfort of the Leary Theatre within the Elizabeth Ann Clune Center, Clet Hall, on the NU campus. Reservations are not required.

N.U.R.T. cast members include theater performance students from across New York: Heather Casseri, Matt Dell'Olio, Matt DiVita, Shelby Ehrenreich, Sabrina Kahwaty, Clarissa Maloy, Matthew Myers and Alexander Utz. Theater design/technology major Marissa Allen is stage manager.

Call the NU Theatre box office at 716-286-8685 for more information.