As a treat for Ontario Family Day, Monday, February 21, the NAC English Theatre is offering a free event for families. From 12 noon to 4 p.m., you and your children are invited to a special afternoon of hands-on activities, storytelling, arts & crafts, theatre games and exciting dance workshops with Shawn Byfield, co-creator of i think i can!

 Join the fun:

• stories read by wonderful performers
• fast-paced theatre games
• arts & crafts centre including button-making
• paper boat-making
• exploration of your parents’ and grandparents’ childhoods
• special visual and interactive displays including a unique installation of theatre props created by the NAC Props Department
• demonstrations of the NAC’s award-winning ArtsAlive education website (artsalive.ca/en/eth)
• a bake sale with treats and hot chocolate
• once-in-a-lifetime dance workshops with special guest, dynamic choreographer Shawn Byfield, co-creator of the upcoming presentation of i think i can (running May 11 – 28 at the NAC). Click to see what the kids might do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98EI4yBa7Zk
• ...and much more!

This special afternoon is designed to complement the themes in the matinee presentations of Tales of the Moon by Philippe Soldevila (limited tickets are still available for $14).

Explore the varying ideas of family through the ages and around the world.  Share your own family’s traditions, heritage and culture as you reflect on the meaning of family during this newly minted winter holiday.  A truly fun afternoon for all!

Monday, February 21, 2011, 12 – 4 p.m. in the NAC Lobby
For children age five and up (Dance workshops for age eight and up)

FREE (Tales of the Moon ticket not required for Family Day events)

This event is made possible by the contributions of the Friends of English Theatre.

Tales of the Moon
by Philippe Soldevila
inspired by the short stories of Pere Calders
Translated by Leanna Brodie
Directed by Philippe Soldevila
Assistant Director Hélène Blanchard; Set and Costume Designers Luc Rondeau and Erica Schmitz; Composer Jean-François Mallet; Lighting Designer Christian Fontaine
Starring Christian Essiambre, France LaRochelle and Daniel Simard.

An NAC presentation of a production by Le Théâtre des Confettis (Quebec City) and Théâtre populaire d’Acadie (Caraquet, NB), in collaboration with Théâtre Sortie de Secours (Quebec City).

Nothing is impossible when you believe in your dreams: a hairbrush can become a ferocious dog and you can even get the moon to come down into your bedroom. A diary found in an abandoned suitcase carries us back to the 1940s, to a little Catalan village in the heart of Spain. Joan Casesnoves-Durante is ten years old. The civil war that has torn his country apart is finally over and after an absence of five years, his father at last returns home. Joan’s wild imagination helps him to survive not only the absence of a father imprisoned by Franco's fascists, but also the disappearance of his dog – and the fact that he's rotten at math! Years later, his luggage still holds the diary that tells of the Spanish Moon, lemon trees and long forgotten days.

Show Times in the NAC Studio:
Sunday, February 20           7 p.m.
Monday, February 21          11 a.m. & 1 p.m.    
Tuesday, February 22         9:45 a.m.
Wednesday, February 23     9:45 a.m. & 12:45 p.m.

Adults & Children: $14 – for age 8 and up!
Groups of 10+ receive great discounts! For more information contact grp@nac-cna.ca or
visit our webpage.

Tickets are available for purchase:
In person at the NAC Box Office
At all Ticketmaster outlets
By telephone from Ticketmaster, 1-888-991-2787 NEW!
Online through the Ticketmaster link on the NAC’s website (www.nac-cna.ca)
A service charge applies on all purchases made through Ticketmaster

For more information about Family Day and Tales of the Moon, visit the NAC website at www.nac-cna.ca/en/theatre.

Embassy Hotel & Suites is proud to be the Official Hotel Partner for the National Arts Centre English Theatre.

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For any information, please call:
Sean Fitzpatrick, Communications Officer,
National Arts Centre English Theatre
613-947-7000 ext. 389; cell: 613-899-9737
 e-mail: sfitzpat@nac-cna.caor visit the NAC website at www.nac-cna.ca