British cartoon character Peppa Pig is so popular that American parents go viral with videos of their children speaking in a British accent they picked up from the show. They can dance along with the real thing when “Peppa Pig: My First Concert” plays the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple on Tuesday.
A costumed Peppa takes the stage with a 12-person orchestra, and children can get an up-close look at some instruments before the show.
“The show is a really fun, really interactive, super fast-paced and exciting classical music concert where the kids learn all about the instruments,” said British actress Evie James. She is on stage as the narrator for an American tour with around 30 stops.
“They learn a bit about music, tempo, how an orchestra works,” she said. Most are experiencing classical music for the first time, she said.
Actress Evie James with characters from “Peppa Pig: My First Concert.” (COURTESY OF LOGAN WESTOM)
Actress Evie James dances in “Peppa Pig: My First Concert.” (COURTESY OF DAN TSANTILIS)
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Actress Evie James with characters from “Peppa Pig: My First Concert.” (COURTESY OF LOGAN WESTOM)
“They love it; they get really captivated by it,” she said. “Or if it’s like a particularly fast piece you can see them wriggling around in their seats.” The orchestra performs pieces by great classical composers and orchestral versions of songs from the show, such as “The Bing Bong Song.”
“And it’s all kind of threaded together with the Peppa Pig family. So as Peppa and George, Daddy Pig, Mummy Pig and Evie are kind of learning about all the different instruments, the kids are learning too, kind of through them,” she said.
Two-year-old George’s costume is updated to include the hearing aid he receives in the newest season of the Nickelodeon show, which premiered Monday.
Before the show, a few musicians will be stationed around the theater with instruments that could include a bassoon, flute, clarinet, oboe, a French horn, violin or viola. “We encourage them to go right up close if they want to, and they can look at it,” James said. “And they can touch the instruments if the musician says, ‘Yeah, go for it.’”
“It’s just to kind of get the kids interested and intrigued,” James said. “And it works really well, because when they then see those performers and those musicians on stage they feel like they’ve kind of got to know them a little bit.”
The concert is aimed at ages 18 months and up. James said the perfect age range is probably between 3 and 5 years old, with younger and older kids enjoying it.
The cartoon debuted in 2004 and has been broadcast in more than 180 countries in over 40 languages.
Tickets for the 6 p.m. show start at $35.85, including fees. All ages need a ticket.
Tickets that include an after-show meet-and-greet and photo op start at $89.80, including fees. Adults need that ticket in order to bring children to the event. Those children will receive a plush toy.
Tickets are on sale at Ticketmaster.com, at the box office at 420 N. Washington Ave. or by calling 570-344-1111.
The Cultural Center has changed its bag policy. All items are still subject to search, but now purses will be allowed. For this show, diaper bags will be permitted. Purses and diaper bags will go through a separate security line. The Cultural Center recommends avoiding those items and using a clear bag instead.
If you go
What: “Peppa Pig: My First Concert”
When: Tuesday, March 31. Doors open 5:30 p.m. The show is at 6 p.m.
Where: The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple, 420 N. Washington Ave., Scranton.
Details: Tickets start at $35.85, including fees. They are available at Ticketmaster.com, at the box office or by calling 570-344-1111.