It’s no secret that parents need flexible childcare options. Enter KidsPark’s newest center.  The Woodlands location, at 24345 Gosling Road Suite 140, will allow families the opportunity to secure the childcare they need, no matter what their schedule may demand. This new center offers a modern-day childcare model. This includes late operating hours, hourly and drop-in care, and flexible preschool all under the guidance of certified staff. Parents in a pinch such as frontline workers, busy moms, and WFH dads now have their solution to any childcare needs.  

KidsPark at The Woodlands is just like dropping your kid off at their favorite friend's house -- the one with the fun and responsible mom and all the toys and neat stuff your kids adore. The center has books, learning games, manipulatives, and even an entire playhouse. A designated area for school-age children features an ample library of leveled readers along with learning pads with specific skill goals. For active kids, the Mountain of Energy lets them burn off some steam. A slide, tunnel, climbing structure and stair steps are the stuff of a young kid's indoor playhouse dreams. KidsPark staff is trained in early childhood education and CPR/first aid certified. All center areas are frequently cleaned and sanitized, and children regularly wash hands.

“When I first came to live in The Woodlands, over a year ago, I started looking for a business that was kid-related. As a mother of three children, I noticed there was a huge need for backup care, drop-in care, extended hours care, and weekend care for the families in our community. I studied all different kinds of franchises, but KidsPark won my heart. I am so happy that finally this dream is coming true.  Be part of our KidsPark family, we will be so happy to have you.”  Begoña Bisteni,Owner KidsPark The Woodlands. 

Grand Opening Party July 11 from 1- 4pm

On Sunday, July 11, join KidsPark for their Grand Opening Party! They will open their doors to already registered as well as new families. Families will get to see how the center works, meet with staff, plus enjoy games, crafts, sensory activities, raffles and lots of surprises. CLICK HERE to follow the event on Facebook, and make plans to celebrate with KidsPark!

Broadway at the Hobby Center will officially bring Houston’s protracted intermission to a close when the acclaimed Lincoln Center production of Lerner & Loewe’s MY FAIR LADY takes the Hobby Center stage September 14-19, 2021, marking the beginning of its 2021-22 season. With Broadway set to reopen in New York in September and Broadway touring shows heading back on the road in late summer, life is on the brink of returning to an industry that has been wrought by uncertainty for more than a year.

The 2021-22 Season will feature four Houston premieres, as well as winner of eight 2019 Tony® Awards including Best Musical, HADESTOWN.  Additionally the season brings Tina Fey’s hilarious new musical comedy MEAN GIRLS, the beloved FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, the hilarious Broadway smash TOOTSIE, the aforementioned production of MY FAIR LADY, the musical that is melting hearts, FROZEN and Broadway mega-sensation HAMILTON. Also included are two season options, the inspiring true story BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL and Houston’s most “popular” musical WICKED.

"Houston is more than just a top four market; it’s a community of passionate theatergoers and cultural tastemakers. It happens to be my hometown, and it delights me to no end to think of patrons returning to the Hobby Center to experience these great shows,” Broadway League Chair Lauren Reid said. “Equally important is the economic impact of getting these productions back out on the road. Not only are we getting artists back on stage, but also putting production teams, crews, venue staff, and so many others back to work. We know that a one-week engagement can infuse more than $3M in local economic impact, bringing business to a range of sectors including restaurants, hotels, and retailers. We have all waited a long time for this moment, and I know that no theater lover will take it for granted."

Early ticket purchasing data indicates a renewed enthusiasm for live theatre from both new patrons and life-long theatre fans.

"Everyone in the entertainment sector was unsure how quickly live audiences would return, but the response proves people are longing for it. Approximately 25% of current Broadway at the Hobby Center 21-22 subscribers are first time subscribers. And based on sales trends, we expect that percentage to continue to grow," said Fran Macferran, President and CEO of the Hobby Center Foundation. "I think folks recognized the importance of the arts during this past year and that nothing can replace the shared experience of live performance."

The Hobby Center Foundation has been working very hard to prepare the venue for reopening. Integral in this process has been the establishment of a partnership with Houston Methodist as a health care advisor. Audiences can rest assured the Foundation has taken thoughtful steps to provide a healthy and safe environment for all subscribers, ticket holders, staff, volunteers, artists and all those who make up the Foundation’s community.

The Hobby Center achieved Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities. Under the guidance of GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, the Hobby Center has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention in its facility.

Facility upgrades and preparedness highlights include:

• MERV-13 air filters have been installed throughout the facility
• HVAC systems have been thoroughly tested, inspected, and modified to introduce the maximum amount of treated fresh air which will give the building a positive air pressure
• Restroom sinks and fixtures have been replaced with touchless faucets, soap dispensers and flushing mechanisms
• CDC-approved cleaning products will continue to be used, including the introduction of electrostatic disinfecting sprayers to the standard housekeeping routine
• A dedicated disinfecting staff has been established as part of the housekeeping team to focus specifically on sanitizing and disinfecting high touch areas
• Hand sanitizing stations have been installed thought all areas of the venue
• Box office and ticketing operations have been upgraded to limit contact

The Foundation will continue to consult with Houston Methodist throughout the reopening process and will comply with guidelines set forth by the City of Houston. Finalized and approved plans will be shared closer to show dates, with ample notification prior to the first show.

Broadway at the Hobby Center 2021-22 Season

MY FAIR LADY
September 14 –19, 2021

TOOTSIE
November 16-21, 2021

HADESTOWN
January 4-9, 2022

HAMILTON
February 22-March 20, 2022

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
April 26-May 1, 2022

BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL
June 3 – 5, 2022

Disney’s FROZEN
June 30-July 17, 2022

MEAN GIRLS
August 16-21, 2022

WICKED
May 31-July 2, 2023

Is your child and his/her father the best-looking daddy-child duo in The Woodlands area? If they're simply a match made in heaven, and you have the photo to prove it, then you have an excellent chance of taking home the grand prize in WoodlandsMommy.com’s 2021 “Cutest Daddy & Me” Father's Day Contest! One Grand Prize winner will receive a $50 Gift Card to BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse. CLICK HERE to enter contest.

* One entry per daddy & child couple, but you may enter a different photo of dad with each of his children. Only 2 subjects per photo allowed.
* Dads must be 18 years old or older on the date of entry.
* Children can be any age! Newborns are adorable; photos of dads with teens are just as awesome!
* Photo may not be from a professional photographer, and submitter most own the rights to the photo.
* Photo must have been taken within the last 12 months.
* Photos will be accepted through June 14, 2021 at  11:30pm.
* Contest open to dads in The Woodlands, Spring, Magnolia, Conroe, Montgomery, North Houston, Hunstville, Porter and surrounding areas.

 
JUDGING:

* Editors will narrow down from all entries and choose finales to upload into an album by WoodlandsMommy.com on June 15, 2021 on the WoodlandsMommy.com  Facebook fan page.
* To vote for a photo you MUST be a 'follower' of WoodlandsMommy.com.
* Click 'LIKE' for the photo you are voting for in the album labeled “Father’s Day 2021 Photo Contest”
* Photo with the most 'LIKES' will be the winner. Comments permitted, but WILL NOT count towards the total number of votes
* Voting will close Saturday, June 19 at 11:00pm
* Official winner will be notified and announced no later than Sunday, June 20 (Father’s Day)!

Main Street Theater (MST) is back! The Theater for Youth will open first with Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School this summer at MECA at TBH. The MainStage will open in late September at MST’s Rice Village location.

“We are so excited to be back in the theater creating with our incredible artists and preparing for the excitement of our younger patrons.” shared Vivienne M. St. John, MST Theater for Youth Artistic Director. “Junie’s spunkiness and energy make this perfect show for our re-opening!” Junie B. Jones is a much-beloved character from children’s literature – and on MST’s stage over the years. Performances will be held at MECA at TBH, 333 S. Jensen Dr., Houston, TX  77003:

• SATURDAYS: June 26 and July 10 & 24, 2021 at 7:00pm
• SATURDAY: July 17 at 10:30am & 1:30pm
• SUNDAYS: June 20 & 27 and July 11 & 25 and August 1, 2021 at 3:30pm.

Recommended for Kindergarten and older.  All tickets are on sale via phone at 713.524.6706 or online at MainStreetTheater.com.  Tickets are $20 - $28.  Group rates are available.  No children under 3 are admitted in the theater (including sleeping babies).  (Performances are also available for summer camp groups and homeschools).  Call 713.524.9196 ext 1 or visit the website.)

Main Street Theater also offers Accommodations Performances.  There is a Sensory-Friendly/Relaxed performance July 17 at 10:30am. 

 About Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School

“Hello!  It’s me . . . Junie B. Jones! I have been going to school for over one and a half entire years now. And I have learned a jillion things that will help you survive at that place.” The sequel to, Junie B. Jones the Musical, this is the wisecracking first grader’s newest adventure — writing her own survival guide with tips and tricks on surviving an entire day at school!

Recommended for Kindergarten and up.  Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School is adapted from the JUNIE B. JONES series of books by Barbara Park. Book and Lyrics are by Marcy Heisler. Music is by Zina Goldrich.

About the Musical’s Creators

Marcy Heisler (Lyricist/Author) and Zina Goldrich (Composer) have been collaborating together since 1993. They were the first women ever honored with the Fred Ebb Award for Musical Theatre Songwriting, and Heisler was honored with the 2012 Kleban Prize for Outstanding Lyrics. Current projects include EVER AFTER, (Alliance Theatre), Junie B's Essential Survival Guide to School (Lucille Lortel, Off-Broadway), Hollywood Romance (Scott Sanders Productions) and a musical adaptation of a Universal Studios romantic classic (Universal Stage Productions). In 2012, Goodspeed Opera House premiered The Great American Mousical, based on the bestselling book by author/director Julie Andrews. In 2016, Goldrich and Heisler continued their collaboration with Andrews, contributing songs to her Netflix series Julie's Green Room. They earned 2009 Drama Desk nominations for Outstanding Lyrics and Music for their musical Dear Edwina, a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Theatreworks USA's JUNIE B. JONES (based on the popular children's book) and a Helen Hayes Award nomination for their Kennedy Center production of SNOW WHITE ROSE RED (and FRED). They have provided original songs for The Disney Channel, Disney Interactive and Feature Animation projects, Disney Theatricals, PBS, Nickelodeon, and others. As performers, they have toured domestically and internationally with The Marcy and Zina Show. November 2009 marked the release of MARCY AND ZINA: The Album on Yellow Sound Label. They are both active members of The Dramatist Guild, and have served as contributing writers to Dramatist magazine.

About the Production

Jimmy Phillips directs Junie. Steven Jones is the music director. Megan Jankovic reprises the role of Junie at MST.  The rest of the cast includes Joshua Mendiola-Garcia, Sloane Teagle, Jordi Viscarri, and Maryann Williams.  The design team is Liz Freese (set design), Hudson Davis (lighting design), Danielle Hodgins (costume design), Shawn W. St. John (sound design), and Lauren Davis (properties design).  Kaylee Sarton is the stage manager. 

Registration is now open for the 18th annual YMCA Kids Triathlon to be held on Saturday, July 17, 7:30 am at the Branch Crossing YMCA location. It will be a LIVE Event in 2021. Children, ages 6-12, are eligible to register and experience the fun and excitement of triathlon. It will be a morning of friendly competition and physical activity that can lead to a lifetime of wellness. The event is designed for all levels. Previous triathlon experience is not required. 

Presented by Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, the Kids Triathlon benefits the YMCA Annual Campaign, which ensures everyone, regardless of age, income or background has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive at the Y. Proceeds from the event will help us to create a stronger community, make an impact and bring about meaningful change. 

Swim + Bike + Run = FUN! Triathlon is an exciting sport for young children because it involves three activities that every child enjoys — swimming, cycling and running. Triathlon is an individual event with segments running consecutively until all three elements are completed. 

Distances will vary per age group. Children ages 6 — 9 years will swim 50 meters, cycle for 1 mile and run 1/4 mile. Children, ages 10 — 12 will swim 100 meters, cycle for 2 miles and run 1/2 mile. All participants must provide their own bike. Training wheels are not allowed. Helmets must be worn for the bike course and shoes must be worn for the bike and run courses. 

The 2021 event will feature chip timing for faster and more accurate finish line results. The event features 7 age divisions: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 years. Boys and girls will compete separately in their age groups. The top 3 finishers, male and female, in each age group will receive a special award. All participants will receive a goodie bag, t-shirt, finisher medal and refreshments at the conclusion of their race. 

Race day check in begins at 5:30 am at Branch Crossing Y, located at 8100 Ashlane Way in The Woodlands. All participants are encouraged to arrive no later than 6:30 am to park, unload equipment, check in, ready your transition area and review the course. At check in, triathletes will receive instructions, a course map and will be body marked. Please remember, parents are not allowed in transition area once the race begins. 

Post race activities will include refreshments, face and balloon art, mascots, music, games, photo booth, awards ceremony and sponsor booths. Concessions will be available for purchase. 

Thank you to our generous sponsors: Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, SelecTRI, Kelsey-Seybold The Woodlands, Raising Canes, Valorem Insurance, Haynie & Company, Two Men & A Truck and H.E.B. 

For more information and online registration visit  ymcahouston.org/ymca-kids-tri. Early Bird registration ends June 17. Registration fees increase on June 18. Registration closes at Noon on July 13. Sponsor and volunteer opportunities still available. For more information contact Roxanne Davis at 281-367-9622 ext 230.