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Garden School Theater, magic show come to Summer Reading Programs

Staff Report

Garfield County Library Branches continue their annual Summer Reading Program with free entertainment and reading incentives for children.

The sixth week will feature performances by the Garden School Theater at some branches and a magic show by The Donovans at the other branches.

The schedule will reverse the following week, so all branches will have an opportunity to see both performances. The shows are free and open to all ages.



Don Donovan has been an actor since the age of 9 and has been a magician for more than 50 years. He last performed at the summer reading program in Glenwood Springs in 1988. Laura Donovan also has a long career in drama and performs in the magic show with her husband. The couple lives in Delta.

The Garden School is a private educational facility located in New Castle and has been in existence for five years. Students attend the school two days a week and are home-schooled for the remainder of the time. The school’s students will perform an original play, entitled “Buffalo Bill’s Last Ride.” The performance is an interactive mystery, loosely based on Colorado history.



The Parachute Branch Library will host the Garden School Theater at 10 a.m. Monday, July 15, at the Bea Underwood Elementary School. The Theater will be guests of the New Castle Branch Library at the New Castle Community Center at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 17.

The Donovans work their magic at Carbondale at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 16, at the Carbondale Town Hall. They will perform two magic shows at the Glenwood Springs Branch Library – at 1 and 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 16. The Donovans will also appear at the Silt Branch Library at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 18, and will be hosted by the Rifle Branch Library at the Rifle City Hall at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 18.

In addition to the entertainment, children are also encouraged to participate in the reading portion of the program. This year’s theme is “Reading, Rhythm and Rhyme.” Upon achieving a goal of reading for a specified time period, children receive a prize. Studies show children who continue to read during the summer months retain their skills and are better prepared when school starts again in the fall.

Funding for the Summer Reading Program is provided by the Aspen Valley Community Foundation, local city governments and businesses and Friends groups from the various library branches.

Call 945-5958 for further information.


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