Jurassic Park Theater

Less than 16 hours after The Piano Men left the Park Theater stage, a very different kind of show attracted a very different crowd to McMinnville’s historic theater.

Diggery Digger’s Rock ’n Roar Dino Show brought an enthusiastic group of some of Warren County’s youngest citizens who were captivated by the magic, humor, animation and puppetry of the approximately one-hour show.

What began as a presentation of fossils from a paleontologist took a turn when the discovery of a top-secret device triggered a series of events, including the hatching of a dinosaur egg. With the help of several volunteers from the audience, Digger and the crowd took a trip through time, learning about dinosaurs and how they lived.

The show was another example of Park Theater management’s efforts to provide entertainment for all ages and to introduce children to the theater experience.

“We love every opportunity we have to get kids in so they can learn to love being at the theater and that it doesn’t have to be a super formal environment every time,” Park Theater Assistant Manager Ashley Gillentine Wright said. ”Singing along, dancing and wiggling are definitely ok for shows at the Park.

“The next kid-specific show we have coming up at the Park is Finding Nemo Junior the Musical presented by Warren Arts on May 16 and 17. It features a big cast of local kids and we’re so excited to partner with Warren Arts for this production.”