DETROIT—Straight from its premiere performance in Philadelphia, My Father’s Dragon comes to Music Hall on Thursday, October 12th at 11:00 am, bringing to life in vibrant color Ruth Stiles Gannett’s stories about talking animals, flying dragons and the clever boy named Elmer Elevator who courageously rescues a captive baby dragon.

Based on Ruth Stiles Gannett’s award-winning and best-selling Dragon trilogy, Enchantment Theatre’s My Father’s Dragon features talking animals, flying dragons and buried treasure. Elmer sets off on a daring adventure to rescue a baby dragon being held captive by the ferocious animals of Wild Island. With pluck and ingenuity Elmer makes his way to the island, outwits the wild animals and saves Boris, the dragon. Using life-size puppets, expressive masks, magical scenic effects and original music, Enchantment brings to life this remarkable tale that reminds us all that we are never too young to make a difference.

Enchantment Theatre and Purdue Convocations are leading a national research study examining the impact of a live performance on a student’s literacy skills. This is an important opportunity to gather significant data related to the live performing arts and literacy learning, based on My Father’s Dragon. Although research suggests involvement in the arts has positive academic impacts, few studies with experimental designs are exploring the impact of live performances on literacy initiatives. This study seeks to broaden the understanding of the ability of arts integration in supporting literacy in early readers, broaden the types of tools used to assess educational outcomes, and understand the role cultural institutions play in producing educational outcomes. This national study will include nearly 20 communities and an estimated 10,000 children across the country. For more information, visit enchantmenttheatre.org/education/purdue-research/.

Tickets are $15 for children and $20 for adults, and may be purchased though Music Hall Box Office at 313-887-8500, or online at www.musichall.org. A Family Fun Pack is 4 tickets for $50.