The Glendale Star
16
February 10, 2022
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Theater Works hopes to ‘reconnect’ with fundraiser BY SCOTT SHUMAKER Glendale Star Staff Writer
Two years after the pandemic lowered the curtain on traditional stage performances worldwide, Peoria’s community theater troupe Theater Works is planning to raise it again with the Saturday, Feb. 19, fundraising event Ignite Our Next Act. Through the event, the nonprofit company is looking to generate operating funds, but Executive Director Cate Hinkle said the night of musical theater, dancing and live music is more than a fundraiser. It’s the first step in bringing Peoria’s theater lovers together again. “We’ve been fortunate enough to survive these last two years,” Hinkle said. “The goal is to reconnect with those people we haven’t been able to see for the past two years. Our primary objective this year is reconnection.” Its fundraising gala was one of the first events Theater Works canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. So, Hinkle
Theater Works will celebrate its return to traditional format community theater this year at Ignite Our Next Act fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 19. (Photo courtesy of Theater Works)
said there’s something poetic about kicking off the return of traditional performances with Ignite Our Next Act. Theater Works is the resident tenant
of the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, and the fundraiser will be inside and outside the venue. The night starts with a series of musical theater
“I thought if I could stay home with my little one, then I would like to do that,” Benedict said. “It went from me looking for child care to me thinking I could be at home and help somebody else. I didn’t have to go back to work and leave my little ones. I was able to make extra money and have her with me.” According to recent reports, the average annual cost of child care in Arizona for 2021 was $10,948, which is higher than the cost of college tuition. In addition, 85% of parents nationwide report spending 10% or more of their household income on child care. Not only are prices high, but during the pandemic, one-third of the state’s licensed day cares or child care providers
were forced to close, according to the Arizona Early Childhood Alliance. Essentially, the number of children needing care has well exceeded the number of available spots in licensed, affordable day care centers in the Valley. In addition to high prices and lack of availability, Benedict said sometimes kids just don’t fit the box standards required by day care centers. “I have a 3-year-old and she’s not fully potty trained, so they won’t put her in the 3-year-old class,” she said. “So, the fact that she can go to someone’s house and they’ll take care of her like I would take care of her, that’s why Caribou interested me. When it comes to day cares and child care, you have to have specific standards, and not every
performances on the Gyder Mainstage. It then moves outdoors for dinner and dancing under the stars at Osuna Park Plaza, where House of Cirque will light the night with fire dancing and musician Lee Perreira will perform. Theatergoers don’t have to wait long for live performances on the main stage. “An Evening of Music Celebrating Black History” is slated for Friday, Feb. 25, and Saturday, Feb. 26. In March, Theater Works will debut After Dark for audiences 16 and older. The first show on the bill is “The Superhero Ultraferno,” playing Friday, March 18, through Sunday, April 10. Also in April, youth actors in Theater Works’ Theater Alive! will perform “School House Rock Live! Jr.” Theater Works didn’t rest on its laurels during the pandemic. The company adapted to the conditions by creating a series of “immersive theater experiences” that converted the performing arts center into an “Alice and Wonderland” SEE THEATER PAGE 18
Caribou Childcare is ‘moms helping moms’ BY ALLISON BROWN
Glendale Star Staff Writer
Shortages seem to be impacting every aspect of life, and child care is no exception. With many parents now preparing to return to the office to work, they are left with expensive or completely unavailable child care options. Caribou Childcare, recently launched in the Valley, is an online service that matches stay-at-home moms with families looking for child care. Glendale mom of three Robin Benedict said she was originally planning to go back to work and was looking for child care for her daughter when she found Caribou. She said once she looked into the service, it was a game changer for her.
kid fits those standards. Not every kid is ready at the same time.” Caribou was started mid-pandemic by moms for moms, who both know that being a stay-at-home mom is a full-time job. According to Stephanie McAlpine, Caribou’s regional ambassador, the service matches thoroughly vetted caregivers with families who have similar demographics such as age of kids, location, family dynamics and other personalized factors. “As a mom, who is there better to trust our kids with than people who have actually been through it and raised their own kids as well?” McAlpine said. “Sometimes it’s nice to have someone that knows what each cry means or that
SEE CARIBOU PAGE 18
