Photo: Casa Manana

FROM TODDLERS TO TEENS: Casa Manana opens its production of High School Musical tonight with a familiar face calling the shots. Alan Muraoka, who you might (and your kids definitely will) recognize from his role managing Hooper’s Store on Sesame Street, is in town to direct. DFW.com caught up with Muraoka, who says that he’s excited to direct HSM for the third time because it’s got a little bit of everything.
“It’s this blending of theater, pop music and music video. There’s something about the music that is very infectious. And, at its heart, is a very good message – this message of finding your true self and pursuing your dream.”
The show runs through Sunday.

THEATER DEALS: Theatre Three and Dallas Children’s Theatre send word of a couple of upcoming ticket specials. First, Theatre Three is offering half-priced seats to the final weekend of Don’t Dress for Dinner. That one is well worth the price at full admission, as I wrote way back in February. In addition, the theater will offer half-priced tickets to its Thursday performances of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. To buy these tickets, click here and enter the promo code SH5509 for Don’t Dress and ILYH09 for I Love You.
If you’ve got kiddos in the house, then you’ll want to look into DCT’s special offer. Tickets to all opening weekend performances (March 20-22) of The Tale of Peter Rabbit can be had for $14. Click here to buy those tickets and enter the promo code “rabbit.”

THE A STANDS FOR ARCHITECTURE: Wanda Dye, and assistant professor of architecture at the University of Texas at Arlington is a 2009 recipient of the Education Honor Award, handed out annually by the American Institute of Architects. Dye is one of eight winners of the award, which highlights achievment by college faculty in advancing the study of architecture. Dye was picked for “The Everyday City,” a course she designed that examines urban theories.