It’s Christmas time at the Cincinnati Zoo, and everyone there eagerly anticipates the birth of Bella, the zoo’s first baby hippo. Seven-year-old Lois Jean, the zookeeper’s daughter, is especially excited—she’s counting on Bella to reunite her family in time for the holidays. Then the unexpected happens, and only one person can prevent tragedy. Will Santa arrive in time to save Bella—and Christmas? A heartwarming musical adventure for the whole family.

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I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas book and lyrics by Catherine Bush, music by Dax Dupuy.

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The Barter Players are a group of professional artists who perform world-class theatre for young people. They believe in theatre that awakens the imaginations of the most exciting, most participatory audience in the world: kids. Barter Player performances focus on what brings out bravery in all of us, and shows never talk down to the audience. Because of their fierce theatricality, no-holds-barred acting, and faithfulness to the best stories ever written, they have a following among both children and adults alike (it’s not unusual to have an adult ‘admit’ that they come even without a kid.) The child in all of us deserves wild adventure, incredible story, and the excitement of live theatre so close you can reach out and touch it.

The Barter Players perform at Barter Theatre in Abingdon April through December. Then, during February and March, The Players go on tour, performing at schools all over the Eastern seaboard. Barter Players also tour around the nation every October through December.​ The Players meet the audience before the shows, and often after the shows as well, and love building friendships with the people who come. Bring a young person you love to the theatre or catch them on tour—they’ll surprise you!

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This project was supported, in part, by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

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Pro-Art partners with a variety of venues, for accessibility inquiries or general questions, call (276) 376-4520 or email contact@proartva.org. For weather related updates, patrons are encouraged to check proartva.org for real-time information.

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Pro-Art is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the C. Bascom Slemp Foundation, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, and Mountain Empire Community College.

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