Jerome Scott as Anansi in Curio Theatre’s Anansi the Spider (Photo by J.R. Blackwell)

What if going to the theater meant getting to help build the show yourself?

Starting this week, Curio Theatre Company is bringing back its interactive Make/Partake series with Anansi the Spider: A Make/Partake Experience, a hands-on family production running through Nov. 22.

Designed for children ages 3 and up, the show invites young audience members to do far more than just watch. Before seeing their work integrated into the performance, kids get to make props, craft sound effects, and even help “control the weather” on stage. Curio first introduced the Make/Partake format in 2021 to give local families a more accessible, engaging entry point to live theater.

The production centers on traditional West African folklore from the Ashanti people of Ghana. The story follows Anansi, a clever trickster who dreams of becoming the keeper of all the world’s stories. To earn the title, the Sky God Nyame challenges Anansi to capture a python, a leopard, and a swarm of hornets. Rather than relying on brute force, Anansi uses quick thinking and creativity to complete the tasks—teaching young viewers that ingenuity can be stronger than physical strength.

Directed by Mya Flood, the cast features Jerome Scott, Taahira Teshi, and Janaan Ashton.

Performances are on Saturdays at 11 a.m. & 1 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for children. For more information, visit www.curiotheatre.org.