‘Bob the Builder’ encourages kids to go green

Student organizations and Al Gore aren’t the only ones worrying about the environment.

Bob the Builder and his crew will urge kids to go green and recycle during a performance at the IU Auditorium today.

The 90-minute show will include Bob and his team singing and dancing through 10 songs as they work to create a recycling center, said Maria Talbert, the events manager for the auditorium.

“They are going green, and that’s the big message of their performance,” Talbert said.

Doug Booher, director of the IU Auditorium, is quoted in a press release saying the message of the show reflects the values of the Bloomington community.

While college students aren’t the intended age group for the show, Talbert said the Auditorium tries to provide one kid-geared show each season in addition to a few family-friendly shows that are accessible for younger audiences.

“Each season we work to find high-quality children’s shows to present at IU,” said Booher. “Bob the Builder fits that criterion and focuses on teaching kids about the importance of protecting the environment.”

Booher said IU students, especially those with children or younger family members, have taken advantage of the family-friendly programming in the past.

Some IU students are guaranteed to be in attendance while working as volunteer ushers for the Auditorium.

“There are a number of our student volunteers who know how fun these shows are to work,” Talbert said.

“There’s really nothing like being in a theater for a children’s show when the curtain goes up and they see their favorite character on stage.”