Award-winning Childsplay Theatre will present the bilingual musical “Tomás and the Library Lady” at 7 p.m. Wed., Jan. 17, 2024 at the Kavli Theatre, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

The show is based on the book and true story of the Mexican American author and educator Tomás Rivera, who became the first minority chancellor in the University of California system.

Rivera’s story inspired actor Pat Mora to write a book telling his story, which Childsplay will bring to life for families at the Kavli Theatre.

Rivera, the son of migrant workers, was born in Texas and loved the stories Papa Grande told him. One day while his family was in Iowa picking crops, he met the Library Lady and his life changed.

His imagination took off as he read book after book, discovering a world filled with dinosaurs, tigers and explorers.

The power of reading, storytelling and imagination unfolds in the production.

Based in Tempe, Arizona, Childsplay is a theater company of adult actors and performers who teach and act in uplifting educational productions.

Since its inception in 1977, Childsplay has regularly performed for 250,000 children, teachers, and families annually.

Childsplay also conducts educational programming through its Childsplay Theatre Academy, where more than 1,500 children attend classes annually, as well as the company’s Education Outreach programs.

Tickets are $10 with group discounts available.

Buy tickets from Ticketmaster at ticketmaster.com, or through the Bank of America Performing Arts box office.

For more information, call (805) 449-2787 or go to www.bapacthousandoaks.com.