Trains roll in for children's show at Show Me Center

"It's the Cadillac of children's theater. This show is the best they will see," said Kevin Sims, who plays the role of Sir Topham Hatt in "Thomas & Friends Live! Onstage: A Circus Comes to Town."

The show will be at the Show Me Center Tuesday and Wednesday. Through live dancing and singing, it tells the story of what happens when Thomas the Tank Engine makes a mistake, bringing a circus by surprise to the island of Sodor and all the characters must work together to take care of the performers.

Sir Topham Hat is the head of the Railway and makes sure the Thomas and the other engines behave and are on time. But Thomas is the main event, Sims said.

"When the kids see Thomas, he is like a rock star to them," laughed Sims. "He's a celebrity."

Audience members are encouraged to sing along, move and dance with the action onstage. Sims said viewers should "get out of your chair for a second, have fun, be active."

The interactive aspect of the show may have consequences for the audience beside just entertainment. The show stresses lessons on obedience, making good choices and developing respect.

"All the characters are proactive in what they do, in things like being on time," said Sims. "We see that when they are hasty or act selfishly, chaos ensues. Accidents do happen, and you learn to do right the next time. Thomas has a sense of duty and responsibility, which helps children grow and make good choices."

Preparations for the show began at the end of 2008. After auditioning in New York City with the parent production company, AEG Themestar, the cast spent January rehearsing, learning about trains and watching numerous episodes of the television show to maintain the continuity of the popular characters. The set pieces were assembled during that time with crew members from Australia and the United Kingdom, where HIT Entertainment, owners of the Thomas & Friends properties, is located. The show kicked off with a tour of the West Coast in January and will cover all regions of the United States.

Sims said playing Sir Topham Hatt in this tour has given him an appreciation for the professional attitude and standards of performing with a touring company and the teamwork required of everyone involved.

"Thomas reminds us to work hard first, and have fun later," Sims said. He said that performing this story eight times a week for the past several months has affected the cast and crew and how they relate to one another.

"When the majority of your daily life is spent talking about respect, it is bound to reflect the material," Sims said. With a laugh he added, "We even have unusually cheery dispositions."