Santa's sleigh gets a science lesson downtown in December. Manship Theatre presents Doktor Kaboom's Science of Santa, created by actor and educator David Epley, with a public matinee on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 2 p.m. and school/group shows on Monday, Dec. 7, at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.

What the show is

Doktor Kaboom asks whether science and magic are the same thing and whether Mr. Claus might be the world's greatest scientist, then tries to recreate Santa's wonders with basic physics. Manship pitches it for grades 2–5 and families, in the same spirit as Bill Nye or The Magic School Bus, with comedy layered over real science topics from matter and motion to earth and space.

Epley has toured the Kaboom character through more than 2,500 live shows for audiences worldwide. The Baton Rouge stop is presented with support from the Charles Lamar Family Foundation.

Tickets and timing

Public tickets start at $20; groups of 25 or more pay $17 each. As of early November, the Dec. 7 performances were listed for field trips and large groups only, with Manship asking individuals to check back for updates. Buy through Manship Theatre's site; third-party tickets may not be valid, and every patron needs a seat.

Manship Theatre is at 100 Lafayette St. in the Shaw Center. Call the ticket desk at 225-344-0334 or email [email protected].

It is a smart December outing for curious kids who have already seen enough mall Santas and still want a holiday show downtown.

Doktor Kaboom's Science of Santa Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St., Baton Rouge Sun., Dec. 6, 2 p.m. (plus Dec. 7 group shows) Tickets from $20 manshiptheatre.org | 225-344-0334

Photo courtesy of Manship Theatre.