These kids’ parties are no ordinary events

In a moment of urgency, Creative Parties for Kids owner Lisa Cohen needed to be a superhero.

The actor who was supposed to play Batman for a children’s party called in sick, and the fledgling business owner and her young daughter needed the gig and the money.

So Cohen, who at the time was recovering from hip replacement surgery, wrapped her chest in bandages, donned the costume and played the superhero.

“I did the party and rocked it; I got a $40 tip and an apology,” Cohen said, recalling from her work studio in Orange how the client was ready to fire her. “You do what you have to do because that covered the negative balance in my bank account. It’s not easy being a single mom in Orange County.”

More than 20 years ago, Cohen started Creative Parties for Kids as a way to support her daughter. Today, Cohen has a business that employs more than a dozen actors performing in parties all over Los Angeles and Orange counties. The company was recently selected to provide the princess entertainment on a segment of “The Real Housewives of Orange County.”

Her daughter, Leah Cohen, is an actress who now runs the business’ Los Angeles division and its social media.

“I’m a mom, first and foremost. That’s my main thing, my motivating thing,” Lisa Cohen said. “I not only have a responsibility to her but to anyone who works for me. They’re creative … with their own dreams, and I’m able to give them a job so they can pay for their headshots and their rent. They inspire me every day.”

Born and raised in Colorado, Cohen grew up loving the arts. She earned her bachelor’s degree in theater and dance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and performed with the Denver Center Theatre Company. She also studied acting at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.

She came to California in 1986 to pursue acting but soon started a dance business called Dance on Wheels as a way to earn a living. She and a boyfriend created the story and music for the dance class, put it on a cassette tape and did free demonstrations for preschools.

“I loved the arts in children,” she said. “I loved seeing them get a chance to be creative. I had taught drama and dance in Denver public schools, and it became the model for Dance on Wheels.”

She saw the business grow from three schools to 45 schools in the Los Angeles area. Meanwhile, Cohen also did parties as a side business after one of her dance students requested that service.

In 1989, Cohen appeared on a TV show for an “Alice in Wonderland”-inspired tea party. For the segment, Cohen had original music and interactive games for the segment, which launched the party company.

“I was determined to marry the arts and practicality,” she said.

After she became a wife, Cohen sold Dance on Wheels and moved to Orange County to focus on being a stay-at-home mother who taught dance classes part-time and put on parties.

But when her marriage fell apart, Cohen had to start over. She decided to grow the party portion of the business and called it Creative Parties for Kids.

“(Leah and I) had nothing but this business and each other,” she said.

Her daughter grew up in the business, dressing as characters for parties.

“It was a fun thing, but then it was like, ‘Oh no, this is my mom’s job. This is to make sure we have food,’” Leah Cohen said. “I was exposed to life’s realities sooner than expected. I had to help with the business.”

Today, Creative Parties has grown beyond birthday parties. The company’s portfolio includes party planning, corporate, community and charity events, and holiday contracts for shopping destinations such as Fashion Island and Los Angeles’ Citadel Outlets.

The company also takes requests. One year, Creative Parties created a scene from “Where the Wild Things Are” that included the bed of Max, the main character in the 1963 children’s book. After wreaking havoc while dressed in a wolf costume, the boy is sent to bed without his supper, and his bedroom takes on a jungle-like transformation.

“We do all sorts of fun stuff, and we go out of our way to create that theme,” Lisa Cohen said. “I think it’s one of the things that sets us apart.”

Still, children’s parties are the company’s bread and butter. Cohen said she charges $160 to $460 for a character party, with more for a magic show or face painting. A party can have up to 10 to 15 characters.

San Juan Capistrano resident Alyson Aurigemma hired Creative Parties for a “Star Wars”-themed party for her son Quint, who turned 5 earlier this month.

Cohen’s company created an experience that included music, actors and Jedi training.

“We still have parents and kids talking to us about how fun that party was and what an amazing, interactive experience it was for the kids,” Aurigemma said. “I didn’t do anything. I just told her what I wanted, and she just makes this magic happen.”

Leah said it’s been inspiring to watch her mother succeed in growing the business, from moving into a 1,200-square-foot work studio in 2011 to creating her own children’s show, “Lisi Pigglepen’s Playplace,” on the Kaleidoscope Kids TV Network on ROKU.

Most of Creative Parties’ performers are local talent from the Orange County High School of the Arts in Santa Ana, Chapman University and Cal State Fullerton theater programs. Cohen’s company provides the actors with training, costumes and props for their events.

“Back in the day, it was my mom trying to style a wig with supplies from Sally Beauty; now everything is so well put together,” Leah Cohen said. “We have more help, a place to train (actors).”

The company has developed a training video and manual for performers and is looking to expand to other areas with franchises.

Bear Sanchez, casting and training director for Creative Parties, said Lisa hired him at a time when he was going through a divorce and trying to make ends meet as an actor supporting his family.

“I’ve never met someone with a higher work ethic. Sometimes I’ll find her asleep at her desk,” said Sanchez, who is dating Lisa. “It was all about survival for her. And that mentality stayed with her, because it’s not just about her daughter. She feels responsible for every person who works for her.”

For more information, visit creativepartiesforkids.com.