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Children's
Theatre of Charlotte Announces 2008-09 Season
Highlights
include world premiere production, spectacular classics and emphasis on work for
teens
A
strong 10-play lineup for the 2008-09 season continues Children’s Theatre of
Charlotte’s commitment to providing theatre that entertains, challenges and
inspires young people and families. In its 61st year, the Theatre
presents a wide range of shows, including a world premiere play commissioned
from a
North Carolina
playwright, a dazzling and technically ambitious trip to Neverland, two works
specifically for teens and several returning audience favorites. Children’s
Theatre will also host several guest artists, including African drum and dance
ensemble Djembe Fire! making their debut at ImaginOn.
The
season opens with Peter Pan, the
musical version of James M. Barrie’s celebrated tale about a boy who never
wants to grow up. This production’s spirited songs and sense of adventure have
enchanted audiences since the play first appeared on Broadway in the 1950s.
Children’s Theatre’s version promises to bring the story’s magic to life
with a spectacular staging in the McColl Family Theatre, including the
Theatre’s first-ever use of flying technology.
The
Tarradiddle Players, Children’s Theatre’s Resident Touring Company, begin
their season with A Thousand Cranes,
the true story of Sadako Sasaki. When she developed leukemia from exposure to
the atomic bomb that devastated
Hiroshima
, Sadako devoted herself to folding one thousand paper cranes in hopes of curing
herself and sending a message of peace to the world. This affecting play
showcases the Tarradiddle Players’ intimate and powerful storytelling style.
After
presenting world-premiere holiday events for the past two years, Children’s
Theatre of Charlotte returns to two beloved audience favorites for the 2008-09
holiday season. In The Best Christmas
Pageant Ever, the horrible Herdman kids take over the annual town
pageant, with outrageous, hilarious, and surprisingly heart-warming results. The
Tarradiddle Players will perform The
Velveteen Rabbit for the holidays, one of the most treasured tales in
their repertoire.
A
Year With Frog and Toad,
the first production of 2009, celebrates the joy of true friendship, as best
chums Frog and Toad enjoy the simple pleasures life brings their way throughout
the course of a year. This charming musical adaptation of Arnold Lobel’s
stories won a regional Tony award on Broadway when first produced by the
Children’s Theatre Company of
Minneapolis
. When the Tarradiddle Players return to the Wachovia Playhouse with the rock
‘n’ roll musical The True Story of the
Three Little Pigs, the big, bad wolf finally gets a chance to tell
his side of the story - and he has an entirely different take on this familiar
tale.
Spring
brings two works for middle and high school audiences, including a powerful
world-premiere production by
North Carolina
playwright Bob Inman. With inspiration drawn from the landmark Brown v. Board
of Education Supreme Court case, The Drama
Club explores racial prejudice in a modern high school setting,
raising questions about how people truly connect with each other and what the
stakes are if they fail. Part of the
US
Airways New Plays Festival for Families, this production is also supported by
the 2007 McColl Award from the Arts and Science Council. Next up, The
Secret Life of Girls takes a brutally honest look at cyber-bullying
among female students and continues the Theatre’s commitment to producing
relevant and thought-provoking work for teens.
Alice
in Concert
brings the well-known stories of “
Alice
’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass” to life in
a new way. Using a wide variety of musical styles and the fabulous characters
from Lewis Carroll’s prodigious imagination, this whimsical musical follows
Alice
down the rabbit hole and into the magical world of Wonderland. The Tarradiddle
Players finish their season in the Wachovia Playhouse with The
Commedia Aladdin, a hilariously slap-stick addition to their
repertoire of Commedia dell’arte favorites.
For
the 2008-09 season, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte also offers some new ways
for families to save on tickets. In addition to the traditional Early Bird
Discount (order by September 1 and save $1 per ticket), the Theatre will offer a
new season-long program through which families can save $2 per ticket by
ordering tickets for three or more productions at one time. In addition, tickets
to select Friday night performances throughout the year, designated as Fab
Fridays!, will be half-price.
All
performances will be in the McColl Family Theatre or Wachovia Playhouse at
ImaginOn: The Joe &
Joan
Martin
Center
,
300 E. 7th Street
. For more information call the
Box Office
at 704-973-2828 (10 am to 5 pm, Mon.-Fri.). Information will be available on
the Children’s Theatre website (www.ctcharlotte.org)
in early May. For general questions about Children's Theatre of Charlotte or to
request our 2008-09 season brochure, call 704-973-2800 (9 am to 5 pm,
Mon.-Fri.). Details on all productions follow.
Peter
Pan
Musical
based on the play by James M. Barrie
Music
by Mark Charlap • Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh
Sept.
26 - Oct. 26, 2008 • McColl Family Theatre
Front
Orchestra $24.00 • General Admission $18.00
One
night, young Wendy Darling wakes up to find a mysterious boy outside her nursery
window, looking for his shadow. His name is Peter Pan and he lives on the
magical
island
of
Neverland
, where no parents or rules are allowed and children never have to grow up.
Peter invites Wendy to return with him and take care of the Lost Boys, his troop
of runaways. Wendy and her brothers John and Michael fly with him beyond the
stars to his mystical realm, where fabulous adventures await them. Will the Lost
Boys decide that it might be nice to have a mother after all? Will the malicious
Captain Hook make the Lost Boys walk the plank? Will Peter Pan ever have to grow
up? We kick off our 61st season with the musical version of James M.
Barrie’s celebrated tale, which first appeared on Broadway in the 1950s. This
production’s beloved songs and thrilling action will enchant the entire
family. For Ages 6+/Grades 1+.
A
Thousand Cranes
By
Kathryn Schultz Miller
Oct.
24 - Nov. 2, 2008 •
Wachovia Playhouse
Front
Orchestra $18.00 • General Admission $14.00
This
delicate and beautiful play tells the true story of Sadako Sasaki, a story of
personal strength, courage and love of life. Sadako was 12 years old in 1955
when she developed leukemia from exposure to the atomic bomb that devastated her
city. Once a star runner, Sadako finds herself confined to a hospital bed. A
friend reminds Sadako of the Japanese legend that if a sick person folds 1,000
origami paper cranes they will be healed. With the help of her friend, Sadako
pours all of her energy into folding the cranes, of which she wrote “I will
write Peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world.” Performed by
the Tarradiddle Players. For Ages 7+/Grades 2+.
The
Best Christmas Pageant Ever
By
Barbara Robinson
Dec.
5-21, 2008 •
McColl Family Theatre
Front
Orchestra $24.00 • General Admission $18.00
The
Herdman kids are probably the meanest, nastiest, most inventively awful kids in
the history of the world … so who decided to cast them in the annual church
Christmas pageant!? You won’t believe the mayhem – and the fun – when the
Herdmans meet the Christmas story in a head-on collision. Their interpretation
will make this year’s pageant the most unusual anyone in town has seen, and,
just possibly, the best one ever. This holiday gem is always one of our most
popular shows, so get your tickets early! For Ages 5+/Grades K+.
The
Velveteen Rabbit
Adapted
by Scott Davidson from the story by Margery Williams
Dec.
12-22, 2008 •
Wachovia Playhouse
Front
Orchestra $18.00 • General Admission $14.00
The
Velveteen Rabbit is an ordinary stuffed bunny filled with sawdust. All the other
toys in the nursery snub him for being boring and old-fashioned, but once the
Boy discovers the forlorn little rabbit they become instant friends. As their
friendship grows, the Velveteen Rabbit learns what it means to be truly loved
– and the joy and pain of what it means to be real. Adapted from the classic
book by Margery Williams, this poignant story of the transformative power of
love has charmed generations of families and continues to be one of our most
popular productions. Performed by the Tarradiddle Players. For Ages 3+/Grades
PreK+.
A
Year with Frog and Toad
Music
by Robert Reale •
Book & Lyrics by Willie Reale
Based
on the books by Arnold Lobel
Jan.
23 - Feb. 15, 2009 •
McColl Family Theatre
Front
Orchestra $24.00 • General Admission $18.00
Arnold
Lobel’s Frog and Toad books have been favorites of early readers since 1971.
The tales find the two amphibious friends spending their days swimming in the
river, planting gardens, flying kites and telling spooky stories in front of the
fire. Life is good in the tender, joyful stories of true friendship and simple
pleasures. When first produced by the Children’s Theatre Company of
Minneapolis
, A Year With Frog and Toad won a
regional Tony award on Broadway. Since then it has been seen by adoring fans all
over the country. For Ages 3+/Grades PreK+.
The
True Story of the Three Little Pigs
Book
and Lyrics by Robert Kauzlaric
Music
by Paul Gilvary and William Rush
Adapted
from the book by Jon Scieska and Lane Smith
©
1989 by Jon Scieska and Lane Smith
Feb.
13 - Mar. 1, 2009 •
Wachovia Playhouse
Front
Orchestra $18.00 • General Admission $14.00
Everyone
knows the story of the Three Little Pigs, right? Three piggies build houses, but
two of them choose lousy materials and get devoured by a Big Bad Wolf. The third
builds with brick and lives to see another day. The End. But have we heard the
whole truth, or is this porcine propaganda? Jon Scieszka raises that question in
this brilliant parody of the Three Little Pigs, brought exuberantly to the stage
by Robert Kauzlaric. This rock ‘n’ roll musical finds the Big Bad Wolf on
trial for his purported deeds, and, believe me, he has an entirely different
version of the story. The audience becomes the jury and helps decide: guilty or
not guilty!! Your vote could change the fate of the Big Bad Wolf (or, is it the
poor, innocent Wolfie) forever... Performed by the Tarradiddle Players. For Ages
5+/Grades K+.
The
Drama Club
By
Bob Inman
Mar.
13-22, 2009 •
McColl Family Theatre
Front
Orchestra $24.00 • General Admission $18.00
It’s
the beginning of a new school year, and the high school drama club is holding
auditions for its fall production. As the acknowledged leader of the club, Emily
is sure she will be offered the lead role – until the arrival of an equally
talented transfer student named Tasha challenges Emily’s position as the best
actress in school. A volatile rivalry between the two becomes more than a
contest for a part in a play, and tensions between the Caucasian and the
African-American girls spread from the drama club to the entire school. Students
wrestle with their peers, their racial prejudices and themselves. Cracks in the
social strata reveal the simmering complexity beneath. What will boil over and
what will be left … for better or worse? With inspiration drawn from the
landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case,
The Drama Club explores a modern dilemma that schools continue to
face: how do we truly connect with each other and what are the stakes if we
fail? NOTE: This production contains mature themes and strong language and is
recommended for middle and high school audiences.
The
Secret Life of Girls
By
Linda Daugherty
Mar.
26 - Apr. 4, 2009 •
Wachovia Playhouse
All
seats $10
Abby
wants to be accepted as a new member of the school’s championship volleyball
team. But Stephanie, the popular team captain, is upset that her friends have
been spending time with Abby, so she begins an IM campaign to keep Abby off the
court. As the girls jockey for position within their peer group, they use IM,
text messaging and chat rooms to play off each other’s emotional insecurities.
All the bullying, rumors, secret alliances and backstabbing spin out of control,
throwing the girls’ lives into chaos. Parents and teachers, meanwhile,
haven’t got a clue. Linda Daugherty, playwright and mother of teenage girls,
conducted extensive interviews with girls on the giving and receiving end of
bullying to create this brutally honest look into The
Secret Life of Girls. NOTE: This production contains mature themes
and language and is recommended for middle and high school audiences.
Alice
in Concert
Book,
Words & Music by Elizabeth Swados
Based
on “
Alice
in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass” by Lewis Carroll
Apr.
17 - May 3, 2009 •
McColl Family Theatre
Front
Orchestra $24.00 • General Admission $18.00
This
spectacular musical tells the beloved stories of “
Alice
’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass” like you
have never seen them before! Using a wide variety of musical styles and the
fabulous characters from Lewis Carroll’s prodigious imagination, well-known
playwright and composer Elizabeth Swados follows
Alice
down the rabbit hole and into the magical world of Wonderland. There she
encounters some of the most memorable creatures in children’s literature,
among them the time-challenged White Rabbit, the tea loving Mad Hatter and the
mysterious Cheshire Cat. With catchy tunes, witty lyrics and a remarkable cast
of Carroll’s creatures, Swados takes us on the most whimsical trip imaginable.
For Ages 6+/Grades 1+.
The
Commedia Aladdin
By
Lane Riosley
May
1-10, 2009 •
Wachovia Playhouse
Front
Orchestra $18.00 • General Admission $14.00
Hop
on a magic carpet with Aladdin as he summons the powerful Genie of the Lamp and
changes his fortunes forever. With The
Commedia Aladdin, our Tarradiddle Players continue their tradition of
bringing classic stories to the stage with a hilarious twist. The centuries old
Italian Commedia dell’arte theatre style inspired such modern day comedians as
Abbott and Costello and the Marx Brothers. Fresh, fast-paced and full of
physical humor, our Commedia shows are always faithful to the original tale –
but with an irresistible mix of naivety and silliness that leaves audiences
helpless with laughter. Performed by the Tarradiddle Players. For Ages 5+/Grades
K+.
Billy
Jonas
Nov.
1-2, 2008 • McColl Family Theatre
Front
Orchestra $14.00 • General Admission $12.00
Back for his TENTH consecutive season is composer, songsmith, and
multi-instrumentalist Billy Jonas. Billy performs his original songs, stories,
and improvisations with voice, guitar, and “Industrial Re-percussion” – a
collection of instruments he made from found, foraged, and recycled objects. The
audience joins in with singing, dancing, and banging-a-long! For Grades K+
Tarradiddle
Tales
(preschool performance)
By Flora B. Atkin
Nov. 22-23, 2008 • Wachovia Playhouse
Front
Orchestra $12.00 • General Admission $10.00
A great introduction to live theatre for our youngest audiences, Tarradiddle
Tales explores four simple folk tales from four different countries:
“The Magic Tree,” a Bantu folk tale; “Peter the Fool,” a Danish story;
“Spider Talk,” an Anansi story from
Ghana
; and “Tiger Trap,” from
India
. Three actors tell the tales in a playful storytelling style that makes clever
use of colorful prop pieces and involves audience interaction. For Grades PreK
The
Best of Omimeo
Written and performed by the Omimeo Mime Theatre
Jan. 16-18, 2008 • Wachovia Playhouse
Front
Orchestra $14.00 • General Admission $12.00
For 30 years the Omimeo Mime Theatre has offered audiences a cornucopia of
creativity and imaginative theatre. This season Hardin Minor, Eddie Williams and
the Omimeo regulars will present a special performance featuring favorite
vignettes from the Omimeo repertory. From circus arts to acrobatics, mime to
vaudeville, this show will keep you on the edge of your seat. For Grades K+
A
Tangle of Tales
Performed
by the Grey Seal Puppets
Jan. 31 - Feb. 1, 2009 • Wachovia Playhouse
Front
Orchestra $14.00 • General Admission $12.00
This whimsical show from the Grey Seal Puppets brings three folk tales from
around the world to life ...”The Frog Prince” from Germany, “Three Billy
Goats Gruff” from Scandinavia and “The Three Little Pigs” from England.
Along with these familiar tales, you’ll see a skinny ant dance a jig; “block
heads” learning how to get around; and the zany “Wobblies” opening the
show with an extraordinary ballet choreographed to Kablevsky’s “The
Comedian’s Suite.” For Grades PreK+
Djembe
Fire!
African
drum and dance ensemble
Mar. 6-7, 2009 • Wachovia Playhouse
Front
Orchestra $14.00 • General Admission $12.00
Feel your body move and your spirit soar as the master drummers and dancers of
Djembe Fire! take you on a rhythmic journey across
Africa
. Authentic instruments, costumes, stories and songs come together in this
unique performance that will delight young and old alike. Audiences join in the
show, adding their energy to that of the talented performers. For Grades PreK+
Animal
Tales
(preschool performance)
By
Joanna Gerdy
April 25-26, 2009 • Wachovia Playhouse
Front
Orchestra $12.00 • General Admission $10.00
Animal Tales, one of our special
performances for preschoolers, features a variety of different animal stories,
poems and songs drawn from fables, folk tales and legends. The stories teach
universal lessons and spark youthful imaginations.
Animal Tales is a wonderful introduction to the joys of live theatre.
For Grades PreK
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