NEW KIDS ON STAGE THEATRE TO OPEN WITH BROADWAY HIT 13

St. Joseph, MI (October 11, 2011) – Kids On Stage will present the Broadway hit musical 13 as their premier production in their new performance space at The Orchards Mall.  The show will be performed Thursday through Sunday, October 27-30 and Thursday through Saturday, November 3-5.  Performance times are 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with a 3:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday and Sunday.  All tickets are $8.00.  Seating is general admission.  Tickets may be purchased at www.dougskidsonstage.com or by calling 269 313-2796.  The production is directed by Doug Fordyce, owner and director of Kids On Stage. A National Youth Theatre award winning children’s theatre company, Kids On Stage is dedicated to the development of life skills in children through the performing arts.  Kids On Stage is an opportunity for school-age children to grow in self-confidence and communication skills by preparing and performing high quality musical productions. 

13, the musical, is a grown-up story about growing up.  When his parents get divorced and he's forced to move from New York to Appleton, Indiana, Evan Goldman just wants to make friends and survive the school year. As Evan walks a tightrope between the treacherous allure of the cool kids -- the head cheerleader, the football star and their acolytes -- and the warmth of his "weirdo", geeky pals, he learns what it means to become a man.  13 is about everyone’s struggle to "fit in" while staying true to others and themselves.  The show presents contemporary adolescent life in its truest and sometimes rawest form.  As such, the show carries a PG-13 rating and may not be suitable for younger audiences.

In September, Kids On Stage moved into their own rehearsal and performance space at The Orchards Mall.  “We are excited about the opportunities available to us now that we control our own space,” said Fordyce.  “Our own rehearsal and performance space will provide a platform from which we can expand programs which will benefit more kids who are interested in all aspects of theatrical production.”  Among Fordyce’s plans for the future are technical theatre internships for area students and dramatic, non-musical performances.  “We can now provide more opportunities to put kids on stage,” Fordyce explained.  “Many kids who want to act on stage aren’t necessarily gifted with the ability to sing.  Our plans are to give more opportunities to those kids by producing occasional plays that don’t require any singing ability at all.” 

For more information, call 269 313-2795, email doug@dougskidsonstage.com or go online to www.dougskidsonstage.com.