Santa Monica’s Morgan-Wixson Theatre

Youth Education/Entertainment Series (Y.E.S.) proudly presents:

Madeline & The Gypsies

Based upon the book by Ludwig Bemelmans

Adapted by Barry Kornhauser

Music by  Michael Koerner

March 23 – April 7, 2013

Directed by Anne Gesling

Produced by Christine Brewer and Kimberly Venable

Choreographed by Mary McGowan

Santa Monica, CA –

In this delightful stage adaptation of Ludwig Bemelmans classic children’s story, the irrepressible Madeline and her friend Pepito get lost during a visit to the carnival. The two are adopted by the mysterious Gypsy Mama, and their rousing adventures with a traveling circus begin! But poor Miss Clavel and the girls won’t rest until Madeline and Pepito are brought safely home. This new musical bursts with daring circus acts, song and sweet silliness.

In August 2012, the readers of LA Parent magazine voted the Morgan-Wixson’s Y.E.S. Youth Education/Entertainment Series as one of the Top 2 Children’s Theatres in all of Los Angeles.

Madeline is a children's book series written by Ludwig Bemelmans, an Austrian author. The books have been adapted into numerous formats, spawning telefilms, television series and also into a live action feature film. The adaptations are famous for having the closing line, first uttered by actress Ethel Barrymore in a play: "That's all there is; there isn't any more.” The first book in the series, Madeline, was published in 1939. It proved to be a success, and Bemelmans wrote many sequels to the original during the 1940s and 1950s. The series continues to this day, written by Bemelmans' grandson John Bemelmans-Marciano.

Anne Gesling, co-founder of Morgan-Wixson’s Y.E.S. program, directs again having recently directed this past fall’s youth musical Once Upon a Mattress and last year’s successful How I Became a Pirate.  In 2011, the theatre had record-breaking ticket sales with the Gesling-directed Los Angeles Premiere of Pinkalicious, The Musical.  The pre-opening demand for tickets to see that show was the largest presale in the history of the Morgan-Wixson Theatre, and to meet the public’s demand for tickets, the theatre added extra performances during the first run in February 2011 and brought it back for a second run in the summer of 2011.  Anne collaborates with choreographer Mary McGowan, who most recently starred in Once Upon a Mattress.

JUST THE FACTS 

WHAT:                      Based upon the book by Ludwig Bemelmans. Adapted by Barry Kornhauser, Music by  Michael Koerner 

WHEN:                      March 23 through April 7, 2013

                                    Saturdays & Sundays at 11am 

WHERE:        Morgan-Wixson Theatre, 2627 Pico Boulevard (Pico @ 27^th Street), Santa Monica, CA  90405.  Accessible by Big Blue Bus #7 and #8. 

ADMISSION:            Adults $10, Children 12 and under $7 

HOW:                         Reserved seats available at www.morgan-wixson.org or phone 310-828-7519.                                   

WEBSITE:                http://www.morgan-wixson.org