- By Hangar Theatre
- Entertainment
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December 6, 2007 - (ITHACA) The Hangar Theatre is celebrating its 20th anniversary season of KIDDSTUFF. From June 11th through August 23rd, the 2008 KIDDSTUFF Season provides an affordable way for parents and children to experience live theatre together with family-friendly plays that will spark the imagination-The Kid Who Talked to Penguins, Pinocchio, Reeling, Charlotte's Web, and Les Misérables. This season KIDDSTUFF subscriptions return to the low price of $20: five shows for the price of four.
"The 2008 KIDDSTUFF season includes some of the most exciting titles for young audiences," explains Associate Artistic Director, Wendy Dann. "The productions range from folk tales to adaptations of classic works of children's literature to an epic musical. The Hangar is thrilled by the opportunity to engage young audiences in a dialogue around themes important to kids," says Dann, "like understanding the cycle of life in Charlotte's Web, discovering your conscience in Pinocchio, and learning how each of us is special in The Kid Who Talked to Penguins." Throughout the summer, the seven productions will be presented on select Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays with performances at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon at the Hangar Theatre in Cass Park.
The season kicks off on June 11th with The Kid Who Talked to Penguins by Ed Monk. Audiences will join Billy McGee on his adventure in the world of penguins after an extraordinary visit to the zoo. Dann is looking forward to presenting the play to school groups in six special school-time performances. "More than 2,000 students from schools throughout the region will have the opportunity to come to the Hangar to see a professional theatre production," she explains. "For many of these young people, this will be their first exposure to a live production, as well as being a highlight of their school year."
From June 26th to June 28th and again from July 3rd to the 5th, Blanche Marvin's Pinocchio retells the classic Italian folk tale of a wooden toy who learns to follow his conscience in order to become a real boy.
From July 17th - 19th and July 24th - 26th, Reeling, by Barry Kornhauser, revives the silent movie era onstage with slapstick comedy, melodrama, pratfalls and daredevil stunts. Audiences will join "Our Hero" through thrilling Keystone Kop-esque chases and narrow escapes as the silent movie jumps off the screen and onto the live stage.
From August 6th to the 9th, Charlotte's Web, based on the book by E.B. White and adapted for the stage by Joseph Robinette, brings to life everyone's favorite pig, Wilbur, and Charlotte, an extraordinary spider, who weaves messages in her web to save him from the butcher. Charlotte triumphs and teaches Wilbur lessons in loyalty, friendship and the cycle of life.
The school edition of the second-longest running show in Broadway history, Les Misérables, will be performed entirely by our Next Generation School of Theatre! From August 21st to the 23rd, Hangar audiences will be joining the millions of people around the world who have been touched by the story originally adapted from Victor Hugo's timeless novel. Dann affirms, "Les Misérables, School Edition is a groundbreaking event for our theatre students and the community. We're proud to offer Next Generation this challenging production experience this summer."
Two Next Generation showcases will also be offered this summer: KIDDPLAY, a showcase of plays written by kids for kids, and KIDDSTARS, a variety show performed by the Next Generation Theatre Camp. Single tickets will be available for these showcases, separate from the KIDDSTUFF 2008 subscription package.
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