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News Releases 
From Fantasy to Reality and Back Again: CTC's 39th Season is a Celebration of Family 
Four productions new to Twin Cities and two recent CTC favorites
For Immediate Release: March 27, 2003
The Children's Theatre Company's 2003/2004 main stage season includes four productions that are new to the Twin Cities: Honk! The Ugly Duckling Musical, Amber Waves, Snapshot Silhouette (which is also a world premiere), and The Magic Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle; and two recent CTC favorites: Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse and The Wizard of Oz. CTC's 18th annual touring production is Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse.
CTC's 39th season celebrates family, in all its various forms, with all its joys and complexities. In six distinct productions, the notion of family, whether explored through the intensity of reality or the extraordinariness of fantasy, is revealed through humor, heart, courage and conviction.
"Belonging to a family - no matter what its criteria - is one of the greatest riches and challenges in anyone's life, whatever their age," says Peter C. Brosius, CTC artistic director. "Next season we'll explore how different families define themselves, how they struggle together, grow together, help each other and make each other strong."
This season, two productions, both new to the CTC main stage, intensely reflect two contemporary, yet vastly different Minnesota families. The regional premiere of Amber Waves, by noted playwright James Still, looks at the heart and soul of a rural Minnesota farm family fighting to keep every aspect of their lives together. The world premiere of Snapshot Silhouette, by acclaimed New York playwright Kia Corthron (and created in CTC's new play lab THRESHOLD), tells the story of two young girls, one a Somali immigrant, one an African-American, whose lives and losses collide in inner-city Minneapolis.
Two more productions new to the CTC stage involve more fantastical families, based on literary classics. Honk! The Ugly Duckling Musical, based on the Hans Christian Andersen classic, follows the travails of the odd duck out in a feathered family. The Magic Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle will bring Betty MacDonald's unforgettable character to theatrical life as she applies her unique remedies to the wild and unpredictable behavior of children.
Rounding out the season are two productions that have enjoyed enormous success on the CTC main stage. That irrepressible Lilly will ascend the stage with her mouse family and friends in Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse and the determined Midwestern Dorothy and her canine friend Toto will follow the yellow brick road in The Wizard of Oz.
The 2003/2004 season will open with the regional premiere of Honk! The Ugly Duckling Musical, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's beloved fairy tale, with music by George Stiles, and book and lyrics by Anthony Drewe. This classic tale looks at what it means to be different - something that every child (and adult) has experienced. It is a tender, wacky musical that will make you laugh and sing. The production will be directed by David Schweizer, whose previous credits at CTC include Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. The show previews August 19, 20, 21, opens August 22, 2003 and runs through November 1, 2003.
Running in repertory with Honk! The Ugly Duckling Musical is Amber Waves, a regional premiere, written by James Still (whose previous work at CTC was A Village Fable). This contemporary play introduces us to Mike, Penny, Scott and Deb Olson, a family of four trying to cope with the challenges of maintaining their farm in rural Minnesota. Their everyday existence is continually threatened as the pressures of their situation build. But, they persevere. The Olson's will give all families hope as they face adversity and uncertainty with humor, warmth, tenacity and trust in one another. Directed by CTC artistic director Peter C. Brosius, the production previews September 2, 3, 4, opens September 5, 2003 and runs through October 11, 2003.
CTC will celebrate the holidays with its spectacular production of The Wizard of Oz, based on the timeless MGM 1939 film. Originally produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the script is based on the book by L. Frank Baum, with music and lyrics of the MGM motion picture score by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg, background music by Herbert Stothart and book adaptation by John Kane from the motion picture screenplay. Within the framework of CTC's dazzling theatricality, Dorothy discovers that "There's no place like home." The production will once again be directed by Matthew Howe. The show previews November 18, 19, 20, opens November 21, 2003 and runs through January 10, 2004. The popularity of the play is reflected in the fact that it sold more tickets than any other CTC production.
CTC will shake up the New Year with an all new production of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, adapted from the books Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Julius, Baby of the World and Chester's Way by Kevin Henkes and adapted for the stage by Minnesota playwright Kevin Kling. The production is also CTC's 18th Annual Touring show and will have just returned from performing in 31 communities in seven Midwestern states when it takes the main stage. Lilly may be a little girl mouse, but she's cheeky and savvy and barges through life like a queen who likes everything. When Baby Julius arrives, however, the family dynamic changes and Lilly decides baby brother's are just not worth having. Her really cool teacher, Mr. Slinger, shows her that growing up may be hard to do, but well worth it. The production is directed by Darron L. West. The show previews January 20, 21, 22, opens January 23, 2004 and runs through March 6, 2004.
CTC's second winter production will be the world premiere of Snapshot Silhouette, written by noted New York playwright Kia Corthron. Through CTC's new play lab, THRESHOLD, Corthron has created a play that reflects two distinct communities in the Twin Cities (African-American and Somali) and an unexpected friendship that is born of the collision of those communities. When the rebellious Tay C must share her bedroom with the reserved Najma (a recent immigrant from Somalia), they clash culturally, socially and emotionally. Through shared loss and anger, however, they are able to bond and create a new kind of family. The production is directed by Michael John Garces. The show previews March 16, 17, 18, opens March 19, 2004 and runs through April 17, 2004.
The development of Snaphot Silhouette was supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Closing CTC's 39th season is The Magic Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, with book, music and lyrics by Chad Henry and adapted from the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books by Betty MacDonald. She's one of a kind and one of children's literature's greatest characters. And, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, who lives in an upside down house (except for the staircase, bedroom and kitchen, of course), and has a lump - not a hump - on her back (good for attaching wings), will appear on the CTC stage for the first time in this regional premiere. This delightful musical chronicles the tales of this inventive and imaginative character and the children who are the recipients of her magic and wisdom. If there is a way to transform humdrum tasks into adventures, she'll find it. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle is every parent's ally. The production will be directed by CTC artistic director Peter C. Brosius. The show previews April 27, 28, 29, opens April 30 and runs through June 20, 2004.
CTC's 18th Annual Touring production is Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. Once again, The Children's Theatre Company will demonstrate its commitment to the entire state of Minnesota and the region with it's 18th consecutive tour. From October - December, 2003, this production will make stops in seven Midwestern states: Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana and Ohio. The company will perform 60 times in 31 communities and conduct workshops as well. Once home, they will ready the show for the main stage.
CTC's Annual Tour receives major underwriting from its Lead Sponsor Cargill, and major sponsorship from 3M and the Land o'Lakes Foundation.
Season tickets for The Children's Theatre Company are available immediately. Five-play packages range from $34-$83 for children, students and seniors; and $56-$105 for adults. Three-play packages prices range from $25-$60 for children, students and seniors, and $41-$76 for adults. For subscribers, The Wizard of Oz tickets range from $12-$25 for children, students and seniors; and $16-$31 for adults. Single tickets go on sale July 28, 2003. For further information, call The Children's Theatre Company ticket office at 612/874-0400 or visit our website at www.childrenstheatre.org.
Photos for Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse and The Wizard of Oz are available at www.ctcpix.org.
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