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News Releases 
"Just because you has not seen something isn't meaning it isn't existing." -The BFG 
For Immediate Release: August 4, 2006
WHO:
The Children's Theatre Company (CTC), the nation's leading theater for young people and families and recipient of the 2003 Tony® Award for Outstanding Regional Theater.
WHAT:
CTC's 2006/2007 season, sponsored by Target, opens with the regional premiere of The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) which is sponsored by Piper Jaffray. Based on the book by Roald Dahl, the production was adapted for the stage by David Wood and directed by David Schweizer (whose previous CTC credits include Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible No Good, Very Bad Day; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; and Honk! The Ugly Duckling Musical at CTC). Along with puppet master and designer Robert Smythe (from Mum Puppettheatre), the creative team includes scenic design by Scott Bradley, costume design by David Zinn, lighting design by Kirk Bookman, original music and sound design by Victor Zupanc, and stage management by Erin Tatge.
The 10 member cast includes CTC resident acting company members Gerald Drake, Dean Holt, Autumn Ness and Reed Sigmund, as well as CTC performing apprentices Celeste Jones, Becka Ollmann and Steve Trzaska. Student actor Maeve Moynihan (last seen in Esperanza Rising and Pippi Longstocking at CTC) will play Sophie and Reed Sigmund will play her giant friend. Student actors Katie LeCapitaine and Ross Destiche will act as puppeteers. The production will play in repertory with The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963.
In The BFG, acclaimed author Dahl (who has given us Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach, among many other classic children's books) tells the story of Sophie, a young orphan who is whisked away one night by a giant - no, not just any giant - a Big Friendly Giant. The giant has a particular style of speaking, but it is one that Sophie always seems to understand. Soon, a tremendous friendship is born. Together, they hatch a plan to save the children of England from the child-chomping giants who inhabit Giantland. With the queen of England herself stepping in to help, Sophie and The BFG are bound to be victorious. The BFG is wickedly funny and a mad adventure with surprises at every turn.
"I have been making theater all my life," said director David Schweizer. "It's all I ever wanted to do. Making theater for young people is particularly intriguing because what I create with my team may be their first - and perhaps most memorable - encounter with theater. I want to make it something that no one (not even their parents) will expect or can imagine."
There are significant stage challenges associated with presenting an adventure story where a giant and a little girl are constantly immersed in hair-raising situations, assaults by a gang of big mean bully giants, and even, in one instance, a rescue by a helicopter. Human scale interacts with puppetry to convey a constantly shifting world where big is small and small becomes GIGANTIC - where anyone in the audience can be made to feel as though GIANTS walk the earth - all done through the magic of the stage.
Schweizer continued "I like pulling an audience into the illusions of a production and then exposing those illusions."
WHEN:
The BFG previews August 22 thru 24, opens August 25, 2006 and runs through October 29, 2006.
WHERE:
The Children's Theatre Company, 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404
TICKET INFORMATION:
Ticket prices are $19-34 for adults and $13-28 for children, students, and seniors. Group rates are available. For more information contact The Children's Theatre Company Ticket Office at 612-874-0400 or www.childrenstheatre.org.
PAY WHAT YOU CAN:
Wednesday, September 13 @ 7:00 p.m.
Tickets on sale Wed. Sept. 6 @ 10:00 a.m.
About Target
Minneapolis-based Target serves guests at 1,351 stores in 47 states nationwide by delivering today's best retail trends at affordable prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships. Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of unique and highly differentiated items. Target (NYSE:TGT) gives back more than $2 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962 Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.
Images will be available on CTC's photo distribution website: www.ctcpix.org
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