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News Releases 
With Four World Premieres and Two Internationally Celebrated Productions, The Children's Theatre Company Announces its 43rd Season, 20082009 Season
For Immediate Release: February 20, 2008
With 26 world premieres in the last decade, the 2008-2009 season continues The Children's Theatre Company's (CTC) commitment to developing new work that educates, challenges and inspires young people. CTC announces its 43rd season, including four world premieres and two critically-acclaimed international productions.
We are thrilled to bring you our season of beloved classics, new musicals, contemporary stories and hilarious adventures, said Peter C. Brosius, CTC's artistic director. This season features plays that have delighted audiences around the world, world premiere plays and collaborations with some of the leading international artists. We are thrilled to share these plays of such humor and heart that we know will make you laugh, think and care, and hopefully, stay with you forever.
CTC opens the season on The Cargill Stage with an inspired world premiere of Peter Pan. This ground-breaking collaboration between CTC, Visible Fictions (Scotland), and Teatro Gioco Vita (Italy) promises to capture the classic adventures of Peter, Wendy, Tinker Bell and Captain Hook through an inventive, daring and playful combination of acting and shadow puppetry.
Following the opening of Peter Pan on The Cargill Stage, The UnitedHealth Group Stage opens under the big-top with the world premiere of Madeline and the Gypsies. Adapted for the stage by award-winning playwright Barry Kornhauser, this musical production follows Ludwig Bemelmans' classic character, Madeline, to the colorful, outrageous and larger than life world of a gypsy circus. Through a unique partnership, CTC and Circus Juventus bring the thrill and excitement of live circus to their audiences.
Five Fingers of Funk, a world premiere for teen audiences, is a funk musical from the extraordinary leader of the hip hop theatre movement, Will Power. Five Fingers of Funk is the story of five friends who form a funk band in the 1970s. While the band focuses on winning the local talent contest, the world transforms around them in ways they can't predict, changing their lives and dreams forever.
Iqbal, the final world premiere of CTC's 2008-2009 Season, is one of great courage and honesty. Inspired by the true story of Iqbal Masih, a Pakistani child laborer, this piece mobilizes youth and adults alike to speak out against child labor. CTC's world premiere production of Iqbal celebrates the life and struggles of an extraordinary boy who brought strength and hope to young people around the world.
In addition to developing new work to full world premiere production CTC continues its commitment to bringing our audiences the finest work from around the world. On the United HealthGroup Stage CTC brings The Gruffalo a critically claimed hit from England's Tall Stories Theater Company. The Gruffalo is a sometimes silly, sometimes touching look at what happens when a little mouse with a lot of cunning meets the most feared creature in the forest, The Gruffalo.
CTC is proud to bring the work of Teatro Gioco Vita back to the Cargill Stage with their production of Circoluna, a piece that has delighted the very youngest audiences around the world. In Circoluna, the world leaders in shadow puppetry created a world filled with circus animals, wonder and discovery using puppets, shadow and light.
The 2008-2009 season holds five productions on the UnitedHealth Group Stage: Madeline and the Gypsies, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, The Gruffalo, Iqbal, and Ramona Quimby, and four on the Cargill Stage: Peter Pan, Five Fingers of Funk (ctc4teens), Romeo and Juliet (ctc4Teens), and Circoluna (for pre-school audiences).
WORLD PREMIERE - Peter Pan
Friday, September 5 Thursday, October 2, 2008
You will be mesmerized as this classic tale of fantasy and escape comes to life.
Peter Pan unfolds in a stunning and surprising way from a cozy nursery to the fantastical adventure of Peter and Wendy all with live performers and brilliant shadow puppets crafted by renowned Italian puppet master Fabrizio Montecchi. You will revel in the allure of mermaid lagoons, pirate ships, Tinker Bell, Smee and the infamous crocodile.
This production is ideal for anyone seven or older.
Presented in the Cargill Theatre
Adapted and directed by Douglas Irvine from the novel by J.M. Barrie
Co-production of The Children's Theatre Company and Visible Fictions, Scotland
Presented by arrangement with the Great Ormand Street Hospital Children's Charity and Samuel French, Ltd.
Design and Puppetry by Fabrizio Montecchi
WORLD PREMIERE - Madeline and the Gypsies
Tuesday, September 16 Sunday, October 26, 2008
The Children's Theatre Company in collaboration with Circus Juventus present Madeline and the Gypsies.
Madeline and her friend, Pepito, get lost during a visit to the carnival and end up carried away by gypsies! You wouldn't believe the adventures they have with a traveling circus while Madeline's teacher Miss Clavel does everything she can to bring them home.
The actor-generated production combines music, choreography and a circus (St. Paul's Circus Juventas!) all rolled into one. (If you know anyone over 3 years old, they'll love it!)
Presented on the UnitedHealth Group Stage
By Ludwig Bemelmans
Adapted by Barry Kornhauser
Composed by Michael Koerner
Directed by Peter C. Brosius
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
November 11, 2008- January 3, 2009
Courage, adventure and wonder - it's all in CTC's production of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.
The fabled British adventure begins as Peter, Susan, Lucy and Edmund uncover a wardrobe and find themselves in the wondrous world of Narnia. You'll be on the edge of your seats as they join Aslan the Lion in a valiant battle before taking their place as kings and queens of Narnia.
Children six and up will enjoy this as much as adults.
Presented on the UnitedHealth Group Stage
By C.S Lewis
Adapted by Adrian Mitchell
Music by Shaun Davey
Directed by Rebecca Lynn Brown
MINNESOTA PREMIERE - The Gruffalo
Tuesday, January 13 Sunday, February 22, 2009
Tusks! Claws! Terrible teeth!
Follow mouse on her adventure through the woods as she scares away animals that may be looking at her as a yummy snack with her tall tales of the scary Gruffalo. But wait what's around the next tree? It's a real Gruffalo, tusks and all!
With adventure, magic and music all rolled into one join mouse as she discovers how the scariest things can be warm and wonderful in real life.
Based on the popular British children's books, this is the perfect story for anyone four or older.
Presented on the UnitedHealth Group Stage
Adapted from the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Created by Tall Stories Theatre Company
Lyrics by Jon Fiber, Olivia Jacobs
Music by Jon Fiber with Robyn Price and Andy Shaw
Original production directed by Olivia Jacobs
WORLD PREMIERE - Iqbal
Tuesday, March 3 Saturday, April 4, 2009
Inspired by the life of child-activist, Iqbal Masih, CTC's world premiere Iqbal explores the struggle and triumph of children working in a Pakistani carpet factory. Under the harsh labor and stern eye of the factory master, Fatima and the other children discover ways to laugh and share moments of tenderness, but have forgotten what it's like to dream. So when a new boy joins their ranks and dares to rebel, he inspires in them the courage to help each other and the hope for a better life.
Inspiration for anyone over the age of nine.
Presented on the UnitedHealth Group Stage
By Jerome Hairston
Directed by Peter C. Brosius
Based on the book, IQBAL, by Francesco D'Adamo and translated by Ann Leonori
Ramona Quimby
Tuesday, April 21 Sunday, June 7, 2009
Ramona's life is a mess! Her third grade teacher hates her, her older sister Beezus is a HUGE pain, it looks like her favorite Aunt Bea could marry a real DORK, and Dad just lost his job. Growing up is NOT easy. But you'll laugh and cheer Ramona and the Quimbys on as they stick together through it all. A delightful experience for anyone five or older.
Presented on the UnitedHealth Group Stage
By Newbery Award winning writer, Beverly Cleary
Adapted by Len Jenkin
Directed By Clinton Turner Davis
ctc4teens presented on the Cargill Stage
WORLD PREMIERE - Five Fingers of Funk
Tuesday, October 21 Sunday, November 16, 2008
Hip Hop theater genius, Will Power has created a funk musical especially for CTC and this world premiere will have you tapping your feet, drumming your fingers and dancing in the aisles.
With humor, talent and a dedication to classic 70s funk music; Five Fingers of Funk tells the story of a group of high school friends determined to win the big contest at Dee Dee's. While the teens jam in Big Ced's garage, you'll see how music keeps the teens together - while the outside forces of parents, love and drugs threaten to tear them apart.
A coming of age funk opera for anyone 13 and up.
ctc4teens presented on the Cargill Stage
By Hip Hop Theater genius, Will Power
Music by Justin Ellington
Directed by Derrick Sanders
Romeo and Juliet
Tuesday, February 10 Sunday, March 8, 2009
It's Shakespeare's iconic story of young love and rebellion. Romeo and Juliet ignite the passion and rage of all of Verona with sword fights, masquerade balls, and lover's trysts. And in this production, where there are no seats, you'll find yourself caught up in the action, inches from the actors as they battle, waltz, and perform around you.
Perfect for anyone 13 or older, the story comes to new life in this dynamic staging by Greg Banks, the director of the acclaimed ctc4teens production, Antigone.
Ctc4teens presented on the Cargill Stage
By William Shakespeare
Adapted and Directed by Greg Bank
CTC pre-school programming presented on the Cargill Stage
AMERICAN PREMIERE - Circoluna (Circus Moon)
Tuesday, March 31 Sunday, April 26, 2009
Prefect for preschoolers, this joyful introduction to theater for the very young has delighted and surprised audiences around the world. Step into this magical world where shadow and light bring to life an ever changing menagerie of animals performing whimsical circus acts. Meet a mischievous little clown and help find the beautiful girl in the moon!
Presented on the Cargill Stage
By Nicola Lusuardi and Fabrizio Montecchi
Script by Nicola Lusuardi
Direction and Design by Fabrizio Montecchi
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