Chicago Sun Times June 9, 2006
Children's Theatre to key on skating, Bradbury, baseball
June 9, 2006
By Hedy Weiss, Theatre Critic
Building on its successful inaugural musical production, "A Year With Frog and Toad," staged this last winter at the Goodman Theatre, the Chicago Children's Theatre has made plans for a series of three shows in three major venues for its 2006-07 season. The lineup will include:
*"Dandelion Wine" (Nov. 9-Dec. 31 at the Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted), Ray Bradbury's homage to his Midwestern childhood -- an evocation of everything from skinned knees to new sneakers, time machines and fortune-telling -- as recounted by the author of The Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451. Eric Rosen will direct. Aimed at ages 9 and up.
*"4-ISH" (Jan. 19-28, 2007, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph), a work conceived and performed by the Amsterdam-based ISH ensemble, and directed by Marco Gerris; it features a group of thrill-seeking world champion in-line skaters in a show that combines speed, hip-hop, kung-fu and more, with a human beatbox and live DJ providing the accompaniment. For ages 7 and up.
*"Honus and Me" (July 20-Aug. 26, 2007, at the Goodman's Owen Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn), the Midwest premiere of Steven Dietz's stage adaptation of a work by children's book author Dan Gutman. This time-traveling show spins the story of Joe Stoshak, a young baseball fanatic who stumbles across the most valuable baseball card of all time -- a Honus Wagner T-206 -- and is catapulted back in time to the 1909 World Series. The Hypocrites' Sean Graney will direct.
Memberships are now available at $45 (with benefits including ticket and merchandise discounts and preferred seating), as are group sales. Visit www.chicagochildrenstheatre.org. Individual tickets will go on sale later
© 2006 Chicago Sun Times