2006-2007 Inaugural Season
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL, Thursday, June 08, 2006 -
Contact
Nick Harkin/Emily Fiffer
Carol Fox & Associates
(773)327-3830
http://www.chicagochildrenstheatre.org/pr
For Immediate Release
Friday, June 9, 2006
CHICAGO CHILDREN'S THEATRE ANNOUNCES 2006-2007 INAUGURAL SEASON
First Full Season to Feature Ray Bradbury's Dandelion Wine, Directed by Eric Rosen; the Chicago Premiere of Amsterdam's Acclaimed Dance and Skate Spectacular, 4-ISH; and Steven Dietz's Adaptation of Dan Gutman's Honus and Me, Directed by Sean Graney
CHICAGO - Chicago Children's Theatre, in keeping with its mission to produce family theater of the highest quality in Chicago, today announced its Inaugural Season. Featuring three exceptional productions which promise to inspire courage, adventure, and curiosity in young people, Chicago Children's Theatre's Inaugural Season offers outstanding theatrical entertainment for families.
To kick off the season, Chicago Children's Theatre is producing Ray Bradbury's theatrical adaptation of his most personal novel, Dandelion Wine, in the Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre in November 2006. Award-winning director, Eric Rosen (Artistic Director, About Face Theatre), stages this magical story of an Illinois childhood. For the season's second production, Chicago Children's Theatre hosts the international skating sensation, 4-ISH at Harris Theater for Music and Dance in January 2007. Described as "STOMP on skates" (Edmonton Journal), this multi-media spectacular promises to thrill the entire family with its pulse-racing blend of hip-hop, in-line skating, movement, and dance. As part of this landmark event, Chicago Children's Theatre is offering the unique ISH Institute, an educational program for at risk youth. Capping the season is the Chicago premiere of Honus and Me, based on the beloved book by Dan Gutman and adapted by Steven Dietz. Chicago Children's Theatre Artistic Council member Sean Graney (Founder and Artistic Director, The Hypocrites) stages this production, which opens in July 2007 at the Goodman Theatre in the Owen.
"Our Inaugural Production, A Year With Frog and Toad, was overwhelmingly well received by the children and families of Chicago, and we are tremendously excited to build upon that enthusiasm with the three productions we have lined up for our Inaugural Season," said Chicago Children's Theatre Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell. "We worked with great commitment to plan a season of programming replete with both educational and entertainment value that speaks to the various ages and stages of youth. It is thrilling to collaborate with some of Chicago's finest theater artists, as well as extraordinary international talent, to bring first-rate children's theater to Chicago. We are confident that our Inaugural Season's productions fulfill our mission to engage and inspire the child in all of us."
"We are flattered to announce that we will be hosted by three of Chicago's premier arts organizations - Steppenwolf Theatre, Harris Theater for Music and Dance and Goodman Theatre - in our Inaugural Season," said Chicago Children's Theatre Executive Director Claude Binder. "We are grateful to them for their commitment to our company and look forward to working in the best established venues in the city."
Chicago Children's Theatre's 2006-2007 season will feature:
Dandelion Wine
Written by Ray Bradbury, adapted from his novel
Directed by Eric Rosen
November 10-December 31, 2006
In the Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.
Recommended for everyone over the age of 9
In this homage to his Midwestern childhood, Bradbury brings to life one unforgettable summer full of skinned knees, the smell of freshly cut grass, squishy new sneakers, time machines and a fortune telling Tarot witch. Bradbury's magical story is a sensory explosion that reminds us to cherish the simple pleasures of youth.
Ray Bradbury is one of the 20th century's most prolific and imaginative writers. Born in Waukegan, Illinois in 1920, Bradbury is the author of more than 500 published works, including: The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and The Illustrated Man. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters (2000) and the National Medal of Arts (2004).
This production will be directed by Eric Rosen, co-founder and Artistic Director of About Face Theatre. Recent projects include the book and lyrics of Winesburg, Ohio (Jeff Award, Best Adaptation), and the direction of Theater District (Jeff Award, Best New Play). Notable collaborations include the development of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning I Am My Own Wife with MoisÉs Kaufman and Doug Wright, 33 Variations with MoisÉs Kaufman and Mary Zimmerman's Eleven Rooms of Proust. Rosen holds a doctorate in Performance Studies from Northwestern University and was an NEA/TCG Directing Fellow.
4-ISH
Conceived and performed by ISH
Directed by Marco Gerris
January 19-28, 2007
Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph St.
Recommended for everyone over the age of 7
This pulse-racing production, direct from Amsterdam, fuses the intensity and adrenaline of extreme sports with the rhythmic beats of dance and hip-hop. Driven by the need for speed and the desire to stretch the limits of human ability, these international thrill seekers perform spectacular feats on stage. The New York Times raved, "[4-ISH] had audience members of all ages roaring with laughter and cheering." Watch world champion skaters reach sky-high altitudes as they soar off two giant quarter pipes while dancers show off their moves and kung fu fanatics display explosive energy in this multi-disciplinary performance. Accompanied by a human beat box and live DJ, the fun-loving, break-dancing daredevils of ISH will captivate audiences both young and old.
This production is sponsored by United Airlines.
Honus and Me
Adapted from Dan Gutman's Honus and Me by Steven Dietz
Directed by Sean Graney
July 20-August 26, 2007
Goodman Theatre's Owen Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.
Recommended for everyone over the age of 7
The Goodman's Owen Theatre will be transformed into "Owen Field" for the Midwest premiere of Honus and Me, a story that blends sports, theater and fantasy. Honus and Me tells the story of Joe Stoshak, a young baseball fanatic who stumbles upon the most valuable baseball card of all time - a Honus Wagner T-206 - while cleaning his neighbor's attic. The card acts as a portal between Joe and Wagner's lives, and young Joe is suddenly transported back in time to the seventh inning of the 1909 World Series, where Wagner imparts upon him the confidence and wisdom he needs to succeed not only in baseball, but also in life.
Dan Gutman is the author of more than 60 beloved children's books. Honus and Me is first in a series of seven baseball card adventure books. Steven Dietz adapted the book and is one of America's most widely produced playwrights, having written more than 20 plays that have been seen at more than 100 regional theaters throughout the United States and abroad. He is the recipient of the PEN U.S.A. Award in Drama (Lonely Planet); the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays Award (Fiction and Still Life With Iris); and the Lila Wallace/Reader's Digest Award (The Rememberer).
Director Sean Graney is the Artistic Director and Founder of The Hypocrites. He has been awarded two Jeff Citations and an After Dark award for directing. In 2004, he was named Chicagoan of the Year for Theater by the Chicago Tribune, and Chicago's Best Avant Garde Director by Chicago Magazine. He is a current recipient of the NEA/TCG Career Development Program Grant for Directors.
Educational Programming
Chicago Children's Theatre is also undertaking several education initiatives in its Inaugural Season.
Chicago Children's Theatre will continue its partnership with the Notebaert Nature Museum, beginning with a summer camp for 4 and 5-year-olds called "Just Act Naturally," in which storytelling, music, movement and nature are combined to enhance creativity through exploration of the arts and sciences. The two-week camp will be held from Monday, August 7 to Friday, August 18 at the Notebaert Nature Museum.
In January 2007, Chicago Children's Theatre offers the ISH Institute for underserved youth for just the second time in North America. The ISH Institute provides participating at-risk youth with the opportunity to produce their own ISH-style show, on topics relevant to their own lives. Students work intensively with the cast and crew of 4-ISH to create a performance piece and learn about the necessary technical aspects, while also taking part in management and public relations workshops. The program culminates with the students' production, W-ISH, being performed on the set of 4-ISH for peers, parents, and the community. After School Matters, a non-profit organization that provides out-of-school opportunities for Chicago teens in the arts, sports, technology and communications, will partner with Chicago Children's Theatre to identify ISH Institute's participants. This work is supported by United Airlines.
A third education program targets children in the Dearborn Homes of the Chicago Housing Authority. Cheryl Lynn Bruce, a Chicago Children's Theatre Artistic Council Member, once again directs the Youth Drama Workshop which exposes participating youth to theater, music, dance, art and culture workshops that develop social and communicative skills and a meaningful means of expression. The Youth Drama Workshop concludes with a public performance for peers, parents, and the community.
Finally, Chicago Children's Theatre will continue both its Student Scholarship and Student Matinee programs, which enable underserved school groups to attend Chicago Children's Theatre performances free of charge, or at significantly discounted rates. In 2005, the student programs provided free or discounted admission to A Year With Frog and Toad for more than 4,000 students. In addition to the student programs, Chicago Children's Theatre offers the Target Family Matinee Series. This Sunday performance series, sponsored by the Target Corporation, provides a special two-for-one ticket offer designed to encourage participation of those communities with limited access to the arts.
Membership and Ticket Information
Chicago Children's Theatre Family Memberships go on sale Friday, June 9 and are available now at a special introductory rate of $45. Membership benefits include discounts on tickets and merchandise, presale announcements, preferred seating, the opportunity to purchase tickets in advance of the general public, and special access to Chicago Children's Theatre events. Memberships are available for purchase online at chicagochildrenstheatre.org. Chicago Children's Theatre gratefully acknowledges the support of its Membership Sponsor, the Chicago Community Trust.
Individual tickets for each production will go on sale on a date to be announced. Group tickets are now on sale. For tickets for groups of 20 or more, call GroupTix: 877-4-GRP-TIX (877-447-7849).
About Chicago Children's Theatre
Chicago Children's Theatre aspires to enrich our community through diverse and significant theatrical programming that engages and inspires the child in all of us. Chicago Children's Theatre focuses on the production of first-rate children's theater in Chicago, with top writing, performing and directorial talent and high-quality design and production expertise. Led by Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell, Executive Director Claude Binder and Board Chair Todd Leland, the company is supported by a dynamic Board of Directors comprised of dedicated individuals from the fields of entertainment, philanthropy and business, and a committed Artistic Council of Chicago-based actors, directors, musicians and designers.
Founded in 2005 with its Inaugural Production, A Year With Frog and Toad, Chicago Children's Theatre strives to provide affordable and accessible theater for families and area school children. To enhance the impact of any given production's themes, Chicago Children's Theatre offers educational materials and programs for families and educators.
For more information about Chicago Children's Theatre visit www.chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call 773-227-0180.
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