Go, Dog. Go!
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL, Monday, April 16, 2007 -
Contact
Nick Harkin/Emily Fiffer
Carol Fox & Associates
(773)327-3830
http://www.chicagochildrenstheatre.org/pr
CHICAGO CHILDREN'S THEATRE ANNOUNCES A NEW LOCATION FOR THE CHICAGO PREMIERE OF GO, DOG. GO! APRIL 13-MAY 20
Chicago Children's Theatre's big top tent will make its home at Butler Field in Grant Park for the Chicago premiere of the stage adaptation of this classic children's story
CHICAGO – Chicago Children's Theatre today announced that it has chosen a new location for the tent in which it will stage its high-energy, fun-filled production of Go, Dog. Go! April 13-May 20. In an unprecedented partnership with Chicago Park District, Butler Field in Grant Park, located at Monroe Street and Lake Shore Drive will be transformed with a 700 seat circus tent for Chicago premiere of this much-loved children's story. The press performance will be Sunday, April 22 at 3 p.m.
With the new location comes an improved circus tent better suited for the lively production. Equipped with superior technical features and a more intimate feel, the new Chicago Children's Theatre big top will provide an enhanced experience for the entire audience.
“We are thrilled and grateful to have the opportunity to work with the Chicago Park District to bring Go, Dog. Go! to Chicago audiences. It is a privilege to be the first theatre company to pitch a circus tent in Grant Park. It will be a truly unique theatergoing experience,” said Claude Binder, Executive Director.
Adapted from P.D. Eastman's classic children's book by Steven Dietz and Allison Gregory, Go, Dog, Go! promises to thrill audiences with a chaotic carnival of music and physical comedy that celebrates the brilliant simplicity of life. Dogs of all colors, shapes and sizes dance, sing, work, play, skate and climb through a magical world where dogs are king. Go, Dog. Go! will be directed by Andrew White, Jim Lasko will serve as production designer and Jonathan Mastro will serve as musical director.
“The Go, Dog. Go! team of actors, designers and staff will bring all sorts of circus elements – juggling, clowning, live music – that will make this an hour and a half of hilarious delight,” said Andrew White.
An impressive cast of actors with specialties in children's theatre, clowning and physical comedy includes Molly Brennan, Adrian Danzig, Dean Evans, Alison Halstead and Johanna Miller.
“I cannot wait to see the kids in our audience react to the explosion of color, humor and energy of Go, Dog. Go!” said Jacqueline Russell, Artistic Director. “Andy White, Jim Lasko and Jonathan Mastro make a perfect production team equipped to fill the tent with a thrilling, joyful production that will delight audiences of all ages.”
“P.D. Eastman's timeless work honors the joyous simplicity of the world around us. Therefore, in crafting a stage version of Go, Dog. Go!, it is not our intention to fill out or open up the story in the style of many traditional adaptations. We have, in fact, added virtually no words of our own,” explained Steven Dietz. Added Allison Gregory, “Expanding the book would, we believe, robs it of its essential wondrous and loopy anarchy. Instead, we hope to celebrate and explore the existing words and pictures; to look not outside the book, but more closely within it – in the same way that a child (and parents) can read Mr. Eastman's book night after night and find something new and remarkable with every turn of the page.”
“I am extremely pleased to partner with Andy White to create this exciting production,” said Jim Lasko, Artistic Director of Redmoon Theater. “The whimsical story and narrative of P.D. Eastman's book is a perfect match for the dynamic talent in our team of designers. I look forward to a truly captivating show in Chicago Children's Theatre's spectacular circus tent.”
April also brings the Chicago Children's Theatre Gala on April 21, at 2:00 p.m. This family friendly Gala embodies the fun spirit of Go, Dog. Go! with a special performance under the big top. After the show, guests will join the cast of dogs to the reception which will include cocktails and dinner. Tables are currently on sale for $5,000-10,000 and can be reserved by calling the Gala hotline at 773.227.0180 x50 or by emailing gala@chicagochildrenstheatre.org. Steven Dietz 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).
Allison Gregory's plays include Forcing Hyacinths (Julie Harris Playwriting Award, South Coast Repertory Theatre's California Playwright's Award), Fall Off Night, Cliffhouse, Point Deception and, most recently, Burning Bridget Cleary. She has received commissions from South Coast Repertory, ACT in Seattle, and A.S.K. Theatre Projects in Los Angeles. Her plays for young audiences include Even Steven Goes to War (“Zoni” Best New Script Award, AATE and UPRP awards, Kennedy Center New Visions/NewVoices series), directed by Steven Dietz and Childsplay; and Go, Dog. Go!, also directed by Steven Dietz and choreographed by Ms. Gregory, at Seattle Children's Theatre.
Andrew White is delighted to be working with Chicago Children's Theatre as the director of Go, Dog. Go! As a founding member of Lookingglass Theatre, White directed his own original adaptation of George Orwell's 1984, which received a Jeff Award for Best Adaptation. White has appeared in numerous Lookingglass productions, and currently teaches at Northwestern University, as well as in various Lookingglass Outreach programs with students of all ages. White is a member of Chicago Children's Theatre's Artistic Council.
As Artistic Director of Redmoon Theater since 1992, Jim Lasko has created numerous original theater and spectacle pieces ranging from massive public celebrations to formal indoor shows in traditional venues. Lasko created Redmoon's latest large-scale spectacle, The Balloon Man, for his 6-year-old son Owen in July 2006 at Millennium Park. His work has been commissioned by Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art, the Field Museum, the Pritzker Family, the Zell Family, the City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and the Mayor's Office of Special Events. Lasko received a Master's Degree in Theater from Northwestern University. Lasko also serves as a member of Chicago Children's Theatre's Artistic Council.
Jonathan Mastro served as musical director for Chicago Children's Theatre's inaugural production of A Year With Frog and Toad. He has worked as a music director for Second City, Steppenwolf, the Hypocrites, the Neo-Futurists, Barrel of Monkeys and Lookingglass Theatre Company. He teaches Musical Theatre at Columbia College Chicago and the Old Town School of Folk Music.
Go, Dog. Go! is enjoyed by everyone aged four and older and will run from April 13 through May 20 under the big top in Butler Field in Grant Park at Monroe Street and Lake Shore Drive. Ticket prices range from $15-38 and the Target Family Matinee Series offers a limited number of two-for-one tickets on Sunday afternoons. Tickets currently on sale and are available by calling 312.334.7777 or by visiting www.chicagochildrenstheatre.org. Group tickets are also available. For tickets for groups or birthday parties of 10 or more, call GroupTix: 877-4-GRP-TIX (877-447-7849). On-site concessions will be provided through a sponsorship by Starbucks Coffee.
About Chicago Park District
As one of the nation's largest park and recreation systems, the Chicago Park District is home to more than 7,300 acres of parkland, 552 parks, 32 beaches, nine museums, two world-class conservatories, 16 historic lagoons, 10 bird and wildlife gardens, thousands of special events, sports and entertaining programs. For more information, please visit www.chicagoparkdistrtict.com, or call 312-742-PLAY or 312-747-2001 (TTY).
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.