Follow Us On Twitter
Celebrating its 30th Anniversary season, Theatre Building Chicago continues its mission to cultivate new American musical theatre, with musicals for kids. TBC shines the spotlight on the pint-sized patron (ages 3-8) with new shows created by members of its nationally recognized musical theatre writers workshop.
Theatre Building Chicago will present The Adventures of Anansi the Spider by Christina Biggs (book) and Marianne Kallen (music & lyrics) in February 2007 and then Tantrum on the Tracks by Judy Freed (book) and Marianne Kallen (music & lyrics) in May 2007.
This season Theatre Building Chicago launches its Musicals for Young Audiences program with plans to present eight original musicals over the next three seasons. All the musicals are interactive and feature adult professional actors. Kids can meet the actors and explore sets, costumes and props after the show. Group discounts offer value-added bonuses including on-site lunch facilities, educational materials, an exclusive back-stage tour of TBC's three-theatre complex and much more.
Theatre Building Chicago's newest musical program will focus on two main goals. One is to present original, participatory works of musical theater for children ages 3-8 at affordable prices for school groups and families. Special attention will be given to children in underserved populations and in the neighborhoods surrounding Theatre Building Chicago. The other goal is to develop new works and new writers for children's theater, focusing on works for children ages 3-8. The new works program will be guided by Theatre Building Chicago's musical theater development staff with support from a panel of early childhood education experts
This season begins after a three-year partnership of new musicals for young audiences in conjunction with the Duncan YMCA. The Duncan YMCA had a series of plays for pre-school children, which was in need of new material. Theatre Building Chicago has a special writers' program geared to fast tracking work for specific audiences. The two companies came together and interviewed both early childhood educators and teachers in the field to concentrate on appropriate themes, topics and titles. They formulated a board of early childhood advisors and started developing shows. Beginning in 2004 they presented four shows at the Duncan YMCA with special performances at Theatre Building Chicago.
Theatre Building Chicago was already planning to move the program to its Lakeview home when the Duncan YMCA unfortunately suspended operation last August. In addition to performing in their home space, they are exploring partnerships with area performing partners and social service agencies.
In addition to the season's line-up of The Adventures of Anansi the Spider and Tantrum on the Tracks for this spring, they already have another half dozen new musicals in the pipeline with titles such as Freddy the Flat Faced School Bus, The Magic Paintbrush, The Reluctant Dragon, and Who Is Cinderella?
The writers of these new musicals have a long history of writing for children. Christina Biggs is a writer, researcher and playwright whose work has appeared in Stagebill Magazine, the Chicago Theater Guide, PerformInk, the Chicago Tribune, and on various local stages. The award winning Judy Freed has written such pieces as Tickle Cakes, which toured three states and was recognized as an outstanding new work for children by the American Alliance for Theatre & Education. Composer/lyricist Marianne Kallen has been a music therapist for 25 years, most recently in the Pediatrics Deparment of Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Hospital, and has written and produced two CDs for children.
Theatre Building Chicago's Executive Director Joan Mazzonelli, who will direct the new musicals, has an extensive background in children's theatre. She adapted and directed a piece by the late Fred Rogers of "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood," which led to a limited use of Rogers work at the Vineyard Theatre in NYC, where she initiated their children's program.
Theatre Building Chicago has devoted 30 years to cultivating new American musical theatre by supporting writers, lyricists and composers, while staging over 125 new musicals in Chicago. TBC intends to produce eight new children's musicals in the next three seasons. Members of TBC's musical theatre writers workshop meet regularly to collaborate under the guidance of Artistic Director, John Sparks.