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Emerald City Theatre Company, Chicago's largest professional theater devoted entirely to families, announced a full slate of five family favorites for its 2006/07 season.
Starting this Fall with the newly pared down version of Seussical, and ending next Spring with Narnia, a musical version of C.S. Lewis' first and most famous story of The Chronicles of Narnia, Emerald City's 2006/07 line-up promises innovative, affordable live theater experiences that inspire children and bring families closer together:
Seussical
By Eric Idle, Stephen Flaherty, and Lynn Ahrens, based on the works of Dr. Seuss
September-November 2006
Emerald City presents the newly pared-down version for younger audiences, recently produced with overwhelming audience response at Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis and Seattle Children's Theatre. The Cat-in-the-Hat, Horton, the Whos of Whoville, and a host of other favorites delightfully intertwine in this whimsical, wonderful musical. Along with the hilarity, Dr. Seuss's most beloved characters gently show us a world where anything and everything is possible through the power of imagination. Recommended for ages 3 and up.
A Nutcracker Christmas
November - December 2006
By Ralph Covert and G. Riley Mills
Emerald City is thrilled to continue a new holiday tradition in Chicago, by bringing back its smash hit holiday musical A Nutcracker Christmas for itssecond consecutive year. Last December, this world premiere family musical by Grammy-nominated Ralph Covert, of Bad Examples and Ralph's World fame, and Jeff Award-winning playwright G. Riley Mills, became the biggest box office hit in Emerald City's 10-year history, Chicago Parent Magazine called Emerald City's rockin' new version of the traditional Nutcracker story "a great holiday outing for families."
A fun, fresh holiday spectacular, A Nutcracker Christmas is presented in engaging musical theater style, with a sprinkle of spectacle, and some cool, contemporary plot twists. For this year's remount, Covert is adding new songs to a list already boasting new kiddie holiday hits like Welcome to Christmas Wood!, The Wind-Up Ballet, and crowd favorite Let's Ruin Christmas. Recommended for ages 3 and up.
Stinky Cheese Man and other fair(L)y (stoopid) tales
January - April 2007
By Kent Stephens, Adapted from the book by Jon Scieszka
A musical whirlwind of wacky, whimsical wisecracks, starring the usual fairy tale suspects. Cinderella, Rumplestiltskin, the Little Red Hen, Foxy Loxy, the Ugly Stepmother and Stepsister and other classic characters pal up to produce twisted, preposterous vignettes like "Cinderumplestiltskin or the Girl Who Really Blew It," "The REALLY Ugly Duckling," and the malodorous "Stinky Cheese Man." Don't miss this wacky musical adaptation that remains delightfully true to the Caldecott-winning book. Recommended for ages 5 and up.
Snow White
February-April 2007
Based on the beloved fairy tale, Emerald City has big plans for a Snow White filled with adventure, spectacle and puppetry. Pursued by a jealous queen, Snow White hides in the forest with Sleepy, Dopey and the rest of the Seven Dwarfs. The queen finds the beautiful young girl, disguises herself as an old hag, and feeds Snow White a poisonous apple. Thankfully, a kiss from Prince Charming is all it takes to rouse her from her deep slumber. Recommended for ages 3 and up.
Narnia
April-June 2007
A musical based on C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Emerald City presents this exciting musical based on the first and most famous story of The Chronicles of Narnia. Discover C.S. Lewis' unique, enchanted world of creatures and spirits of myth and fable, both good and evil. The principal inhabitants, however, are the intelligent talking animals ruled by the majestic King Aslan, the great lion of Narnia. Entering Narnia at a moment of high adventure are some children – plucked from our world in unexpected ways -- to help Narnia and to learn lessons of courage, unselfishness and wisdom. From the excitement of the opening song Aslan's on the Move, to the joy of You Can't Imagine (How Beautiful It Was), your family's spirits will soar with all those in Narnia. Recommended for ages 5 and up.
Emerald City Theatre Company performs at the Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Single tickets for 2006/07 remain only $9 for children 12 and under; $12 for adults. Founded in 1996, Emerald City - named Chicago's best theater for children by Where Chicago Magazine - is Chicago's largest professional theater entirely dedicated to families, playing to an annual audience of 80,000. All Emerald City productions feature professional directors, actors, writers and designers focused on delivering a theater experience the entire family can enjoy. It's for these reasons countless Chicago-area families have had their child's first live theater experience with Emerald City and come back again and again. For more information visit www.emeraldcitytheatre.org.