Chicago Children's Theatre's The Houdini Box Lands $20,000 NEA Grant

Rocco Landesman, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, announced yesterday that Chicago Children's Theatre has been recommended for a grant of $20,000 to support the company's highly anticipated world premiere adaptation of Brian Selznick's The Houdini Box.

Chicago Children's Theatre is one of 1,145 not-for-profit national, regional, state, and local organizations recommended for a grant as part of the federal agency's second round of fiscal year 2011 grants. In total, the Arts Endowment will distribute more than $88 million to support projects nationwide.

An independent agency of the federal government, the National Endowment for the Arts advances artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman said, "NEA research shows that three out of four Americans participate in the arts. The diverse, innovative, and exceptional projects funded in this round will ensure that Americans around the country continue to have the opportunity to experience and participate in the arts."

This is the second NEA grant to support The Houdini Box, a world premiere musical adventure based on the book by award-winning children's author Brian Selznick. Master puppeteer Blair Thomas will direct and create puppetry for this captivating story about a mischievous boy who receives a special box that just might contain the secrets of Harry Houdini's success. Book and lyrics are by Hannah Kohl, with original music by Mark Messing. A centerpiece of Chicago Children's Theatre's 2011-2012 season, performances are slated January 27 through March 4, 2012 at Chicago's Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, followed by a suburban remount, March 14 through March 25 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. The Houdini Box is recommended for ages 5 and up.

The Houdini Box follows Victor, a boy obsessed with Harry Houdini. Victor is forever trying to escape from locked trunks, walk through walls, and perform any number of Houdini's astonishing magic tricks...without success. Then-amazingly-he actually meets his idol, and begs Houdini to explain himself. A mysterious locked box is the magician's only answer, and Victor is left to wonder if the box contains the secrets to the most famous magic tricks ever performed.

Note: CCT's world premiere of The Houdini Box debuts just one month after the December 2011 release of Martin Scorsese's next major motion picture, a 3D adaptation of Selznick's Caldecott-winning novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

"The development and production of The Houdini Box furthers Chicago Children's Theatre's mission to enrich the communities of Chicago through diverse and significant programming that engages and inspires the child in all of us," said artistic director Jacqueline Russell. "Our production will feature a variety of puppets created by Chicago's #1 puppeteer, Blair Thomas, and original music and lyrics by Mark Messing and Hannah Kohl. We believe The Houdini Box will be a major contribution to the national canon of children's theatre. As such, we plan to explore a national tour as well as promotion of the play and subsequent productions with colleagues across the country."

Families that enjoy theater and like to save money, take note: The best way to secure priority seating at the lowest price to The Houdini Box is to purchase a CCT Flex Pass, on sale now at chicagochildrenstheatre.org . Early bird pricing offering admission to the company's 2011-2012 season productions for 30 percent off runs through July 1, when standard Flex Passes still offering a 20 percent discount on single tickets go on sale via internet and phone.

In addition to The Houdini Box, Chicago Children's Theatre's 2011-12 season boasts a musical version of everyone's favorite bedtime story, Goodnight Moon, October 27 through December 24 on the Victory Gardens Biograph mainstage, and a return visit by the internationally acclaimed Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia for the Chicago premiere Brown Bear, A Moon and A Caterpillar: Treasured Stories by Eric Carl, May 2 through June 2 at the Mercury Theater.

Currently, Chicago Children's Theatre is introducing Chicago to the groundbreaking new baby/toddler theater movement with the world premiere of Dot & Ziggy. This delightful story of a ladybug and a skunk who explore their differences and similarities, produced in collaboration with Seattle Children's Theatre, runs through June 26, 2011 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago. For the complete schedule of family-friendly weekday and weekend matinee show times, to purchase tickets and for more information, call 773.871.3000 or visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

For more information about Chicago Children's Theatre, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (773) 227-0180. For group inquiries, contact GroupTix at (773) 327-3778 or visit GroupTix.net.

About Chicago Children's Theatre

Chicago Children's Theatre aspires to enrich our community through diverse and significant theatrical and educational programming that engages and inspires the child in all of us. Chicago Children's Theatre focuses on the production of first-rate children's theatre in Chicago, with top writing, performing and directorial talent and high-quality design and production expertise.

Led by Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell, Board Chair Todd Leland and Board President Tom Herman, 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.

Launched in 2005, Chicago Children's Theatre strives to provide affordable and accessible theatre 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 chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call 773.227.0180.

About The National Endowment for the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. To join the discussion on how art works, visit the NEA at arts.gov.

 

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