'LITTLE HOUSE' Musical Launches Tour, Hits Ordway Center 10/13

The new musical version of "Little House on the Prairie" will launch a National Tour in St. Paul this fall, The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts announced Monday that "Little House" will kick off its 2009-10 theater season.

"Little House" had a sold-out run when it premiered at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis last summer.

Press notes for the Guthrie run described the musical as "an American story sings as this new musical, based on the classic tales penned by Laura Ingalls Wilder, comes to life at the Guthrie under the direction of Francesca Zambello. A stellar cast, including Broadway veterans Steven Blanchard (Charles 'Pa' Ingalls) and Jenn Gambatese (Mary Ingalls), television star Melissa Gilbert (Caroline 'Ma' Ingalls), newcomer Kara Lindsay (Laura Ingalls) and Guthrie favorite Maeve Moynihan (Carrie Ingalls), join an award-winning creative team, including Tony Award-winning writer Rachel Sheinkin (book), Academy Award-winning film composer Rachel Portman (music) and Donna di Novelli (lyrics), for this world premiere production at the Guthrie.

Though their DeSmet, South Dakota farmstead comes with many new challenges, the Ingalls family perseveres through the hardships of pioneer life to find hope, love and the promise of a new beginning in a land of endless sky and open prairie. As Laura struggles to overcome a lifelong loathing of school and frequent battles with a town rival, her older sister's sudden blindness and a harsh winter blizzard tests the independent spirit of this young pioneer. Forced to grow up quickly, she follows an unexpected calling, becoming a teacher and finding love on the prairie".

For more information and tickets visit, www.ordway.org.