Photo Flash:'The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks'

Theatreworks USA (Barbara Pasternack, Artistic Dir.; Ken Arthur, Managing Dir.), the leading not-for-profit professional theatre for family audiences, is pleased to announce that NBC "Today" host Matt Lauer will serve as Honorary Chair for the 20th Annual Free Summer Theatre Program. This summer's featured production is THE PLANT THAT ATE DIRTY SOCKS, a new musical with book, music and lyrics by Joe Iconis.

Based on the children's book The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks by Nancy McArthur, the production is directed by John Simpkins and choreographed by Jennifer Werner.

THE PLANT THAT ATE DIRTY SOCKS begins performances on Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at Off-Broadway's Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher St.) and continue through Friday, August 22. The Opening Night benefit performance is Thursday, July 24 at 6:30 p.m.

For ten-year-old neatnik Norman, sharing a room with his messy older brother Michael is a nightmare – with heaps of crumpled paper, clothes strewn about and piles of smelly, dirty socks everywhere!

One day, Michael sends away for some "Amazing Beans," and before long, the boys are the proud owners of two giant plants.  But as the plants grow taller and taller, the boys realize that their socks are mysteriously disappearing!

As the plants' hunger for socks continue to grow, Norman and Michael must try to conceal their botanical secret from the rest of the kids on Levitt Lane, especially the frighteningly nosey cheerleader, Patty Jenkins.

THE PLANT THAT ATE DIRTY SOCKS stars Jason Williams as Michael and Lance Rubin as Norman, and features Lorinda Lisitza as Mom, Lauren Marcus as Patty Jenkins, Jeffrey Omura as Jason / Mackenzie and Kilty Reidy as Dad.

Joe Iconis is a graduate of the NYU / Tisch Graduate Musical Theater Writing program.  He is the recipient of an Ed Kleban Award and a Jonathan Larson Award, and is the composer-in-residence at Ars Nova.  He is the writer of the notorious garage-rock musical The Black Suits, which will be seen this summer at SPF at the Public Theater.

THE PLANT THAT ATE DIRTY SOCKS features scenic design by Michael Schweikardt, costume design by Tracy Christensen, lighting design by Chris Dallos, sound design by Eric Shim, puppet design by Eric Wright and music direction by Jana Zielonka.

Launched in 1989, the mission of Theatreworks USA's Free Summer Theatre Program is to provide New York City youth with their own free theatre tradition that not only entertains, but also educates and fosters positive values and an appreciation for theatre.   More than 20,000 FREE tickets will be distributed to THE PLANT THAT ATE DIRTY SOCKS this summer.

Jason Williams and Lance Rubin

Jason Williams and Lance Rubin

Jason Williams and Lance Rubin

Photo by Joan Marcus.