Ramona Quimby Comes To Children's Theater Company Opening 4/24

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) welcomes Ramona Quimby, the world's most lovable third-grader, to its stage in a fast-paced, funny and touching new production, directed by Clinton Turner Davis.

Opening April 24 (previews April 21 - 23) on the UnitedHealth Group Stage, CTC's production of "Ramona Quimby" is based on the beloved Newbery Award-winning series by Beverly Cleary and adapted for the stage by Len Jenkin. In this heart-warming tale, Ramona's life is a mess. Her teacher hates her, her older sister Beezus is a pain, her favorite aunt might marry a "dork" and her dad just lost his job. Life is not easy, but Ramona never loses heart!

With a cast of twenty-five actors and more than 125 local Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts making their acting debuts throughout the show's performance schedule, Turner Davis brings to life the rambunctious antics of Ramona, along with her family and friends on Klickitat Street.
"Generations of families relate to ‘Ramona Quimby.' Beverly Cleary's characters are so authentic, fresh and contemporary," says CTC Artistic Director Peter Brosius. "The struggles Ramona's family faces are the same struggles families are experiencing today. And, we are thrilled to have Clinton Turner Davis direct. His work with ‘The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963,' overflowed with humanity, humor and heart. We knew we had to have him return to bring this wonderful Quimby family to life."
Turner Davis returns to CTC following award-winning productions including Joe Turner's Come and Gone (New Federal Theatre, New York), The African Company Presents Richard III (The Acting Company, New York), My Children! My Africa! (Dallas Theatre Center) and Black Nativity (Freedom Theatre, Philadelphia). Turner Davis has guest lectured and directed at Juilliard, Tisch, Dartmouth, Yale, Brandeis, Columbia and Howard Universities; was the first Lorraine Hansberry Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and, is currently an associate professor in the drama and dance department of Colorado College.

Scarlett Thompson, who is best recognized for her role as Helen Keller in the Torch Theater's production of "The Miracle Worker," plays Ramona Quimby, and Maeve Coleen Moynihan is cast as older sister Beezus Quimby. Moynihan's credits include previous roles in CTC's "Esperanza Rising" and "Pippi Longstocking." More recently, she played Carrie Ingalls in the Guthrie Theater's production of "Little House on the Prairie."

"Ramona Quimby" also features Naveh Shavit-Lonstein (Howie Kemp), Katie Law-Gotich (Susan), Patty Matthews (Mrs. Quimby), Kathryn Jorgenson (Aunt Bea) and Daniel Joeck (Uncle Hobart). Max Wojtanowicz, Will Von Vogt and Lindsey Hartley, who recently starred as Juliet in CTC's acclaimed production of "Romeo & Juliet," along with company members Reed Sigmund (Mr. Quimby), Marvette Knight, Gerald Drake and Autumn Ness, round out the primary cast.

"Ramona Quimby" is designed by Victor Zupanc (music composition and sound), Eduardo Sicangco (costume and scenery) and Nancy Schertler (lighting).

Beverly Cleary's books, including "Ramona the Brave," "Ramona Quimby, Age 8" and "Henry and Beezus," have won nearly every prestigious children's literature award, from the Newbery Medal and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award to the international Hans Christian Andersen Award. Loved by generations of readers, Cleary's books are available in more than twenty countries and are printed in fourteen languages. PBS-TV aired a ten-part series based on the Ramona stories, and a movie based upon "Ramona and Beezus" will begin filming in Vancouver in fall 2009.

CTC's "Ramona Quimby" opens Fri., April 24 (previews begin Tuesday, April 21), and plays through Sun., June 7. The show is most enjoyed by ages five and older. Tickets range from $20-$35 for adults and $14-$29 for children (17 & under), students and seniors. Tickets are on sale at (612) 874-0400 or childrenstheatre.org.

The Children's Theatre Company (CTC) is the first theatre for young people to win the coveted Tony® Award for Outstanding Regional Theater (2003). Founded in 1965, CTC serves more than 300,000 people annually and is one of the 20 largest theater companies in the nation. The company is noted for defining worldwide standards for youth theatre with an innovative mix of classic tales, celebrated international productions and challenging new work.