A LITTLE PRINCESS Gets TX Concerts 10/16-19

A new version of A Little Princess, a musical written by Brian Crawley (book/lyrics) and Andrew Lippa (music) will premiere at Texas State University Oct 16-19. The final performance will be live streamed on the web for audiences across the country on Oct 19th according to director Kaitlin Hopkins, who also heads the Musical Theatre program at Texas State.

The Texas State University Musical Theatre program is producing a four- night concert version of the show that will provide the authors the opportunity to finalize the script, score and orchestrations. The concert will feature new material added since the musical's world premiere production at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto, CA in 2004, a 20- piece orchestra and will be conducted by Lippa. Music Theatre International (MTI) will exclusively represent the performance rights for the show around the world http:/www.mtishow.com. Additionally, Ghostlight Records is releasing the world premiere recording on September 13th to coincide with publisher Hal Leonard's release of the vocal selections. To hear song previews and order the album, visit http://sh-k-boom.com/alittleprincess.shtml. In addition to directing the show, Hopkins (Noises Off, Bat Boy), who has many Broadway acting credits to her name, will also be performing the role of Miss Minchin, and her husband, faculty member and Broadway actor Jim Price (Civil War, Bat Boy), will be performing the role of Captain Crewe. The rest of the roles will be played by students in the Musical Theatre program.

Brian Crawley wrote the book and lyrics for Violet (composer Jeanine Tesori) which won the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical as well as the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical over all the year's Broadway offerings. For the libretto of Violet, Brian won the prestigious Kleban Award.

Tony-nominated Broadway composer and lyricist Andrew Lippa (The Addams Family) is currently Composer in Residence for the Musical Theatre program at Texas State and has been commissioned with funds from the university's Harrison New Musical Commission to create a new work to be developed and premiered at the school.

"I think one of the most exciting things for the students, other than the time they get to spend with Andrew and Brian in the rehearsal room, is that Andrew is also conducting the performances," stated Hopkins. "It's a wonderful professional credit and rare educational experience for the students-and to be conducted by the composer and be part of the development of this show, well, that's the icing on the cake."

A Little Princess is a 1905 children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. There have been several film versions over the years, including a 1917 version starring Mary Pickford as Sara, a 1939 version with Shirley Temple, and a 1995 version directed by Alfonso Cuaron. The show has already generated significant interest in the stock and amateur market, particularly in schools, many of which study the novel A Little Princess, upon which the original musical is based.

Performances will be held Oct. 16-19th at the Texas Music Theater in San Marcos, TX.

For ticket information http://www.theatreanddance.txstate.edu/Little-Princess.html.

The live stream broadcast is sponsored by Michael and Diane Bowman Hunt and Hunt Ltd in Houston, Texas. Proceeds from the concert will benefit future Harrison New Musical commissions. For more information on the Musical Theatre program at Texas State University visit www.theatreanddance.txstate.edu.