Metropolitan Playhouse Presents THE UGLY DUCKLING, Now thru 7/14

The "invaluable" and "indispensable" Metropolitan Playhouse--2011 Obie Award winner--presents a ballet for the whole family - The Ugly Duckling, from the story by Hans Christian Andersen. Choreographed by Rachael Kosch at Metropolitan's home: 220 E 4th Street.

The Ugly Duckling runs today, July 12, 13, & 14. Tickets are $20 Adults and $15 children age 12 and under, and may be purchased at www.metropolitanplayhouse.org/tickets or 1-800-838-3006.

The story of The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen takes wing through tuneful music and fanciful dance - even a bit of puppetry! Performed en pointe in vivid, colorful costumes, Andersen's tale of glorious transformation unfolds in an award winning, air conditioned theater to a score by Michael Kosch, Scenic Design by Rifka Milder, and Lighting Design by Christopher Weston. The cast features both adult and professional child dancers.

Written in 1843, The Ugly Duckling has been a classic in the canon of stories Americans have grown up with for generations. This production for families is by a familial artistic team and brings together choreographer Rachael Kosch, her husband, composer Michael Kosch, and her sister, painter Rifka Milder.

We follow the sad cygnet through the trials and troubles of a full year of seasonal change and encounters with strange animal and human characters to his ultimate ascension.

"Andersen first conceived the story in 1842 while enjoying the beauty of nature during his stay at the country estate of Bregentved, and lavished a year's worth of attention upon it. He initially considered 'The Young Swans' as the tale's title but, not wanting to spoil the element of surprise in the protagonist's transformation, discarded it for 'The Ugly Duckling'. He later confessed that the story was 'a reflection of my own life', and, when the critic Georg Brandes questioned Andersen about whether he would write his autobiography, the poet claimed that it had already been written - 'The Ugly Duckling'." - Elias Bredsdorff Hans Christian Andersen: The Story of His Life and Work 1805 - 1875. Phaidon 1975, as quoted in Wikipedia

The Ugly Duckling features an ensemble of dancers ranging in ages 6 through 26. Some cast members return from past seasons of Family Fare at Metropolitan having appeared in the Kosch's The Festival of the Vegetables.

Starring: Giulia D'Antoni, Michaela Doran, Charlotte Ghigliazza, Eva Giannini, Izzy Hanson-Johnston, Liza Loube, Vera Paganin, Lily Eugenia Rudd, Margaux Vasilescu, & Zhiwei Zha. Music by Michael Kosch. Rifka Milder provides a painterly landscape scenic design. Lighting Design by Christopher Weston.

Metropolitan Playhouse is now in its 21st season, devoted to The American Dream in American theater and culture. The Playhouse explores America's theatrical heritage through forgotten plays of the past and new plays of American historical and cultural moment. Called an "indispensable East Village institution" by nytheatre.com and "invaluable" by Back Stage, Metropolitan has earned accolades from The New York Times, and received a 2011 OBIE Grant from The Village Voice for its ongoing productions that illuminate who we are by revealing where we have come from. Other awards include nominations for 5 NYIT Awards in 2010 (The Return of Peter Grimm; Frank Anderson winner for lead actor) and 5 more in 2012 (The House of Mirth; Sidney Fortner winner for costumes). Recent productions include The Detour, The Boss, Both Your Houses, The House of Mirth, Deep Are the Roots, The Jazz Singer, From Rags to Riches, One-Third of a Nation, The Great Divide, Uncle Tom's Cabin, The Drunkard, Dodsworth, as well as the Alphabet City and East Village Chronicles series.