RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER Will Guide Santa To The Rose, 12/26-12/30

"Do you recall the most famous reindeer of all?" The lighthearted Christmas sing-along children have fallen in love with for decades will come to life on stage for the first time at The Rose Theater.  Families will join the cast of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in singing carols and making holiday memories, December 26 through 30.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a fun, interactive production about uniqueness and true friendship-telling the story about Santa's ninth reindeer whose red nose is bright enough to illuminate the sleigh's path on Christmas Eve.

Jim Hoggatt wrote the script, based on the traditional tale. It is not a direct translation of the 1960s stop motion animation, or "claymation," film people know so well, but rather a gleeful, heartwarming adaptation that respects the old works and adds something new. "It follows the story closely and feels more silly and wild than the original," said director Will Davis.

"Children will most enjoy the characters," said Hoggatt, who also adapted Frosty the Snowman and The Gingerbread Man for The Rose stage in 2008 and 2007. Rudolph features an elf who aspires to be a dentist, a cowboy who rides an ostrich and a frightening snow monster that the audience discovers is not so horrible, after all.

"The actors have a great energy that will hopefully be infectious," said Davis. The festive scenery designed by Carl Dumicich and the bright, amusing costumes by Sherri Geerdes make the production-particularly the island of misfit toys-even more entertaining.

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was conceived by RoBert May for Montgomery Ward in 1939 and the song, written by Johnny Marks, was first recorded in 1948. Rudolph first appeared on screen in 1944 in a cartoon short produced by Max Fleischer for the Jim Handy Corporation, but did not make his animated TV debut until 1964. Now, 45 years later, Rudolph will make his first live stage appearance.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer will be presented Friday, December 26 through Wednesday, December 30, with daily shows at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.-providing the perfect afternoon outing for children and families enjoying their holiday breaks from school. Additional shows will be offered at 7 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Interpretation for the hearing impaired will be offered at the 7 p.m. performance on Monday, December 28. The production is recommended for ages 4-12 and will run 50 minutes without intermission on The Rose main stage.

Tickets are $16 and may be purchased at The Rose Box Office, located at 2001 Farnam Street, by telephone at (402) 345-4849 or online at www.rosetheater.org. Rose members receive four free tickets to the show. Discount ticket vouchers are available at all Omaha and Council Bluffs-area Hy-Vee Food Stores.

The Rose's 2009-2010 season is sponsored by Children's Hospital & Medical Center. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is sponsored by Security National Bank, The KAT and the Nebraska Arts Council.