The Kennedy Center Presents The World Premiere Of UNLEASHED

The Kennedy Center presents the world premiere of Unleashed! The Secret Lives of White House Pets written by Allyson Currin and directed by Nick Olcott. Co-produced and co-commissioned with the White House Historical Association, the play appears in the Family Theater January 30 - February 22, 2009 and is recommended for audiences aged seven and up.

In Unleashed! The Secret Lives of White House Pets, Alastair, whose father was just elected President, and her pet Chihuahua, Tipp, have moved to the White House and find themselves overwhelmed by their new celebrity status. Befriended by a kindly old custodian named Max, Alastair and Tipp embark on a journey to the past to meet former first kids and White House pets including goats, an alligator, dogs, a mocking bird, a cow, and even a snake. Gathering advice from them all, Alastair learns the power of friendship, courage, and responsibility.

Playwright Allyson Currin has had works produced or commissioned by Signature Theatre, Imagination Stage, Washington Shakespeare Theatre, Source, Charter Theatre, musica aperta, The In-Series. She received two Helen Hayes nominations for Outstanding New Play (Church of the Open Mind and Amstel in Tel Aviv), in addition to other awards and honors. As an actress, Ms. Currin has appeared on many area stages including Olney Theatre Center, Charter Theatre, Catalyst Theatre, Everyman Theatre, Round House, Washington Shakespeare Company, Studio Theatre, Washington Stage Guild, Signature Theatre, American Century Theatre, and Rep Stage. She is a professor in the Theatre and Dance Department at The George Washington University.

Nick Olcott has directed numerous productions for Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences, including the world premieres and national tours of Judith Viorst's Alexander plays, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Katie Couric's The Brand New Kid, and The Great Quillow. As Round House Theatre Associate Artist, he most recently mounted the premiere of Karen Zacarías' The Book Club Play, which he directed again at the Berkshire Theatre Festival. As Resident Director at Theatre J, his productions have included The Disputation (starring Theodore Bikel), Miklat, A Bad Friend, Via Dolorosa, and Yehuda Hyman's The Mad Dancers (co-directed with Liz Lerman). He is a faculty member of the Maryland Opera Studio, University of Maryland.

The cast includes Jessica Frances Dukes as Alastair, Matthew McGloin as Tipp, and Melissa Flaim, James Konicek, Tony Nam, and Dawn Ursula in a variety of roles.

The production team for Unleashed! The Secret Lives of White House Pets includes set design by Misha Kachman, costume design by Kathleen Geldard, lighting design by Martha Mountain, sound design by Kevin Hill, and original music by Deborah Wicks La Puma.

The White House Historical Association is a charitable nonprofit institution whose purpose is to enhance the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of the White House. The White House Historical Association produces educational literature and films, delivers classroom programs and teacher workshops, and maintains a web site about the White House and its history and the persons and events associated with it. From private funding and the sale of its educational products, the Association supports the acquisition of artwork and objects for the White House collection and contributes to the conservation of the public rooms and furthers its educational mission. For more information, please visit www.whitehousehistory.org.

For over 30 years, the Kennedy Center Education Department has provided quality arts experiences through performances, residencies, workshops, conferences, career development programs, symposia, and on-line and print resources. In the past year, the Center's education programs have directly impacted more than 11 million people across the nation. The mission of the Education Department is to foster understanding of and participation in the performing arts through exemplary programs and performances for diverse populations of all ages that represent the unique cultural life and heritage of the United States. For more information, visit the Center's web site at www.kennedy-center.org/education.

Tickets cost $18 and may be purchased at the Kennedy Center Box Office or by calling Instant Charge at (202) 467-4600. Those patrons living outside the Washington metropolitan calling area may dial toll-free at (800) 444-1324.

Theater at the Kennedy Center is presented with the generous support of Stephen and Christine Schwarzman.

Additional support is provided by the U.S. Department of Education, The President's Advisory Committee on the Arts, the Estate of Joseph R. Applegate, Chevy Chase Bank, and The Clark Charitable Foundation.

For more information about the Kennedy Center please visit kennedy-center.org.