Theatreworks USA at The Kaye Playhouse Series Continues This Sunday with HENRY AND MUDGE

Theatreworks USA will continue its 2016 weekend family performance series this Sunday April 3rd, with Henry and Mudge? was adapted by bookwriter/lyricist Kait Kerrigan and composer/lyricist Brian Lowdermilk (Jonathan Larson Award-winners) and is based on the best-selling books by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Suçie Stevenson. Henry and Mudge premiered Off-Broadway in July 2006 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. This 60-minute musical is recommended for ages 4 and up.

Moving from the city to a new house in the country can be tough. Just ask Henry, who can't find a playmate in his new neighborhood! Luckily, he's got Mudge, a great big, 182-pound canine buddy, with whom he can share all kinds of adventures! Henry discovers that having a pet is a big responsibility -- they need to be fed, they need to be taken out for walks, and of course they need lots of love and playtime! And when the dog is as big as Mudge is, they also need good training. Henry teaches his new friend to sit, heel, and shake his hand, but rolling over is one trick Henry just can't seem to teach Mudge, no matter how hard he tries. When Henry's cousin Annie comes for a visit, Mudge is so charmed by her that he finally rolls over at her command! Henry thinks Mudge must love Annie more than him, because the dog only does the trick for her. Very upset, Henry runs away into the cold dark woods to find adventures on his own. Mudge follow's the boy's scent into the forest -- he really does love Henry and doesn't want to be without him. Will the two friends be reunited? Find out in this Theatreworks musical, based on the best-selling series of books by Cynthia Rylant.

Featured in the cast are Sarah DeNight, Stephen Fala, Meredith Myers, Zachary Owen Turner, and Evan Wilberg,

Henry and Mudge?, directed and choreographed by Rachel M. Stevens, has been adapted by bookwriter/lyricist Kait Kerrigan and composer/lyricist Brian Lowdermilk (The Woman Upstairs, Jonathan Larson Award-winners) and is based on the best-selling books by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Suçie Stevenson. The production was originally directed Off-Broadway by Peter Flynn (Broadway concerts of On the Twentieth Century, Chess, Funny Girl) and the Lortel-nominated choreographed by Devavand Janki (Lortel Award-winner for Zanna Don't, nominee for Theatreworks USA's Junie B. Jones). Scenic design is by Paul C. Weimer and costume design is by Rob Bevenger. Musical direction is by Miriam Daly.

Kait Kerrigan (Book, Lyrics) and Brian Lowdermilk (Music) have been awarded the 2006 Jonathan Larson Award. Their work has been showcased at the 2005 New York Musical Theater Festival, for which they were co-commissioned by the Upright Citizen's Brigade and the festival to write Wrong Number. Other shows include The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown, which received a reading in the Artist's Showcase Reading Series at the 92nd Street Y and was featured in the 2005 NAMT Songwriters Showcase; and The Woman Upstairs, seen in the 2004 New York Musical Theatre Festival and the BOAM Festival at North Shore Music Theatre, MA. They were awarded a 2004-2005 Jonathan Larson Fellowship at the Dramatists Guild and they are members of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop. Ms. Kerrigan graduated from Barnard College with a degree in English Literature. Her plays include Her Old Possessions, which has had a workshop at Columbia University and at the Burton Taylor Theatre in Oxford, UK; Tender Wars in the Green-Gold Room and Transit. Mr. Lowdermilk studied at Harvard University and NYU where he received the Alan Menken Award. With collaborator Marcus Stevens, Mr. Lowdermilk was the recipient of a Richard Rodgers Award for his musical Red. More? Visit www.kerrigan-lowdermilk.com

Theatreworks USA at The Kaye Playhouse Series features eight different productions over 11 weekends, each offering one-hour weekend performances recommended for children four and up. Remaining performances will be:

April 24: Skippyjon Jones Snow What based on the book by Judy Schachner, features a libretto and lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila and a score by Eli Bolin. Skippyjon Jones Snow What premiered Off-Broadway in July 2015 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.

May 1: Curious George: The Golden Meatball, a musical based on the books by Margaret and H.A. Rey and the play owned by Universal Stage Productions, features a book by Jeremy Desmon with original music by John Kavanaugh.

The Kaye Playhouse is located at East 68th Street between Park & Lexington Avenues. Tickets for all performances will be $25. Discounted rates for groups of 4 or more are available as well. Tickets may be purchased online: www.hunter.cuny.edu/kayeplayhouse, by phone at 212/772-4448, and in person at the box office, which is open from Noon-6pm, Monday through Saturday.

Theatreworks USA is America's foremost professional theatre for young and family audiences. Theatreworks USA's mission is to create imaginative and sophisticated shows that are educational, entertaining, and thought provoking, and to ensure that these shows are accessible to audiences across America regardless of geography and socio-economic status. Since 1961, Theatreworks USA has reached over 93 million people in 49 states and Canada, and the company now performs for about three million young people annually. Every year, the company tours approximately ten shows from its ever-growing repertoire of 133 plays and musicals. In addition, Theatreworks USA has an extensive guest artist roster of multi-cultural storytellers, musicians, puppeteers, magicians and more.

Theatreworks USA's honors include a Drama Desk Award, Lucille Lortel Award, the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Award, the William M. Dawson Award for Programmatic Excellence given by the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, and the Medal of Honor from the Actors Fund of America. Past Free Summer Theatre productions at the Lucille Lortel Theatre include The Lightning Thief (Lortel Award nominee: Best Musical); Skippyjon Jones (Lortel Award nominee: Best Musical); The Yellow Brick Road (Callaway nominee: Best Choreography); We the People: America Rocks! (Lortel nominee: Best Musical); Click, Clack, Moo (Lortel nominee: Best Musical, Drama Desk nominee: Best Lyrics); and Seussical (Lortel and Drama League nominee: Best Revival of a Musical). Free Summer Theatre is entirely underwritten by charitable contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations, and public support.

This program from Theatreworks USA is supported, in part, with public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.

For more information on this series or the other programs offered by Theatreworks USA, visit www.TWUSA.org.