THE YOUNG COMPANY WINTER FESTIVAL Takes the Stage at Greater Boston Stage Company

The Winter Festival, performed by actors in grades 1-12, is the culmination of 8 weeks of rehearsals by the students and their professional directors, music directors, choreographers, stage managers, and design team. The Young Company Winter Festival includes 4 fully-staged productions: family-friendly musical Phantom Tollbooth Jr. follows Milo on an unforgettable mission to save Rhyme and Reason in the Kingdom of Wisdom. In the fantastical Seussical, all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters come to life, and in the Disney Classic, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Quasimodo escapes his bell tower and experiences freedom and adventure. Lastly, in the dark comedy Bat Boy: The Musical, Edgar, a half boy/half bat creature, joins a local family and learns to embrace his human half.

Based on the classic children's novel, Phantom Tollbooth Jr. follows Milo, a bored ten-year-old who finds a magical tollbooth in his room. Joining forces with a watchdog named Tock, Milo drives through the tollbooth's gates for an unforgettable mission to save Rhyme and Reason in the Kingdom of Wisdom! Directed by Sydney Grant, Music Direction by Alan Rodi, Choreographed by Liana C. Percoco, and Stage Managed by Casey Roland.

The fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza Seussical brings to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, and a little boy with a big imagination: Jojo. Travel from the Jungle of Nool to the invisible world of the Whos as Horton and Jojo search to feel not so alone in the universe. Directed and Choreographed by Tyler Rosati, Music Direction by Bethany Aiken, and Assistant Directed and Stage Managed by Alyssa Bene.

Based on the Victor Hugo novel with songs from the Disney animated feature, The Hunchback of Notre Dame follows Quasimodo, a deformed and captive bell-ringer who longs to be "Out There." During the Feast of Fools, he escapes and experiences firsthand both the joys and terrors that exist out in the world. Directed by Sarah Rozene, Choreographed by Sarai Warsoff, Music Direction by Laura Baronet, and Stage Managed by Shauwna Grillo.

Based on a story in The Weekly World News, Bat Boy: The Musical is a musical comedy/horror show about a half boy/half bat creature who is discovered in a cave near Hope Falls, West Virginia. Batboy joins a local family and learns to embrace his human half through knowledge, religion, and love. As Edgar, the newly named Bat Boy, naively tries to embrace his new life, the surrounding community begins to raise concerns of his inclusion and the impact it may have on their lives. Directed by Sarah Elizabeth Bedard, Music Direction by Rachael Furgiuele, Assistant Directed by Daniel Begin, and Stage Managed by Molly Burman.

Performances:

Phantom Tollbooth Jr.-Sunday, January 28th at 11AM; Saturday, February 3rd at 11AM; and Sunday, February 4th at 11AM. Phantom Tollbooth Jr. is recommended for all ages.

Seussical-Saturday, January 27th at 1PM; Sunday, January 28th at 1PM; Saturday, February 3rd at 1PM; and Sunday, February 4th at 1PM. Seussical is recommended for all ages.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame-Saturday, January 27th at 4PM; Sunday, January 28th at 4PM; Thursday, February 1st at 7:30PM; and Saturday, February 3rd at 4PM. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is recommended for ages 11 and up.

Bat Boy: The Musical-Friday, January 26th at 7:30PM; Saturday, January 27th at 7:30PM; Friday, February 2nd at 7:30PM; and Saturday, February 3rd at 7:30PM. Bat Boy: The Musical is recommended for ages 14 and up.

Tickets are $15. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Box Office at Greater Boston Stage Company at (781) 279-2200, or visit www.greaterbostonstage.org. Student matinee performances are also available. Please contact Carol Dempsey, Director of Sales, at carol@greaterbostonstage.org or (781) 279-7885 x105 for more information.

Full production credits: Phantom Tollbooth Jr.: Based on the book by Norton Juster, Book by Norton Juster & Sheldon Harnick, Music by Arnold Black, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. Seussical: Music by Stephen Flaherty,

Lyrics by Lynn Aherns, Book by Lynn Aherns and Stephen Flaherty, Co-conceived by Lynn Aherns, Stephen Flaherty, and Eric Idle, Based on the Works of Dr. Seuss. The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, Book by Peter Parnell, Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney film. Bat Boy: The Musical: Story and Book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming, Music and Lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe, Licensed under agreement with Weekly World News.

ABOUT GREATER BOSTON STAGE COMPANY:

We bring vibrant professional theatre and dramatic education beyond the boundaries of Boston, featuring world and regional premieres alongside fresh interpretations of familiar work. Within this setting, we uniquely foster the artists of tomorrow by providing ongoing performance and employment opportunities to our company of current and former students. Now in its 18th Season of live theatre in Stoneham, MA, Greater Boston Stage Company produces seven Mainstage shows, presents a series of Special Events, and runs year-round classes, lessons, and fully staged productions through The Young Company for students in grades 1-12.

ABOUT THE YOUNG COMPANY:

The Young Company at Greater Boston Stage Company ? helps the next generation become better artists, better audience members, and better people through dramatic education. Through artistic training and performance opportunities, The Young Company at Greater Boston Stage Company develops life skills such as confidence, self-discipline, and collaboration to inspire and prepare young actors for future creative engagement and success. Our process-oriented programming pushes students to the next level by working with exceptional Boston teaching artists and theatre professionals. Students are also provided with opportunities to work on Mainstage productions side-by-side with professionals. The Young Company lives by the idea that GOOD THEATRE MAKES GOOD PEOPLE.

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