Richard Scarry's popular kids' book series BUSYTOWN, is set to be the source for the Children's Theatre of Charlotte's latest musical BUSYTOWN.
Huckle Cat, Lowly Worm and their gang sing and dance at the Children's Theatre at ImaginOn April 13-29. Tickets start at $18 for this show for kids and adults age 3 and above.
The world of Busytown is always buzzing with activity. As Huckle Cat takes us on a tour of his neighborhood, we learn just how many people it takes to keep a city running smoothly. From farmers and grocers to doctors and nurses, from postmen and bankers to firemen and lumberjacks, everyone in the community works and plays together.
This production brings Scarry's beloved characters – including Farmer Pig, Dr. Lion and Lowly Worm – to singing, dancing life on stage.
Sam Faulkner, 13, stars as Huckle Cat. Faulkner was last seen on the Children's Theatre stage in SEUSSICAL.
Scarry's book series has sold more than 100 million copies and has been translated into dozens of languages. The title was also spun off into a popular cartoon series, "The Busy World of Richard Scarry," as well as "Busytown Mysteries," which is available for streaming currently on Netflix.
Caroline Bower, who plays Betsey in BUSYTOWN – and who played Belle in THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and Dorothy in THE WIZARD OF OZ – remembers watching the cartoon as a kid. She's enjoyed delving into the complex world of BUSYTOWN.
"I only play three characters in the show, so I actually have it pretty easy compared to the rest of the cast," she said. "It's a lot of fun because my characters are all very different, so it's easy to keep them straight in my head."
While some of the actors juggle up to nine roles, Steven Ivey got lucky in being cast in only one. He plays Lowly Worm, one of Scarry's most popular creations.
"In my almost 35 years of acting experience, I can truly say that there has been no 'worm' character played," Ivey said. "Lowly is a silent but strong type that finds his way into most everyone's lives in Busytown. I tell people that he's simply 'ubiquitous.'"
Tickets for the production are on sale now. For more information or to order, visit www.ctcharlotte.org or call the Customer Sales & Service Center at 704-973-2828.
Children's Theatre of Charlotte is a national leader among theatres for young audiences, serving more than 300,000 young people and families annually with professional productions and innovative education initiatives.
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