Pantochino Teen Theatre Presents CRY-BABY! In Downtown Milford

Pantochino Summer Teen Theatre will present the musical "Cry-Baby" at the MAC (Milford Arts Council) in Downtown Milford for three performances, August 9-11th.

"Cry-Baby" is the jumping, jiving rebellious teen musical based on the cult classic 1990 film by John Waters. It features a delightfully demented book by Thomas Meehan ("Hairspray") & Mark O'Donnell and a rockabilly score by Adam Schlesinger & David Javerbaum ("The Daily Show"). The teen theatre production features thirty-two local actors who are 12 to 18 years old.

It's 1954. Everyone likes Ike, nobody likes communism and Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker is the coolest boy in Baltimore. He's a bad boy with a good cause - truth, justice and the pursuit of rock and roll. Cry-Baby and square rich girl, Allison, are star-crossed lovers at the center of this world. She turns her back on her squeaky clean boyfriend, Baldwin, to become a "drape" (a Baltimore juvenile delinquent) and Cry-Baby's moll. It's Romeo and Juliet meets High School Hellcats.

"Cry-Baby" received four Tony Award nominations in 2008 including Best Book, Best Original Score and Best Musical.

"We're so excited to share this rarely-produced gem of a musical with our Teen Theatre actors," said director Bert Bernardi. "It's funny, daring, and has a lot to say about our past and our present."

The musical is produced through special arrangements with Music Theatre International (MTI) in New York City.

Pantochino Teen Theatre allows young actors the opportunity to work with professional directors and designers outside the academic setting, on a schedule matching that of professional summer theatre companies. "Cry-Baby" has been cast, learned and rehearsed in an immersive nine rehearsals. Bernardi directs the show with Justin Rugg as musical director and Becki Walter, choreographer. The design team includes Jimmy Johansmeyer (costumes), Jeff Carr (lighting), Von Del Mar (sets) and Sara Brown (sound).

The cast includes young actors from Milford, East Haven, Madison, Stratford, Shelton, Trumbull, Orange, Easton, West Haven, Ansonia, Hamden, North Haven and Woodbridge

Performances of "Cry-Baby" are Friday, August 9 and Saturday August 10 at 7:30pm, and Sunday August 11 at 2pm. All tickets are $10. and available online at www.pantochino.com.

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