South Coast Rep Presents Imaginative Retelling of Award-Winning Novel, FLORA & ULYSSES

South Coast Repertory continues its Theatre for Young Audiences series with Flora & Ulysses. The play, based on the popular illustrated novel, has been adapted for stage by John Glore. Casey Stangl directs the world premiere on the Julianne Argyros Stage,Feb. 3-19. Tickets are on sale now: www.scr.org

Kate DiCamillo's 2014 Newbery Award-winning novel, Flora & Ulysses, has been a hit with countless young readers. Playwright Glore fell in love with the novel-finding the characters to be delightful and witty-and later turned the beloved story to the stage.

The story follows cynical 10-year-old Flora, who spends her time reading comic books and trying to understand her parents' divorce. When a squirrel gets sucked up in the vacuum cleaner and pops out as a superhero that can fly-and write poetry-a villain-vanquishing, darkness-destroying, comic adventure begins! She names him Ulysses and together they use his superpowers to fight evil. This heartwarming adventure is recommended for Grades 2-6.

"I love the combination of humor and seriousness in the story of Flora's difficult life and her way of escaping her troubles by reading comic-books about superheroes," said Glore, SCR's associate artistic director. "I find the characters charming and funny. And I thought it was really unusual that for much of the story, Flora's mom is actually kind of the villain-although in the end we find out she means well and only wants to do what's best for Flora."

DiCamillo is a Newbery Award-winning author-for this book and for The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Her books Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tales of Despereaux became popular films.

The cast of Flora & Ulysses includes Celeste Den, Emily James, Rudy Martinez, Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper, Ann Noble, Jennifer Parsons and Alex Suha.

The design and creative team includes François-Pierre Courture, set designer; Sara Ryung Clement, costume designer; Josh Epstein, lighting designer; Jeff Polunas, Sound Designer; Lynn Jeffries, puppet designer; Kaitlyn Pietras, video designer; Andy Knight, dramaturg; and Julie Ann Renfro, stage manager.

Flora & Ulysses is generously supported by Education Honorary Producers Lisa and Richard de Lorimier and Katie and Jim Loss, with Corporate Honorary Producer Haskell & White, LLP. The media partner is OC Family magazine. A major grant from the Segerstrom Foundation supports SCR's three-production young audiences series.

Tickets start at $22 for children, ages 4-12; and $27 for adults. For complete information, visit www.scr.org

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