Main Street Theater to Stage AKEELAH AND THE BEE

Main Street Theater (MST) presents Akeelah and the Bee, based on the screenplay by Doug Atchison and adapted for the stage by Cheryl L. West. "I love the fact that Akeelah and the Bee teaches young people not to let their socioeconomic background, race or gender dictate what is possible in their lives," says MST Theater for Youth Producing Director Vivienne M. St. John. "I love that this play depicts a middle school girl overcoming her background and the obstacles that challenge her - and she doesn't allow any of it to defeat her. Akeelah reminds us all that if you work hard at something, you can do anything."

"I grew up on the south side of Houston, attending 2 different elementary schools. I did the spelling bee myself," shares Ashley Shaunte who plays Akeelah. "In elementary school, I was reminded constantly that I'm a girl and can't do certain things, including win the spelling bee. Unfortunately I allowed those words to take root. Girls would bully me about my hair. They hated my curls so much so that I begged my mom for a relaxed. I tried my best to conform to the norms of other people. I guess I connect with Akeelah because I understand that I'm not from the best part of the city but there's a fight in me that reminds me I can keep going."

Performances are Sunday, October 29 at 12:30pm and 3:30pm and Saturdays November 4 and 11 at 11:00am and 2:00pm at MST's Midtown location, 3400 Main St. in Matchbox4 at the MATCH facility.

Main Street Theater offers Accommodations Performances. October 29 at 3:30pm is a Sensory-Friendly performance. November 11 at 11:00am has an Audio Description opportunity available: just ask for a headset at Will Call. And ASL interpreter will be present for the 2:00pm performance on November 11. Tickets are $18 - $22, depending on section. Large print playbills are also available at Will Call.

All tickets are on sale via phone at 713.524.6706 or online at MainStreetTheater.com.

About Akeelah and the Bee

Akeelah has a gift for words and a determined spirit. Despite the objections of her mother and the tough world around her, she enters spelling contests and earns a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. This is the inspirational journey of an 11 year old girl whose courage touches the hearts of her coach, her school and her neighborhood. Recommended for 5th grade and up. Children under the age of 3 (including sleeping babies) not allowed in the theater.

Akeelah and the Bee is directed by Troy Scheid who most recently directed Mockingbird for MST. The cast includes Estée Burk, Joey Castorena, Sam Flash, Hannah Lee, Pin Lim, Chaney Moore, Joyce Anastasia Murray,

Prince Nnaji, Devin Norwood, Alan Nguyen, Carian Lynée Parker, Ashley Shaunte, Peter Ton, Jason Wright, and Erica Young.

The Akeelah design team is Kerry Bechtel (costume), Ryan McGettigan (set), David Gipson (lighting), Shawn W. St. John (sound), and Mark B. Robbins (props). Rachael Fernandez is the stage manager.

About Main Street Theater

Main Street Theater provides theater experiences for all ages. Founded in 1975, our MainStage produces professional, intimate, literary plays for adults and operates under an Actors' Equity Association union contract; our Theater for Youth produces professional, engaging productions based on children's literature for families and school groups, both in-house and on tour around Texas; and we offer Education and Outreach programs on-site and at satellite locations around the Greater Houston area for youth aged 4 - high school. We work out of 2 facilities: our Rice Village home on Times. Blvd., and as part of the MATCH (Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston) on Main Street.

Main Street Theater is a member of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for not-for-profit theaters, of Theatre for Young Audiences/USA (formerly ASSITEJ), the world theatre network of theatre for children and young people, and a founding member of Houston Arts Partners. Main Street Theater is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, and the Texas Commission on the Arts. United Airlines is the official airline of Main Street Theater.

Photo by Blueprint Film Co. Ashley Shaunte as Akeelah

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