THE BOY WHO WOULD BE CAPTAIN HOOK Celebrates National Disability Month at LICM Theater

In a moving, humorous look at growing up, actor, speaker and disability advocate, David Harrell brings to life a story of his childhood in "The Boy Who Would Be Captain Hook" at the Long Island Children's Museum from today, March 2 through Sunday, March 6. Morning and afternoon performances are being offered for school groups and family audiences.

In "The Boy Who Would be Captain Hook," David Harrell uses hilarious stories and a crazy cast of characters from his life's journey growing up with a disability to challenge, entertain and educate audiences. Born without his right hand and fitted with a prosthetic hook, Harrell was kept on the sidelines at recess along with Wendy, a strong girl who wanted super hero skills and James, the new kid in town. Things changed the day his classmates' play Peter Pan and David found his role as Captain Hook. But is this the only role that he can play? What happens when David, Wendy and James decided not to be defined by the circumstances and try to change the game?

His award-winning solo play, "A Little Potato and Hard to Peel," as well as "The Boy Who Would Be Captain Hook" have entertained audiences from New York City to Southern Georgia-from off-Broadway houses to the US Department of the Interior. His shows resonate with audience members as they reflect the universal experience of overcoming any obstacle.

Harell holds a BFA from the University of Southern Mississippi and a MFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in theatre performance. He was nominated in 2010 for a New York Innovative Theatre award for "Outstanding Solo Performance" and won the Journalist Choice Award for his work in the Monomaffia Festival in Parnu, Estonia. He has appeared in independent films, web series and the New York City institution "Law and Order: SVU." As a Disability Advocate he has worked as the Accessibility and Outreach Director for the Raleigh Ensemble Players in Raleigh, NC and currently serves as the Disability and Programming Associate for Inclusion in the Arts in New York City. He serves on the NYC Local Performers with Disabilities Committee with SAG-AFTRA and is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association.

"The Boy Who Would Be Captain Hook" will be presented on the following schedule: Wednesday, March 2 through Friday, March 4 at 10:15 a.m. and noon; Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Tickets, priced at $9 with museum admission ($7 for LICM members) or $12 for theater only, are available online at www.licm.org/theater or at the LICM Box Office. Performances are supported by Institute of Museum & Library Services and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

The Long Island Children's Museum invites visitors of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to explore freely, discover their passions, and appreciate the communities and world we share. The 40,000-square-foot museum is a learning laboratory where hands-on exhibits invite visitors to experiment, examine, and play. The Museum welcomes 250,000 children and adults annually. The private, not-for-profit institution chartered by the New York State Board of Regents, offers museum-based educational programs and cultural experiences, as well as an extensive community outreach program offered in schools, libraries and youth centers across Long Island. The Museum is the recipient of the 2012 National Medal for Museum & Library Service, the highest honor conferred on museums for extraordinary civic, educational, economic, environmental, and social contributions.

The Children's Museum takes seriously its role as an introductory setting to launch a child's lifelong interest in the performing arts. Presentation of the performing arts has played a central role within the diverse range of educational experiences provided by the Museum since it opened in 1993. The LICM Theater presents an active, year- round schedule of interactive multimedia performances featuring locally, regionally, nationally and internationally acclaimed groups.

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