Beloved children’s author Judy Blume’s Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, an enormously popular tale of sibling rivalry and unfortunate digestive mishaps, will open South Coast Repertory’s 2008-09 Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) season. Adapted by Bruce Mason and directed by Jessica Kubzansky, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing will run Nov. 7 through Nov. 23 on the Julianne Argyros Stage. Low-priced previews are available from Nov. 7 - 9. Opening day is Nov. 15. Press performance is Nov. 9 at 2:00 p.m. All children who attend the 11:00 a.m. Target Family Performance on Saturday, Nov. 15 will receive a free gift. Tickets to Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.
In Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, fourth-grader Peter must deal with his overly-annoying younger brother Farley, who prefers to go by the name Fudge. Peter can’t stand his disgustingly cute brother because he is such a troublemaker. His annoyance with Fudge reaches an all-time high and the run-of-the-mill sibling rivalry takes a turn for the worse when Dribble, Peter’s prized pet turtle, seemingly disappears. After searching high and low for Dribble, it turns out he is in the last place anyone could ever expect . . . Fudge’s tummy.
Judy Blume gained popularity with children of all ages in the 1970s for her unique ability to tackle real-life issues in a kid-friendly manner. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is the first in a series of four “Fudge books.” Bloom’s best-selling novels include Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret and Blubber. Sales of her novels for children and young adults exceed 80 million.
Kubzansky is making her mainstage directorial debut at SCR, after most recently directing last season’s NewSCRipts reading of Reborning. Kubzansky is the Co-Artistic Director of The Theatre @ Boston Court in Pasadena and an award-winning director working around the country at Geffen Playhouse, Portland
Center Stage,
Mark Taper Forum/
Kirk Douglas New Works,
Laguna Playhouse, The Aurora Theatre Company, The American Stage, among many others. Specializing in new work, Kubzansky’s recent world premieres include Nick Salamone's and Maury McIntyre's Gulls, a musical adaptation of
The Seagull at The Theatre @ Boston Court and Bob Clyman's Tranced at
Laguna Playhouse. Kubzansky received the 2004 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Margaret Harford Award for Sustained Excellence in Theatre.
Daniel Chaffin heads up the cast of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing as Peter and the Narrator. Chaffin appeared in last season’s Educational Touring Production of You’re Getting Warmer, which toured elementary schools and enjoyed a run at the Orange County Fair. Larry Bates (Mr. Yarby, Sarah, Nurse, Jimmy Fargo, Mr. Vincent, Dr. Cone) returns to SCR after performing in last season’s The BFG (Big Friendly Giant). His theater credits include Raisin in the Sun at The Theatre School at DePaul University and A Christmas Carol at
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Brenda Canela is making her SCR debut as Mrs. Yarby, Sheila Tubman, Dr. Brown, Jennie and Janet. Canela’s theater credits include César and Ruben at The El Portal Theatre and The Story of Alice at Notre Dame Academy. Dan Parker will play Peter’s annoying younger brother, Fudge. His credits include The Two Gentleman of Verona and Habeas Corpus. Parker has also appeared in
Hedda Gabler at Manhattan Theatre Club, Hayfever at Actors Theatre of Louisville and Sex Parasite at
Mark Taper Forum.
Jeanne Sakata will play Mom, Mrs. Denberg and Cameraperson. Her theater credits include SCR’s 2007 Pacific Playwrights Festival workshop production of Po' Boy Tango, Red at the Intiman Theatre and Portland
Center Stage (winner of Ovation Award for Best Lead Actress in a Play), Blood Wedding at
La Jolla Playhouse, M. Butterfly at Arizona Theatre Company and Temptation at
Mark Taper Forum.
Tom Shelton (Dad, Ralph, Viktor) is a familiar face to fans of SCR’s TYA series, having appeared in eight productions including The BFG (Big Friendly Giant), James and the Giant Peach, The Hoboken Chicken Emergency and the world premiere of The Only Child.
The creative team for Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing includes Angela Balogh Calin (set and costume design), Jeremy Pivnik (lighting design), John Zalewski (sound design) and Jenny Butler (stage manager).
The Honorary Producer of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is The Fieldstone Foundation.
OC Family is SCR’s Theatre for Young Audiences Media Partner.
SCR’s Theatre for Young Audiences presents three professional productions each season designed especially for children and their families. In addition to the public performances, TYA hosts over 10,000 students from elementary schools annually in an effort to introduce the next generation to the magic of live theater. The TYA series is made possible in part by generous grants from Target and the Orange County Community Foundation with additional support from Robert & LaDorna Eichenberg.
TICKETS to Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing can be purchased online at
www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or by visiting the box office at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. Performances begin on Nov. 7 and continue through Nov. 23. Ticket prices range from $16 to $27. Low-priced preview performances are available from Nov. 7-14. Performance Times: Previews: Friday, Nov. 7 & 14 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8 at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Regular Performances: Saturday, Nov. 15 at 11:00 a.m. (Target Family Performance), 2:00 and 4:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 16 at 2:00 and 4:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 21 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 22 at 11:00 a.m., 2:00 and 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 23 at 2:00 and 4:30 p.m. Discounts are available for children 12 years and younger. The Target Family Performance is Saturday, Nov. 15 at 11:00 a.m. with an earlier performance time and lower ticket price thanks to Target, title sponsor of the Target Family Performances.
Tony Award-winning
South Coast Repertory, under the artistic direction of David Emmes and
Martin Benson, is widely recognized as one of the leading professional theaters in the United States. Founded in 1964, SCR is committed to theater that illuminates the compelling personal and social issues of our time, not only on its stages but through its education and outreach programs. While its productions represent a balance of classic and modern theater, SCR is renowned for its extensive new play development program, including the Pacific Playwrights Festival. Of SCR’s more than 400 productions, 108 have been world premieres with subsequent stagings achieving enormous success across America and around the world. SCR-developed works have garnered eight Pulitzer Prize nominations with Margaret Edson’s Wit winning the prize in 1999 and
David Lindsay-Abaire’s Rabbit Hole in 2007. Located in Costa Mesa, California, in 2002 SCR opened the Folino Theater Center, an expanded three-theater complex that includes the 507-seat Segerstrom Stage, the 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage and the 94-seat Nicholas Studio.
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