La Mirada Theatre Presents NOBODY'S PERFECT Opens 2/28

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts continues its 2009-2010 Programs for Young Audiences series with The Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences on Tour production of the new family musical, Nobody's Perfect. Performances are Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.

The musical production is co-commissioned and co-produced with the Kennedy Center and VSA and is the first show to tour the U.S. with open captioning. Based on the book by Academy Award® winner Marlee Matlin and Doug Cooney with script and lyrics by Doug Cooney, music by Deborah Wicks La Puma and direction by Coy Middlebrook, this original musical production will be simultaneously performed in spoken English and American Sign Language and will feature captioning at every performance. The production is recommended for audiences ages nine and up.

Megan has spent forever planning her positively purple birthday party, but when the seemingly perfect Alexis joins her class, Megan wonders if Alexis is treating her differently because she is deaf. When the girls are forced to collaborate on a school project, Megan learns Alexis has a secret. This touching new musical is an important reminder that despite first impressions, nobody's perfect.

Academy Award® and Golden Globe winning-actress Marlee Matlin has written three children's books: Deaf Child Crossing, Nobody's Perfect, and Leading Ladies. Her film credits include Children of a Lesser God, Walker opposite Ed Harris, and the independent feature, What the Bleep Do We Know? TV credits include "The West Wing", "Picket Fences", "The L Word", "Bridge to Silence", and "Reasonable Doubts". Matlin has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards®, a People's Choice Award, and four Emmys.

Doug Cooney has written many plays including The Final Tour, The Legend of Alex, and The Beloved Dearly. His work has been presented by the Kennedy Center's New Visions/ New Voices, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cleveland Play House, Dance Theater Workshop, the International VSA Festival, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He has been awarded grants, commissions, and fellowships from the NEA, the MacDowell Colony, the MacArthur Foundation, the Lila Wallace Readers Digest Fund, A.S.K. Theatre Projects, and the Ruth Simon Foundation. He has also published several works of children's literature including The Beloved Dearly, I Know Who Likes You, and Hugo & Fritz.

Deborah Wicks La Puma composed music for the Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences productions of Walking the Winds: Arabian Tales, and Walking the Winds: American Tales, and served as music director for Kennedy Center productions of Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka, The Emperor's New Clothes, Alexander Who's Not, Not, Not, Not, Not, Not Going to Move, and Tom Sawyer. Her awards include the Jane Chambers Playwriting Award, the Robert M. Golden Award, a National Endowment for the Arts' New American Works Grant, a Helen Hayes nomination for Outstanding Musical Direction, and two Parent's Choice Audio Awards. She is a two-time Actor's Playhouse National Children's Theatre Festival Winner.

Nobody's Perfect is directed and co-choreographed by Coy Middlebrook. He was the associate director for the highly acclaimed production of Big River at Deaf West Theater (DWT) which was remounted in Los Angeles at the Mark Taper Forum, on Broadway at the American Airlines Theater with Roundabout Theatre Company (Best Revival Tony® nomination and recipient of the 2004 Tony Award® for Excellence in the Theater), and the Big River 2004-2005 international tour. Middlebrook also recreated the production at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. He served as associate director for Broadway's Brooklyn, the Musical and Shenandoah at Ford's Theatre and recently directed the youth and family production of Sleeping Beauty Wakes for the Mark Taper Forum and the Deaf West Theatre.

Alexandria Wailes serves as American Sign Language master and co-choreographer. She is a Tony Award® nominee for Ensemble in the Broadway revival of Big River. Julia Dameron serves as the American Sign Language captain for the touring production.

The cast includes Tami Lee Santimyer as Megan, Caroline Bower as Alexis, Florrie Bagel as Bethany, Kip Pierson as Matt, Rachel Brennan as Cindy, and Zurin Villanueva as Keisha.

Nobody's Perfect features tour set design by Hannah Crowell based on the original set design by Jefferson Award winner Michael Philippi, costume design by Diana Khoury, lighting design by six-time Tony® nominee Beverly Emmons, sound design by Matt Rowe, and music direction by Chris Youstra.

The original cast recording of the family musical Nobody's Perfect received a 2009 Parents' Choice Award and a 2009 Best Products Media Award from iParenting.com.

LMT's Programs for Young Audiences is designed to give children ages 5 and up and their families exposure to a diverse mix of national and international touring stage acts. The season will continue with The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon on March, 28, 2010, and the season will finish with Storybook Theatre's Sleeping Beauty on May 16, 2010.

All seats are $8 for children and $12 for adults. Tickets are available online at www.lamiradatheatre.com or by calling the La Mirada Theatre Box Office at (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310. Season subscriptions are available for $18 (Children) and $27 (Adults). The theatre is located at 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada, CA. Parking is free. Wheelchair access and Hearing Assist devices available.

 

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