MainStreet & Impro Theatre to Present FAIRYTALES UNSCRIPTED

MainStreet Theatre Company is excited to announce the next show of their 10th season: FairyTales UnScripted, a brand new collaboration between Rancho Cucamonga's Professional Theatre Company for children and families and the award-winning Los Angeles based Impro Theatre. Impro's Artistic Director Dan O'Connor and company member Jo McGinley will direct.

"We're so excited for families to finally experience the genius of Impro Theatre," says MainStreet's producer, Mireya (Murry) Hepner. "Impro is known for the way they create full-length plays in the style of famous authors for an adult audience, but this time, not only will they be taking on the imaginary world of Fairy Tales, but children will have a stake in the stories, because each one will be created using suggestions from the audience. We can't wait to see what happens!"

FairyTales UnScripted will include a rotating cast of actor/improvisers in a setting designed specifically for the Lewis Family Playhouse's large stage by Michael C. Smith, a frequent member of MainStreet's creative team. The book-themed landscape will include a keyboard, allowing a musician to improvise the musical underscore as the story progresses. And, since anything can happen, some of the stories might be musicals! Costumes are by Sandra Burns, with Lighting Design by Leigh Allen.

The MainStreet Theatre Company, in residence at the Lewis Family Playhouse, is known for producing innovative shows specifically for children and family audiences. Drawing from creative talent from all over Southern California, the MainStreet Theatre Company introduces many children to the wonder of live theatre for the very first time. As part of their 10th season, this production of FairyTales UnScripted will give children and their families a rare opportunity to see a play created right before their eyes.

FairyTales UnScripted also marks the beginning of Impro Theatre's 10th anniversary season. Impro Theatre creates completely improvised, full-length plays in the styles of the world's greatest playwrights, authors and composers. With no pre-planning or prepared scenarios, the performers combine verbal dexterity and robust physicality to bring character and plot to life in an instant, making each Impro Theatre show unique and unlike any other theatrical experience. MainStreet is delighted to be adding Fairy Tales to their roster, which includes unscripted versions of Jane Austen, Shakespeare, Chekhov, Westerns, "The Twilight Zone", and many others.

The Los Angeles Times has called Impro Theatre's work "One of the funniest evenings in town...An amazing comedy troupe spins an entire play into comedy gold right before your eyes." Impro Theatre's recent production of Sondheim UnScripted was described as "HILARIOUS! DELIGHTFUL! Funny, heartwarming and full of surprises" by Musicals in LA., and Stage and Cinema says Impro has "as high a degree of general excellence in writing, acting, and direction as any I have seen in any theatre company in America."

In addition to the performances, Impro will be teaching two improvisation workshops during the run of the show - one for adults (January 30th), and one for children aged 10 and up (Feb. 7). Space is limited, so we encourage people to sign up quickly!

The collaboration of these two companies will result in over 40 unique stories that will be performed for school groups as well as for the general audience: stories that no one has ever seen, and no one will ever see again! School performances begin on January 29th, with the public opening on January 30th. The show runs through February 14th. Recommended for ages 7 and up.

Single tickets are $18.00 for Adults and $16.00 for children up to age 12, and seniors 60 and older. Saturday, January 30th is "Foundation Family Saturday", where all seats are only $10, thanks to the generosity of The Rancho Cucamonga Community and Arts Foundation. The Foundation also supports "Foundation Family Flex Packs", where tickets are only $12.00 if they're bought in packs of 4 or more for the same performance for all MainStreet Theatre Company productions.

An intimate, 550-seat venue, the Lewis Family Playhouse is the crown jewel of the three-acre, 89,000-square foot Victoria Gardens Cultural Center. The complex is conveniently located off the I-15 at Foothill Boulevard, as a major anchor of Victoria Gardens. The Box Office is open Monday through Friday from noon to 6:00 pm and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, with free parking available.

To post a comment, you must register and login.