MainStreet Theatre Stars 2014 with THE MUSICAL ADVENTURES OF FLAT STANLEY, Now thru 2/16

MainStreet Theatre Company has announced their first production of 2014: The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, a fun- filled musical adaptation of the beloved book by JefF Brown. Kevin Cochran is the director, with choreography by Lisa Hopkins and Musical Direction by Janice Rodgers Wainwright. The production will play two school performances today, January 31st, and open to the public on Saturday, February 1st at 4pm. The strictly limited engagement will run through Sunday, February 16 only.

The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley follows the adventures of Stanley Lambchop, who is a normal boy in all respects who is longing to do something amazing. He gets his wish when a bulletin board falls on him and he wakes up... FLAT! Realizing that he can fit in an envelope, he mails himself all over the world and has wonderful adventures, until he finally finds his way back home. This entertaining musical is enjoyable for the entire family, ages five and up.

The cast of The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley will feature Doug Harvey as Stanley, real-life husband and wife Michael Faulkner and Amanda Pajer as Mr. and Mrs. Lambchop, Ann Marie Lee as mail carrier Mrs. Cartero, and Josey Montana McCoy as Stanley's brother Arthur. The versatile cast will also play the many characters that Stanley meets along the way, including a Hollywood film director, a Parisian art thief, paintings at the Louvre, and more!

Janice Rodgers Wainwright will lead musicians Chris Booke (bass) and Arturo Pacheco (percussion) from the keyboard. Scenic and costume design is by Dwight Richard Odle, lighting design is by Tom Ontiveros, prop design is by Kevin Williams, and Katherine Cannon is Production stage manager. Mireya (Murry) Hepner serves as producer for the City of Rancho Cucamonga's MainStreet Theatre Company.

Director Kevin Cochran is the Artistic Director of Grove Theater Center, which he founded in 1994. Some of the notable work he's directed for GRC include Blake...da Musical, Film Chinois, The Adding Machine Straight Up with a Twist and The Beckett Project II . In New York, Kevin directed the NY premieres of Eternal Equinox at 59E59 Theaters and Bobby and Matt at The Players Theater; and the world premieres of Lightin' Out at the Judith Anderson Theater, Offending Shadows at Ensemble Studio Theater, and The Gospel According to Omaha at the William Redfield Theater. Kevin graduated as a Scholar of the House in theater, design and circus arts from Yale University. This is his first production for MainStreet.

Designer Richard Odle has over 400 productions to his credit, and has been honored for lifetime achievement by Arts Orange County and the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle. MainStreet audiences last saw his handiwork in last season's sold-out hit Pinkalicious, the Musical. He will once again transform the Lewis Family Playhouse stage by creating a colorful and playful set which will move seamlessly from Stanley's home to all the places he travels to around the world. Theatre magic will transform the three-dimensional actor into his "Flat" self!

The MainStreet Theatre Company produces creative, imaginative, high quality theatre productions especially for children and family audiences, usually based on contemporary or classic children's literature. It is the resident professional theatre company at the Lewis Family Playhouse, an intimate 536-seat venue which is located in the 89,000-square-foot Victoria Gardens Cultural Center. The complex is located off the I-15 at Foothill Boulevard, at 12505 Cultural Center Drive in Rancho Cucamonga.

The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley will play performances on weekends for family audiences (Saturdays at 1pm and 4pm and Sundays at 1pm, except for opening weekend when there is only one performance on Saturday, February 1 at 4pm), and on weekday mornings for school groups, through February 16th. Supported by the Rancho Cucamonga Community and Arts Foundation, the opening performance on February 1 at 4pm is "Foundation Family Saturday," and all tickets are $9.50.

An Opening Night Party Package is available for $20, which includes a ticket to the show and the post- performance party. For regular performances, tickets are $18 for adults and $16 for children (age 12 and under), and for seniors (age 60 and up). New this season are the Foundation Family Flex Packs - tickets are $12 each if purchased in packs of four or more for the same performance.

To purchase tickets, call (909) 477-2752 or go to www.LewisFamilyPlayhouse.com. The box office at the Lewis Family Playhouse is open Monday through Friday from noon to 6pm and Saturday from 10am to 6pm. Free parking is availablE. Lewis Family Playhouse at Victoria Gardens Cultural Center is located at 12505 Cultural Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739.

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