To celebrate its 10th season, The award-winning MainStreet Theatre Company will be producing three unique productions that celebrate imagination, creativity and the art of performance. Each show in the 2015/2016 season will showcase this idea for a variety of age groups, and all are suitable for children and their families. The season includes two musicals (including a revised script making its Theatre for Young Audiences premiere), a California Premiere, and a collaboration with an award winning Los Angeles based Improv Company.
"It seems like only yesterday that the Playhouse opened and we produced our first play" says MainStreet's producer, Mireya (Murry) Hepner. "Now tens of thousands of children have come through our doors, and it's incredibly gratifying to know that coming to the theatre has become a normal part of their lives. This year, I really wanted kids to experience what it takes to make a play, and I think these three offerings will do that in fun and different ways. I'm also thrilled that we'll be working so closely with the authors of all our productions, which is a great way to celebrate this milestone season!"
Shows will be performed in the company's home, the beautiful City owned and operated 550 seat Lewis Family Playhouse.
The California Premiere of ELEPHANT AND PIGGIE'S "WE ARE IN A PLAY!"
Script and Lyrics by Mo Willems
Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma
Directed by Art Manke
Musical Direction by Deborah Wicks La Puma
DATES: October 10 - 25, 2015
Author Mo Willems has adapted his popular "Elephant & Piggie" Books into a vaudevillian romp suitable for everyone ages 4 and up. Fans of the books will recognize Gerald the Elephant and his best friend Piggie, who will be joined onstage by a back-up singing trio of squirrels called The Squirrelles. The show follows them on a day full of adventures, including the discovery that they are in a play! Composer La Puma will serve as the show's musical director, as well as leading the live band. Performances for School Groups will begin on October 5th. The public opening will be on October 10th. The show will have a total of 27 performances over a 3 week period.
FAIRYTALES, UNSCRIPTED:
Completely Improvised plays in the style of Classic Fairy Tales
(A collaboration with Impro Theatre)
Directed by Dan O'Conner and Jo McGinley
DATES: January 29 - February 14, 2016
MainStreet teams up with the amazing artists of Impro Theatre for an unforgettable show. Children and adults will be delighted as these master storytellers mix their wit, artistry, and skill with MainStreet's design sense - using audience suggestions to create two completely improvised stories at every performance. These will be unique tales 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.
Premiere of a revised version of MIRETTE
Book by Elizabeth Diggs
Music by Harvey Schmidt
Lyrics by Tom Jones
Directed by Casey Stangl
Musical Direction by Janice Rodgers Wainwright
DATES: April 23 - May 8, 2016
MainStreet is thrilled that their audiences will be the first to see this newly revised intimate family musical from the creators of The Fantasticks! and I Do I Do. Based on the Caldecott winning book by Emily Arnold McCully, Mirette is the story of a young girl in 1890's Paris who convinces a retired high-wire artist to teach her his trade - and in turn teaches him to overcome his own fear. It's a fresh and unique coming- of-age story set in the backstage world of the circus, which celebrates both the joy and the struggles of being a performing artist. School performances begin on April 18th, with the public opening on April 23rd. The show runs until May 8th, 2016. 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. "Foundation Family Flex Packs", where tickets are only $12.00 if they're bought in packs of 4 or more for the same performance are available for all MainStreet Theatre Company productions. The Rancho Cucamonga Community and Arts Foundation will also continue to support "Foundation Family Saturdays" for the opening performance of each MainStreet show, where all seats are only $10.00.
In addition to the performances, MainStreet will be offering special events throughout the year, including a pancake brunch with cast members of Elephant and Piggie's: We are In a Play! and a Parisian Tea to celebrate Mother's Day during the run of Mirette. Each show will also include lobby activities and study guides for teachers and parents to share with their children. Information on all of the additional activities can be found on the Playhouse website.
The MainStreet Theatre Company is the resident Equity Company at the Lewis Family Playhouse, 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! MainStreet shows are performed for school groups as well as for general audiences, with most shows based on classic or contemporary children's literature.
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.
For additional information or to purchase tickets online, visit www.lewisfamilyplayhouse.com or call the Lewis Family Playhouse Box Office at (909) 477-2752 or (877) 858-8422. "Like" us on Facebook & sign up for "The MainStreet Scoop" for more up to the minute details about the productions and the additional special events at www.facebook.com/MainStreetTheatreCompany.
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