'How I Became A Pirate' New Musical Plays Alliance For The Arts

Avast, Me Lads! Peg Tappin' Musical Adventure at the Alliance for the Arts!

Florida Repertory Theatre announced that How I Became a Pirate, the new peg tappin musical adventure, will be live onstage at the Alliance for the Arts on Sat., Mar. 5 at 11am.

Highlighting a new partnership between Florida Rep and the Alliance for the Arts, the Rep's popular Lunchbox Theatre Series for children and families will have performances at the Alliance this spring.

How I Became a Pirate, based on the bestselling children's book by Melinda Long with illustrations by David Shannon, has been touring Southwest Florida schools since November, and played to packed houses in the Lunchbox Theatre Series this fall. Admission for the Series is $12, and includes the performance, an interactive pirate workshop, and a lunch provided by The Morgan House.

"This play has been wildly successful this season, because it has something for everyone. Kids love it, teachers love it and parents love it," said Florida Rep Education Director, Rachael Endrizzi. "It is a really fun and exciting play with simple and universal messages about finding your way home. And we're very pleased that this is the play pioneering the southward expansion of our Lunchbox Theatre Series. Those landlubbers over at the Alliance had better batten down their hatches!"

How I Became a Pirate is a delightfully funny and inventive musical filled with sea chanteys, plank-walkin', stormy seas and more Pirate Speak than anyone could wish for. Kids of all ages will set sail for a funny and touching journey as one young buccaneer learns that the most important things in life are worth more than buried treasure.

The production features Florida Rep's acting intern company, Megan Carr, Matthew Natale Rush and Rachel Swindler as well as returning company member, Adam Jones. These young theatre professionals have spent the season working with Florida Rep in many capacities, but chiefly with The Children's Theatre Series - and each has been featured in one of Florida Rep's mainstage productions.

Florida Rep Associate Director, Jason Parrish (The New Kid; Schoolhouse Rock LIVE), directed the production, and was joined by an expert creative team. Justin P. Cowan, Artistic Director of The Herb Strauss Schoolhouse Theatre, served as music director, and Amy McCleary, resident choreographer with the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, choreographed the production. Chris Simpson, the Rep's technical director, served as the scenic designer, Roberta Malcolm, resident costumer, designed the costumes, Emily Barkemeyer, Florida Rep's prop master, designed and crafted the props, and Kate Smith, resident sound designer, designed the sound.

In addition to Pirate, The Lunchbox Theatre Series features two other plays for children and families that will also be performed onstage at the Alliance this spring, and audiences will have a chance to see Amelia Earhart by Kathryn Schultz Miller on Sun., Apr. 10, and the multi-media journey, And Then They Came for Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank on Sat., May 21.

How I Became a Pirate, a new musical by Alyn Cardarelli and Steve Goers, plays at 11am in the Foulds Theatre at the Alliance for the Arts on Sat., Mar. 12 and in Florida Rep's Historic Arcade Theatre on Sat., Apr. 23. Tickets are $12 and available online at www.floridarep.org or through the box office at 239-332-4488.

The Foulds Theatre is located at 10091 McGregor Blvd., at the corner of McGregor and Colonial. Please do not call the Alliance for ticket information.

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