Musicals for Young Folks-Actors' Playhouse 2006-7 Season

CORAL GABLES, FL - Actors' Playhouse Musical Theatre for Young Audiences announces their 2006-2007 season lineup of five exciting Musicals for families. The season will open with NO DOGS ALLOWED! The Musical, October 4– October 28, 2006. Madeline's Christmas follows November 28 – December 23, 2006. Then the season will continue with Charlotte's Web playing January 31- March 21, 2007. The 12th Annual National Children's Theatre Festival winner Understood Betsy, April 25 – May 26, 2007. The highlight of the annual event is the Family Festival Fun Weekend, featuring cultural events and hands on activities, April 27-29, 2007.  And finally, the Musical Theatre for Young Audiences' season will come to a close in the summer of 2007 with The Fabulous Fable Factory running June 19 – July 28, 2007.

Opening the season in October is the reprise of NO DOGS ALLOWED!, The Musical written by Sesame Street's Sonia Manzano, based on her popular children's book NO DOGS ALLOWED!, with music by Stephen Lawrence and lyrics by Billy Aronson. Sonia Manzano, better known as Sesame Street's Maria for 35 years, has written a musical that had its world premiere at the Miracle Theatre June 2006. NO DOGS ALLOWED! The Musical celebrates family life through the antics of a zany household and their dog. Come take a fun-filled journey with these whimsical characters, October 4– October 28, 2006!

"In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines." So begins this delightful story of Madeline's Christmas, with book and lyrics by Jennifer Kirkby and music by Shirley Mier, November 28 – December 23, 2006. The day begins like any other for the girls and their caretaker Miss Clavel, but soon ends in disaster when everyone but Madeline gets the flu. Can Madeline save the holiday for everyone? Discover the answer in this delightful musical based on the popular book series by Ludwig Bemelmans.

Next is an exciting, new musical version of Charlotte's Web, book by Joseph Robinette with music and lyrics by Charles Strouse, January 31- March 21, 2007. This delightful show brings a new dimension to E. B. White's beloved classic. Join Wilbur, Charlotte and Templeton the Rat as they sing and dance their way through this great new musical adaptation. Charlotte's Web is a hand-clapping, toe-clapping hoe-down! This joyous musical will offer everyone the chance to experience the true meaning of friendship.

The 12th Annual National Children's Theatre Festival winning musical, Understood Betsy, with book & lyrics by Stacey Luftig, music by Mary Feinsinger, and additional music by Robert Elhai will be presented April 25  – May 26, 2007. Based on the classic novel by Dorothy Canfield Fisher, Understood Betsy tells the musical tale of a timid, overprotected young girl who is thrust on a difficult journey that challenges her to learn to think and act for herself.  Will pampered, city-raised Betsy be able to adjust to life in rural Vermont in the early 1900's? Can she find the strength within herself to flourish and grow in these strange, new surroundings? Take a marvelous, musical journey with Betsy and discover the answers along the way. Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre coordinated a national call to competition to obtain the scores of musicals from which they chose one for festival presentation. Winners receive cash prizes and production opportunities. The new children's work will also be featured at the theatre's Festival Family Fun Weekend at the Miracle Theatre Saturday and Sunday April 28 and 29 and will play two days at the Miracle Theatre through May 26 every Saturday and weekdays for school groups. The Festival weekend will host multicultural events for children as well as hands on interactive activities, character brunches, acting workshops, and more.
 
Last but not least to close the season is The Fabulous Fable Factory written by Joseph Robinette with music by Thomas Tierney, June 19 – July 28, 2007. The Fabulous Fable Factory is about a young girl named Margot, who is searching for something "new", she wanders into a seemingly abandoned factory and accidentally trips a lever, which activates the living factory of fable creators. Margot is greeted by Mr. Aloysius A. Aesop who explains that the factory has been idle for over 2,000 years because it's missing the most important part of a "Moral Maker". Join Margot and the fable factory characters as she helps re-create some of Aesop's most famous fables.