CTC Announces 2019-2020 Season

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) is proud to announce the global 2019 - 2020 Season, including two CTC commissioned works, two international presentations, surprising reimagined classic fairy tales, and exciting musicals. This season will feature a wide range of productions that will engage conversations and create memories. Earlier in January, CTC announced that Rajané Katurah (former CTC Performing Apprentice) has accepted the position of Company Member, joining Autumn Ness, Dean Holt, Reed Sigmund, and Gerald Drake for the 2019 - 2020 Season.

The 2019-2020 Season begins with Circus Abyssinia: Ethiopian Dreams. The Ethiopian acrobats have dazzled audiences around the world, from presentations at the Edinburgh Festival to recently in New York City at the New Victory Theater, garnering critical acclaim. This gravity-defying show delves into the rhythms and roots of Ethiopia's rich musical and artistic traditions to weave its story through death-defying tricks, and feats of juggling, clowning, and contortion, all performed to the irresistible beats of modern East African song.

Next comes a CTC-commissioned, fully reimagined Snow White by one of CTC's favorite director/playwrights, Greg Banks, performed brilliantly by two remarkable and hilarious actors, Joy Dolo and Dean Holt who will take on all 14 roles in an agile and virtuosic performance. This Snow White will have you question the storybook notion of love with a delightful twist.

For the holiday season, CTC is bringing back the magical, fantastical, and all-too-hilarious Cinderella, directed by Peter C. Brosius. Originally created by CTC, this musical mixes together the heart-warming story of Cinderella (played by new Acting Company member Rajané Katurah) and a Victorian Christmas party with lavish period costumes, grandiose sets and holiday carols, with brand-new, clever pop culture references, shameless physical comedy, audience participation, and gut-busting gags. This production is proudly sponsored by Target.

The new year kicks off with a jammin' Reggae musical production of Bob Marley's Three Little Birds, based on the book by Marley's daughter, Cedella Marley and directed by Nataki Garrett. Sharing the artist's message of peace and love with a new generation of songbirds, the story follows Ziggy, a shy Jamaican child who finally learns to overcome his fears (tropical storms, evil spirits, and a sneaky hair-grabbing Duppy!) and enjoy life, through one Bob Marley hit after another.

Next is the world premiere of Spamtown, USA, written by Philip Dawkins (playwright for CTC's Dr. Seuss's The Sneetches the Musical), directed by Will Davis. Through a deep interview process with the residents of Austin, Minnesota who lived through the 1980s P-9 Hormel Strike, the story is told through the eyes of the children who were affected on both sides of this bitter divide in southern Minnesota history. It is a world of surprising alliances and loyalties, and filled with the dreams of the young people. Dawkins paints an incredible picture through the stories, the sounds, the smells, the humor, and the common rituals that brings the entire community to life in a vivid portrayal of this nationally-relevant event.

The spring brings a colorful, whimsical presentation of Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia's The Rainbow Fish. This visually stunning production includes magical, ultraviolet-vibrant, black-light puppetry and will enchant the very young to the very old through three award-winning stories by Marcus Pfister about a beautiful rainbow- and silver-scaled fish who learns to share its most prized possession with others, and in turn, makes the world more beautiful for all. This production is proudly sponsored by Deluxe.

The season concludes with the spirited musical about a fierce orphan, Annie, directed by Peter Rothstein. The winner of many Tony Awards, this production is one of the world's best-loved musicals. It is an inspiring story that reminds audiences that hope is always possible, there is always "Tomorrow," and that lives can be changed through kindness, love, and spirit.

"We are thrilled to bring you a season of work from around the world that will delight, surprise, and excite you in so many amazing ways," stated Artistic Director Peter C. Brosius. "We love developing new plays and musicals for you and also scouring the world for artists who have created truly inspiring work to bring here to Minnesota. This season you will be dazzled by internationally-celebrated circus artists from Ethiopia, acclaimed puppet artists from Canada, the music of Bob Marley from Jamaica, the vision of English director Greg Banks, and classics brought to new and vibrant life. We love that theatre can take so many forms; from big musicals, to intimate re-imaginings of classics, to delicate puppetry, to celebrations of reggae music that all engage you with stories of change and transformation. Theatre allows us to journey across the globe, to enter into the heart of another, and to see our world with new eyes. We don't want you to miss a single show. Come on the journey. The show is about to begin."

Full season subscriptions renewals and upgrades are on sale beginning tomorrow at https://childrenstheatre.org/subscribe or by calling 612.874.0400. New season subscriptions go on sale March 1. Subscription packages include full season options to flexible packaging and value-priced preview and opening weekend packages. Single tickets will go on sale in July 2019.

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