CTC to Open 14-15 Season with BUSYTOWN THE MUSICAL, 9/16-10/26

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) will present Busytown the Musical, based on the beloved children's book "What Do People Do All Day?" by Richard Scarry, adapted by Kevin Kling, directed by Sean Graney, with music by Michael Koerner and choreography by Tommy Rapley, on the UnitedHealth Group Stage September 16 - October 26, 2014. Live music performed onstage by Music Director/Sound Designer Victor Zupanc as a one-man band!

"Kevin Kling's wit and Sean Graney's dynamic energy and creativity are a truly exciting combination," says CTC Artistic Director Peter Brosius. "Busytown the Musical is closer to vaudeville, with a fantastic score by Michael Koerner that is inventive, surprising and wonderfully clever. I am thrilled to have Kevin's unique voice and Michael's fabulous score on our stage, and all in the hands of Sean Graney, who I have been trying to bring to the Twin Cities for years."

Adapted by master storyteller and Minnesota treasure Kevin Kling, Busytown the Musical is a fast-paced, colorful exploration of the all-important question, "What do people do all day?" Rhyming verse, catchy songs and Scarry's quirky characters sing and show the how and why of community, inviting audiences to delight in the discovery of life's moving parts. Complementing Kling's signature wit is the music of Michael Koerner, whose foot-tapping compositions have been heard in over two dozen productions at CTC. Getting the animals of Busytown moving and shaking is Chicago's acclaimed Tommy Rapley, choreographer of over 20 world premieres, here at CTC for the first time.

Chicago-based director Sean Graney is at the helm of this cabaret-style musical. The award-winning founder of The Hypocrites theater company in Chicago, he recently finished a yearlong fellowship at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University where he completed an adaptation of thirty-two surviving Greek Tragedies into one 12-hour production. He'll bring his vast breadth of experience and vision to CTC in Busytown the Musical.

"I am so happy to be working with Children's Theatre Company for the first time," says Graney. "It's a privilege to work with the CTC Acting Company and such a great group of actors and creative team on a true childhood classic. This will definitely be a frenetic and totally fun musical."

CTC Acting Company members (and real life best friends) Reed Sigmund and Dean Holt play Busytown's most loved citizens, Huckle the Cat and Lowly Worm, respectively. Huckle's curiosity is the driving force behind Busytown the Musical as he sets the story in motion with his question to Sergeant Murphy, "What do people do all day?" We're introduced to the many characters through their roles in the community; from a tailor, to a mail carrier, to a thieving Gorilla, each of Busytown's residents has a role to play in the life of the bustling town. Fellow Acting Company members Gerald Drake and Autumn Ness fill out the cast, playing multiple roles, alongside Kasono Mwanza and 2014-2015 CTC Performing Apprentice, Meghan Kreidler. Busytown's animals come alive with costume design by New York City-based Loren Shaw making her CTC debut; Eric Van Wyk is the Scenic and Puppet Designer; lighting design by Paul Whitaker; and music direction/sound design by Victor Zupanc.

Busytown the Musical runs September 16 - October 26 on the UnitedHealth Group Stage. As part of CTC's commitment to programming for ages two through eighteen, Busytown the Musical is recommended for grades K-4. Single tickets are on sale now. Season subscriptions are also available. Groups of 10 or more save up to 25 percent. For more information, visit childrenstheatre.org or call the Ticket Office at 612.874.0400.

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) is the only theatre for young people to win the coveted Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater (2003). Founded in 1965, CTC serves 250,000 people annually and is one of the 20 largest regional theatre companies in the nation. The company is noted for defining worldwide standards for youth theatre with an innovative mix of classic tales, distinguished international productions and challenging new work. In 2015-16, CTC will celebrate its 50th anniversary season.

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