Children's Theatre Company to Close 50th Anniversary Season with DIARY OF A WIMPY KID

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) will end its 50th Anniversary Season with the much anticipated world premiere of the musical based on the blockbuster, best-selling Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The famous book series by Jeff Kinney has been sold worldwide, has been brought to the silver screen through three films, and for the first time ever, is being developed into a new musical by CTC in conjunction with Fox Stage Productions and Kevin McCollum (producer of Rent, In the Heights, Avenue Q, and Something Rotten!). This is CTC's fifth and final world premiere in a single season.

"The finale to our 50th Anniversary Season could not be more extraordinary than bringing Jeff Kinney's gloriously truthful and hilarious depiction of the highs and lows of middle school to the stage for the first time," enthused Artistic Director Peter C. Brosius. "Working with such amazing partners as Fox Stage Productions and Kevin McCollum to create the theatrical version of this lauded and blockbuster franchise only further cements our role as one of the nation's leaders of new play development."

Greg Heffley is in survival mode. All. The. Time. From bullies to his big brother to his height-challenged stature, he's the wimpy kid we can all relate to. The beloved series hits the stage in a brand-new musical with Rowley, Manny, and of course, Rodrick joining in the mayhem. A ridiculous amount of fun for anyone who has survived, is surviving, or hopes to survive middle school, inspired by the award-winning and bestselling book series. Chicago-based director Rachel Rockwell directs with the composer/lyricist team of Minnetonka-native Michael Mahler and Alan Schmuckler, also music directing. Kevin Del Aguila, famous for his TV series, Peg+Cat serves as the playwright.

Critically acclaimed Chicago Director, Rachel Rockwell leads the production in her first Minnesota engagement. "Jeff Kinney's hilarious and poignant stories perfectly capture the roller coaster that is middle school: one moment you are on top of the world and the next, in the depths of despair," reflects Rockwell. "It's such emotionally rich material, because every scene strives for success and ends mostly in an epic fail. And these young actors bring so much of their own present-day experiences to the musical that the audience can't help but root for them."

Rockwell has received immense praise for her revival of Brigadoon at the Goodman Theatre as well as received additional awards for her productions of Billy Elliot and Ragtime and was named Best Director by Chicago Magazine and Chicagoan of the Year by the Chicago Tribune. Playwright Kevin Del Aguila (TV credits: Emmy-award winning Peg+Cat; Henry Hugglemonster; The Wonder Pets; Theatre Credits: Altar Boyz; Dreamworks stage adaptation of Madagascar) has created the first stage adaptation of the books. Co-composers include Minnetonka-native Michael Mahler (October Sky, Hero, Knute Rockne: All-American and recently contributed additional lyrics to Cameron Mackintosh's current West End revival of Boublil and Schonberg's Miss Saigon) and Alan Schmuckler (The Emperor's New Clothes for Chicago Shakespeare Theater; Wait Wait Don't Kill Me; and Boyfred for ABC-TV) have set both the music and lyrics for the new musical.

Leading as Greg Heffley is Chicago-based actor, Ricky Falbo. Falbo's recent credits include Little Tommy in The Who's Tommy and Gavroche in Les Miserables at the Paramount Theatre. Rowley will be played by Connecticut-based actor, David Rosenthal who recently played Bruce in Matilda, The Musical on Broadway and Pugsley Addams in The Addams Family Musical at the Connecticut Cabaret. Both are making their CTC debut. Full cast listing below.

The inventive scenic design is by Chicago-based Scott Davis, whose designs have won awards internationally. Mara Blumenfeld's costume designs have been seen from Chicago to the Metropolitan Opera's stage. Philip Rosenberg creates the lighting design, whose work has been seen at The Kennedy Center, La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe, The Guthrie Theater and on over 35 Broadway plays and musicals. Sound design is provided by Sten Severson whose Broadway credits include In the Heights, A Bronx Tale, and Monty Python's Spamalot, and Mike Tutaj whose work is frequently seen on Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's stages and Off-Broadway serves as Projection Designer.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Musical runs April 12 through June 5 on the UnitedHealth Group Stage. Best enjoyed by everyone. For more information, visit wimpykidmusical.com or call the Ticket Office at 612.874.0400. The production is sponsored by US Bancorp, PiperJaffray, and Thomson Reuters.

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) celebrates 50 years of creating extraordinary theatre experiences that educate, challenge, and inspire young people and their communities. CTC is the first theatre for young people to win the coveted Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater (2003) and has welcomed more than 11 million people to performances and education programs over the last five decades. As one of the 20 largest theatre companies in the nation, CTC has created over 200 new works, dramatically changing the canon of work for young audiences.

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