MAGIC TREE HOUSE, SHREK, VELVETEEN RABBIT, SWIMMY and More Set for Stages Theatre Company's 2016-17 Season

As Stages Theatre Company (STC) unveils our 33nd season, we continue our commitment providing high-quality, accessible theatre for young audiences. Welcome to what promises to be an inspiring season at Stages Theatre Company! A season built to inspire the young as well as the young at heart. A season that invites the question-what inspires you?

"Our lineup brings nine fantastic stories to life on our stage, and at the core of each of them is brave, and daring young people, because I'll give you a little hint...that is what inspires ME." States Artistic Director, Sandy Boren-Barrett.

Our 2016-2017 Season offers something for everyone-from a young boy inspired by his friends to become the King of Jazz to a pumpkin who inspires us to "dare to be square" or from a trio of strangers who inspire a whole village to embody the meaning of community to a little fish who inspires us to embrace our uniqueness. Our inspiring season includes a collection of delightful misfits, unlikely heroes, much loved toys and one sparkly little girl. These characters and their stories promise to inspire us to be true to ourselves, to hope, love, and awaken a sense of belonging.

Here at Stages Theatre Company it is through the hearts of the young people we serve, that we find the world we are inspired to live in. We want our young people to find a world where dreams become a reality, where thinking "outside the box" is not only encouraged, but rewarded and where doing the right thing for a friend reaps the benefits of lifelong love. We want to create a world where greatness is measured by the strength in spirit and by how much you give, not by how much you get. Through the stories we bring to life we are creating a world full of goodness, understanding, make-believe and comfort. Who isn't inspired to live in a world like that?

Sandy Boren-Barret goes on to say, "WE are invested in the world we will live in, and are creating inspiring theatre by and for young people, helping them understand the importance of art, friendship, community, and how, together, we can inspire those around us and beyond us."

VISIT THE STAGES THEATRE COMPANY WEBSITE.

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2016-17 Season:

v September 16 - October 20, 2016

Magic Tree House: A Night in New Orleans

Book and Lyrics by Will Osborne and Murray Horwitz. Music and Additional Lyrics by Allen Toussaint

Based on A Good Night for Ghosts, MAGIC TREE HOUSE #42, by Mary Pope Osborne.

All Ages

Jump into the Magic Tree House and venture back to New Orleans, 1915! The streets are alive with the sounds of the Jazz Age as Jack and Annie meet a 14-year old Louis Armstrong and help set him on the path to becoming the "King of Jazz." Based on the beloved Magic Tree House books by Mary Pope Osborne, this inspiring tale of big dreams is filled with music to stir the soul.

v September 30 - October 30, 2015

Spookley the Square Pumpkin

Based on the film "Spookley the Square Pumpkin" by Joe Troiano and Tom Hughes, the book "The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin" written by Joe Troiano, and the stage production directed and conceived by Jeff Frank and First Stage. Book and lyrics by Joe Troiano. Music composed and arranged by Jeffrey Zahn.

All Ages

Spookley the Square Pumpkin journeys into our Hopkins Jaycees Studio just in time for autumn! When Spookley arrives in the pumpkin patch he is teased by all the other pumpkins because of his odd shape. Even after his new friends-the boisterous spiders Edgar, Allen and Poe-try to convince him to run for the Pick of the Patch contest, Spookley still isn't sure he has what it takes. However, a threatening storm may just give Spookley the inspiration to discover his own worth. This puppetry extravaganza filled with memorable characters and music may just encourage you to "dare to be square!"

v November 18 - December 28, 2015

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical

Based on the animated television special "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and the stage production directed and conceived by Jeff Frank and First Stage. Script adaptation by Robert Penola. Arrangements and orchestrations by Timothy Splain. Scenic and puppet design by Brandon Kirkham. "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" animated television special adapted from a story by Robert L. May and songs by Johnny Marks, music and lyrics by Johnny Marks.

All Ages

Rudolph and friends fly back onto our stage this December for an encore production of this audience favorite. Come celebrate the spirit of the holidays with this timeless tale of misfits, elves, an abominable snow monster and a whole lot of Holly Jolly good fun. This enchanting musical, based on the classic television special by Rankin and Bass, features all the characters and songs you love, and will inspire you to sing along with glee!

v January 20 - February 20, 2016

Fancy Nancy: The Musical

Book and lyrics by Susan DiLallo. Music and lyrics by Danny Abosch. Based on the books written by Jane O'Connor. Illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. Produced by special arrangement with Susan Gurman Agency, LLC.

All Ages

Come get your fancy on this winter with the effervescent (that's a fancy name for bubbly) Fancy Nancy! From the tip of her sparkly slippers up to the top of her twinkly tiara, Nancy is set for the spotlight in her first dance recital. What she is not prepared for is getting stuck playing a dreary, dull tree. Will she be able to find her fancy flair in time to take the stage? Based on the popular book series by Jane O'Connor, this playful musical will surely inspire a sparkle or two in your heart.

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March 10 - 26, 2016

The Velveteen Rabbit - World Premiere

An original dance-inspired performance based on the book by Margery Williams.

All Ages

The cherished tale about the transformational magic of love graces our main stage this March. "Real isn't how you are made," the old Skin Horse tells the Velveteen Rabbit, "It's a thing that happens to you when a child loves you for a long, long time." This treasured story of a stuffed rabbit's desire to become REAL is told through original music and dance. It continues our popular performance collaboration with Escalate Dance that brought you Owl Moon, Twelve Dancing Princesses and The Snow Queen.

v April 21 - May 21, 2016

Stone Soup - World Premiere

An original musical adaptation based on the European folktale.

All Ages

The classic folktale of the feared strangers who inspire a whole community through the use of one little stone charms its way onto our main stage this spring in a world premiere musical. When war-weary foreigners arrive in the village square, fear and suspicion reign. But as the outsiders start to make soup out of a stone, each of the locals is prompted to contribute to the ever-growing, communal meal. Come share this ageless story with us as it serves up a delightfully poignant reminder that community is built one ingredient at a time.

v April 28 - May 20, 2016

Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures - World-Premiere Exclusive

Based on the book by Kate DiCamillo

Ages 8 and up.

The super-hero squirrel, Ulysses and the self-proclaimed cynic Flora Belle Buckman land in our Hopkins Jaycees Studio this spring in an inspiring story of being born anew. When Flora saves Ulysses after he is sucked up through a vacuum cleaner, neither could predict the changes that will ensue. This eccentric, endearing saga about the possibilities of hope and the promises of a capacious heart is a world premiere adaptation based on the #1 New York Times best-selling author, Kate DiCamillo's 2014 Newbery Medal winner.

v June 23 - July 30, 2016

Shrek The Musical - Theatre for Young Audiences version

Book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. Music by Jeanine Tesori. Originally produced on Broadway by DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions.

All Ages

The rousing fairy tale adventure of an ogre turned unlikely hero galumphs onto our main stage this summer in this Tony Award-winning musical based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film. A wise-cracking Donkey, a feisty princess, a short-tempered villain, a cookie with an attitude and dozens of fairy tale misfits stir up the kind of muddled mayhem that calls for a real hero. Fortunately, Shrek is on his way!

v August 5 - 20, 2016

Theatre for the Very Young

Swimmy - World Premiere Exclusive

Based on the book by Leo Lionni.

Ages 12 months - 5 years

Journey with us to the depths of the ocean as our Theatre for the Very Young series continues this season with the subtly beautiful tale of Swimmy, based on the Caldecott Honor book by Leo Lionni. Being a different color doesn't stop Swimmy from teaching his fellow fish to think "outside the box." His uniqueness is just the thing to inspire his school to work together to ward off impending danger. Swimmy may also just inspire our youngest audiences to join in this imaginative under water adventure.

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Season subscriber ticketing options GO ON SALE TUESDAY, MARCH 8 AT 12 NOON. Individual tickets GO ON SALE TUESDAY, MARCH 22 AT 12 NOON. To purchase season tickets options, call the Box Office at (952) 979-1111, option 4, Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6:00 pm. To purchase individual tickets, visit www.stagestheatre.org or call the Box Office at (952) 979-1111, option 4, Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6 pm. Group pricing is available for groups of 10 or more to all productions. Reservations are available by calling our Group Sales Manager at (952) 979-1119.

Ticket prices for the 2016-2017 season are: $16 for adults; $14 for seniors (60+); $12 for children/students (ages 4-17) with lap passes available for free (ages 0-2) and $5 (ages 3-4). Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical pricing: $25 for adults, $21 for seniors (60+) $18 for children/students (ages 4-17) with lap passes available for free (ages 0-2) and $5 (ages 3-4). Swimmy pricing: All tickets are $10 for ages 1 and up, with free lap passes available for ages 0-1.

Stages Theatre Company was founded in 1984 and since then has grown to become one of the largest professional theatres for young audiences in the country. We engage young artists with themes relevant to their lives and involve them in creating magical works featuring young people in meaningful roles. Through theatrical productions, workshops, conservatory classes and other outreach programs, Stages Theatre Company annually serves more than 130,000 young people and their families.

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