Photo Flash: I LOVE YOU, STINKY FACE Author Lisa McCourt Visits Stages Theatre Company

Stages Theatre Company (STC) had a special visitor on Wednesday, May 11th. Popular children's book author Lisa McCourt attended the 10am performance of her very first page-to-stage adaptation: STC's world premiere of I LOVE YOU, STINKY FACE. This heart-warming new musical, on stage thru Sunday May 15th, was adapted for the stage by Jeannine Coulombe who also wrote the lyrics and features music by twin cities favorite Michael Gruber.

McCourt graciously made herself available to the cast & creative team following the performance for a very special photo-opp and Q&A. McCourt loved the show and said it's been an "honor to be a part of this launch-pad production" and it was "just amazing to see all that talent up there. Her "heart is so full".

I Love You, Stinky Face, running now thru Sunday, will have you hugging your loved ones a little tighter and laughing with glee as the imaginative child snuggles onto our main stage! Before drifting off to dream land, the ever-inventive child has a few outrageous questions, but the devoted mother replies to each and every one with wit and love. Come follow this delightful tale through the heart of imagination. It will have you believing in Green Aliens from Mars, Super Stinky Skunks, and even Droopy-Eyed Cyclops.

Don't miss this World Premiere musical packed with local talent, including: Logan Baker (Plymouth), Taylor Breimhorst (Shakopee), Carley Clover (Champlin), Lucy Daniels (Golden Valley), Sophie Farrell (Hopkins), Natalie Rene Harrison (Eden Prairie), Gabi Jones (Maple Grove), William Maus (Victoria), Liliana McQueen, Abbie Sluka (Eden Prairie), Clea Gaïtas Sur (Minneapolis), and Adeline Wendt (Minneapolis), along with local adult actress Lindsay Odegaard (Hopkins).

Gruber is an accomplished composer, actor and author. Having appeared in over 9 Broadway shows, including: A Chorus Line, Jackie Mason's Laughing Room Only, Swing!, Kiss Me, Kate, My Favorite Year, Miss Saigon and Cats and is a founding member and resident composer of The Catalysts Theater Co.

Coulombe is a Minnesota native, playwright and theatre artist. In addition to playwriting, Ms. Coulombe is a founding member of the Workhaus Playwrights Collective in Minneapolis. She was also a founding member of the Twin Cities' company Theatre Unbound. Currently, she is the Manager of New Play Development at Stages Theatre Company. In addition to playwriting, she works as a director and dramaturg.

The entire creative team for I Love You, Stinky Face includes: Artistic Director - Sandy Boren-Barrett; Director & Choreographer - Nikki Swoboda; Playwright & Lyricist - Jeannine Coulombe, Composer - Michael Gruber; Stage Managers - Emilia Allen and Becca Buntjer; Lighting Designer - Wu Chen Khoo; Tech Director - Gretchen Katt; Costume & Make-Up Designer - Amy Kaufman; Music Sequencing - Shirley Mier; Music Director - JC Lippold; Production Manager - Melanie Salmon-Peterson; Props Designer - Megan Teynor and Set Designer - Tiffany Fier.

I Love You, Stinky Face opens Friday, April 15th and runs through Sunday, May 15th, and is for all ages. Tickets can be purchased by visitingwww.stagestheatre.org for performance dates and times, or by calling the Box Office at (952) 979-1111, option 4, Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m.

Tickets are $16 for adults; $14 for seniors, ages 60+; $12 for children, ages 5 to 17.

Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more. Please call (952) 979-1119 or email group sales at groupsales@stagestheatre.org for more information and reservations.

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