Creative Cauldron Announces 2018-2019 Season

The 2018-19 Season marks Creative Cauldron's tenth year producing and presenting live theater and music. This season includes a diverse range of programming for adults and families alike. Highlighting the season will be a world premiere musical, On Air, written by internationally produced duo Stephen Gregory Smith and Matt Conner. On Air is the final installment of Creative Cauldron's five-year "Bold New Works for Intimate Stages" initiative.

"In celebration of our 10th year of programming at Artspace Falls Church we are creatively remounting some of our favorite productions from our early years, before many patrons had even discovered Creative Cauldron," says Producing Director Laura Connors Hull. "These productions (Nevermore, Thunder Knocking on the Door, Peter Pan and Wendy, and Alice In Wonderland, along with the iconic musical Beauty and the Beast) are sure to delight audiences both old and new." This season's theatrical offerings are complemented by live music throughout the year including two annual concert series: the "Passport to the World of Music" Festival and the "Summer Cabaret and Concert Series."

Tickets are now on-sale for all performances and can be purchased by visiting www.creativecauldron.org or by calling (703)-436-9948. Creative Cauldron offers two flexible season pass options for performances throughout the season.

Creative Cauldron's 2018-19 Performance Season

Nevermore (October 4 - 28, 2018) Press Night: October 6, 2018

Music by Matt Conner, Lyrics adapted from the writings of Edgar Allan Poe, Book by Grace Barnes

Take a dark and mysterious journey into the life of gothic writer Edgar Allan Poe. This fresh and imaginative musical uses Poe's poetry and short stories as its base and his shifting obsession with the women in his life as its catalyst. With hauntingly beautiful melodies, Nevermore breathes new life into Poe's work and explores a twisted true-life tale that is as bizarre as his classic stories of the macabre.? Nevermore has been produced by theater companies around the world. Critics have hailed Matt Conner's music as "romantic and ablaze with feeling." Creative Cauldron's 2011 production brought us our first Helen Hayes Awards recommendation. In celebration of our 10th season of theatrical producing, we eagerly revisit a show that has become a Poe enthusiast and musical theater aficionado favorite.

Peter Pan and Wendy (November 2 - 18, 2018) Press Night: November 3, 2018

Based on the novel by J.M. Barrie, Adapted by Laura Connors Hull and Ellen Selby, Music by Matt Conner

Second star to the right and straight on till morning! With that simple phrase, we return to the imaginative world of J.M. Barrie's Neverland. When Wendy meets Peter, the little boy who refuses to grow up, the adventure for the Darling children begins. With a few magical thoughts they learn to fly and Peter leads them on an adventure of a lifetime.

This original adaptation, featuring music by Matt Conner, was first produced in 2013 and quickly became one of our audience and critics favorite "Bold New Works for Young Audiences" productions. Featuring a cast of adult professionals and our budding Learning Theater performers, this show will capture the imagination of young and old alike!

Madeline's Christmas (December 6 - 23, 2018) Press Night: December 8, 2018

Book and Lyrics by Jennifer Kirkeby, Music by Shirley Mier, Based on the book by Ludwig Bemelmans

She's Back! After sold out runs in 2014 & 2017, we couldn't resist one more visit from everyone's favorite precocious little Parisian. "In an old house in Paris, covered in vines, lived 12 little girls in two straight lines." With that familiar phrase, author and illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans sets into motion the adventures of the brave and resourceful Madeline! In this musical adaptation, Madeline's schoolmates and tutor are all sick in bed on Christmas Eve, unable to go home for Christmas to be with their families. But never fear; it's Madeline to the rescue! With the help of a magical rug merchant, Madeline takes her friends on a Christmas journey they will never forget.

Passport to the World of Music Festival 2019 (January 4 - February 2, 2019)

Join us on a musical tour of the world in our intimate cabaret space, with a diverse musical line up specially curated by Ken Avis and Lynn Veronneau of the Wammy Award-winning jazz samba group Veronneau. Enjoy blues, jazz, Latin, fusion, bluegrass, and folk styles in a musical experience only the well-travelled know. Our 8th installment of the "Passport to the World of Music" concert series promises another first rate music festival that allows you to travel the world without ever leaving Falls Church! The 2019 series includes performances by Eric Brace, Veronneau, Dave Kline Band, Cecily, Christian Perez, Raymi, Brad and Ken Kolodner, Shenandoah Run, Louisa Hall, Chrys Mathews, Heather Mae, Irene Jalenti and more.

Thunder Knocking on the Door (February 14 - March 10, 2019) Press Night: February 16, 2019

Written by Keith Glover, Music & Lyrics by Keb' Mo' and Anderson Edwards, Additional Music & Lyrics by Keith Glover

This Tony Award-nominated show is an intoxicating musical fable filled with humor, heart, and the extraordinary music of three-time Grammy award winner Keb' Mo'. In a small Alabama town, a mysterious Blues guitar-playing stranger named Marvell Thunder arrives at the door of the Dupree family. He's a mythic figure with supernatural powers, who brings a challenge for the offspring of the late Jaguar Dupree, the only man who ever outplayed him in a "cutting contest." Thunder offers Glory Dupree, Jaguar's blind daughter, a Faustian bargain: if he wins the contest he gets Jaguar's guitar, and if she wins she gets her sight back. In 2013, Creative Cauldron's production of Thunder Knocking on the Door brought the house down and had audiences on their feet at every performance. We couldn't resist the urge to turn the Cauldron into a "juke joint" once again, and bring this crowd-pleasing musical back to life for our 10th anniversary.

Alice In Wonderland (March 12 - April 14, 2019) Press Night: March 23, 2019

Based on the novel by Lewis Carroll, Adapted by Laura Connors Hull and Ellen Selby, Music by Matt Conner

"Curiouser and curiouser" down the Rabbit Hole we go! Come join Alice on her fantastical journey through Wonderland. The White Rabbit, The Cheshire Cat, The Caterpillar, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts; all of your favorite characters are here in this musical adaptation of the classic Lewis Carroll tale. Another one of our original adaptations that we are revisiting for our 10th anniversary season, Alice gives the entire family a chance to spend an utterly "mad, mad day" at the Cauldron enjoying one of the most famous and enduring children's classics of all time.

On Air (May 2 - 26, 2019) Press Night: May 11, 2019

A "Bold New Works for Intimate Stages" Musical Premiere

Music & Lyrics by Matt Conner, Book & Lyrics by Stephen Gregory Smith

Frank met Shirley at the sock hop, but when the dance was over, they turned the car radio on and danced in the parking lot under the stars. The Johnsons listened while in the storm cellar, fearfully awaiting details of the storm that was headed in their direction. Mrs. Bloom listened to the church service to give her peace when she was no longer able to attend. Max and Ben listened while off duty at the base camp and learned that they were all going home. They all listened while stuck in traffic on the way to wherever they were headed next. On Air explores the radio as constant companion, messenger, and soundtrack of our lives for the past century. Weaving a journey through the past 100 years in American life and pop culture, we will see how much and how little has changed as we turn the dial and tune in. The tragedies, the triumphs, the telling tales of transitory truths throughout time; all are on display in this next "Bold New Works" musical premiere by Matt Conner and Stephen Gregory Smith.

Beauty and the Beast (June 6 - 23, 2019) Press Night: June 8, 2019

Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Tim Rice, Book by Linda Wolverton

Based on the Academy Award-winning Disney film and dating back to the 18th century classic French fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast tells the story of Belle, a beautiful and intelligent young woman who feels of out of place in her provincial French village. When her father is imprisoned in a mysterious castle, Belle's attempt to rescue him leads to her capture by the Beast, a grisly and fearsome monster, who was long ago trapped in his gruesome form by an enchantress. The only way for the Beast to become human once again is if he learns to love and be loved in return. If the Beast doesn't learn to love, he and his entire household will be doomed for all eternity. The original Broadway production was nominated for nine Tony Awards and ran for over thirteen years. Much in the same spirit as last season's highly acclaimed Wizard of Oz, we will tackle this iconic blockbuster musical with creativity, simplicity, and a view that what is most essential is the story at its heart.

2019 Summer Cabaret and Concert Series (July 12 - September 14, 2019)

Every summer weekend at Creative Cauldron features a cabaret or concert by some of the most spectacular talent the DC area has to offer! Grab a table for two or a table for four and enjoy your favorite musical standards from the Broadway, Tin Pan Alley, Folk Jazz, pop and classical canon and be entertained in our up close and personal cabaret space.

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