Roanoke Children's Theatre Announces 2018-2019 Season

Pat Wilhelms, Artistic Director for Roanoke Children's Theatre, is proud to announce the upcoming selection of plays for the Company's 11th Season. For the past decade, RCT has been the valley's only professional theatre designed specifically for children, schools and families. Continuing their motto of "Bigger and Better at the Jefferson Center," the 2018-2019 Season will be packed with plenty of fan favorites.

The season kicks off with the charming and witty production of YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN, exploring life through the eyes of the whole Peanuts gang. The ever popular and heartwarming ANNIE will fill the theatre with song, laughter and perhaps some tears during the holidays. Continuing their RCT4TEENS programming, RCT will mount an original play that addresses over-scheduling and coping mechanisms in THE BOY ON THE EDGE OF EVERYTHING. Providing youth actors an opportunity to learn, rehearse and stage a play all during Spring Break, the RCTKIDSONSTAGE production for this season will be THE LITTLE MERMAID JR. The season culminates with pop culture phenomenon SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK LIVE!, based on the popular Saturday morning cartoon.

"Our 2018-2019 season is going to be packed with nostalgia as we go retro with shows that everyone in your family can remember," says RCT Founder and Artistic Director Pat Wilhelms. "As always our shows are based on books, or cartoons or comic strips with our desire to have families read together and then see our shows together. Our 11th season will be a season to remember. Each play stands on its own to please anyone of any age. The audience will be in for a real treat!"

Tickets to the Company's 2018-2019 Season will be on sale May 1, 2018. For more information, patrons may contact RCT at 540.400.7795 or the Jefferson Center Box Office at 540.345.2550. Information is also available online at RoanokeChildrensTheatre.org.

2018 - 2019 SEASON LINE UP

YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN

Based on the work of Charles Schultz

RCT is ready to make you smile when the beloved characters from the popular Peanuts comic strip take the stage in YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN. You'll join Charlie Brown and the gang as they contemplate what happiness "is" and how to find it.
Perfect for the whole family, the gang will sing and dance their way into your heart! Happiness is guaranteed.
Public Performances: October 5-7,2018
Student Matinees: October 4-5, 2018

ANNIE

Music by: Charles Strouse
Book by: Thomas Meehan
Lyrcis by: Martin Charnin
Based on "Little Orphan Annie"

ANNIE, the classic American musical, will fill the audience with joy this holiday season. Little orphan Annie is saved from the orphanage and the cruel Miss Hannigan when she goes to stay with billionaire Oliver Warbucks for the holidays. While searching for the parents that abandoned her years ago, she reminds us that love and family are all you need.

Public Performances: December 19-23, 2018
Student Matinees: December 20-21, 2018

RCT4Teens Show: THE BOY ON THE EDGE OF EVERYTHING
By: Finegan Kruckmeyer

RCT will commission a play to address overscheduling and coping mechanisms.

Public Performances: February 28-March 1, 2019

RCTKIDSONSTAGE: THE LITTLE MERMAID JR.

Music by: Alan Menken
Lyrics by: Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater
Book by: Doug Wright
Based on Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney Film

Go "Under the Sea" this Spring Break when Roanoke area youth learn, rehearse and stage an entire production in one week! Longing to live in the world above, Ariel will have to defy her father, make a deal with the evil sea witch, and convince the handsome Prince that she's the girl whose enchanting voice he's been seeking.

Public Performances: April 26-27, 2019

SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK LIVE!

Book by: Scott Ferguson, George Keating & Kyle Hall
Music & Lyrics by: Lynn Ahrens, Bob Dorough, Dave Frishberg, Kathy Mandry, George Newall & Tom Yohe

The popular Saturday morning cartoon that taught kids history, grammar, math and more will take the stage to close up RCT's 11th Season. SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK LIVE! takes you on a journey with Tom, a brand new teacher, who is a bit nervous about starting his first day. While watching tv to relax, characters emerge to show him how to win his students over through song and quite a bit of imagination.

Public Performances: May 3-5, 2019
Student Matinees: May 2-3, 2019

TALENT SEARCH: AUDITIONING ANNIES and CASTING CHARLIES

Roanoke Children's Theatre will hold their annual talent search on Thursday, April 19, 2018 to cast characters for ANNIE and YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN. Hosted at Valley View Mall in front of JCPenney from 4-7 p.m., youth actors (both male and female) will have their chance to audition for various roles. Ages 8-18 are encouraged to audition. The winners will have the opportunity to perform alongside professional actors at Roanoke's only professional theatre for young audiences! Full audition materials will be posted on roanokechildrenstheatre.org.

ABOUT ROANOKE CHILDREN'S THEATRE

Roanoke Children's Theatre: Professional Theatre for Young Audiences is an independently owned and operated 501(c)3 organization located in the Jefferson Center. RCT is dedicated to providing high quality theatre education and entertainment to families, schools and children with year-round programming; crafting new and exciting partnerships and programs that engage our youth in a world of communication, imagination, creativity, empowerment and learning.

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