THE MAGIC FLUTE Opens Today at Virginia Rep's Children's Theatre of Virginia

Virginia Rep's Children's Theatre of Virginia kicks off 2013 with The Magic Flute today, January 18 at Willow Lawn, 1601 Willow Lawn Drive, Richmond, Virginia. The show is part of the Acts of Faith Theatre Festival and will run through February 10, 2013. Fairy tale magic hangs in the air when the mysterious Queen of the Night sends young Prince Tamino - armed only with a golden flute and a feathered friend - to rescue her lovely daughter. The Prince soon learns that nothing is as it seems and he must pass many tests before he and his beloved Princess can live happily ever after. Inspired by Mozart's masterpiece, the musical imparts a poignant message of tolerance as it weaves a web of make-believe and music.

First commissioned by Virginia Rep in 2006 in celebration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 250th birthday, this fun musical features book, music and lyrics by Paul Deiss, who currently serves as the Resident Musical Director at Swift Creek Mill Theatre. Deiss has written several shows for Virginia Rep over the years including The Song of Mulan, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Shoemaker and the Christmas Elves.

Virginia Rep is delighted to bring back director Susan Sanford who staged the first production of The Magic Flute. Sanford's directing credits include The Song of Mulan and The 1940's Radio Hour. Sanford has many acting credits with Virginia Rep, most recently in Seussical, God of Carnage and Spring Awakening.

Several of the original cast members will be returning including Debra Wagoner (Madeline's Christmas and Patsy Cline at Virginia Rep), Russell Rowland (Closer Than Ever, My Fair Lady, and Annie Get Your Gun at Virginia Rep), and Matt Beyer (Seussial and Sound of Music at Virginia Rep). Josh Marin (Seussical, Spring Awakening, and The Producers at Virginia Rep) will play the role of Prince Tamino. Jacqueline Reynolds, a senior at Virginia Commonwealth University and currently in The Producers will play the fair Princess Pamina. Rounding out the cast are Nicole Oberleitner (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Year with Frog and Toad for Virginia Rep and Urban Cowboy on Broadway), Matt Shofner (Young Tom Jefferson, Spelling Bee and Anything Goes for Virginia Rep), and Liz Blake White (Seussical and Honk! for Virginia Rep).

The show lasts about one hour and is best enjoyed by children 4 years and older with plenty of humor to entertain older kids and adults. There will be an Acts of Faith talkback immediately following the performance on Sunday, January 27.

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