THE RELUCTANT DRAGON Opens Today at The Rose Theater

Daring dragon encounters are not all that they may seem in The Rose Theater's production of The Reluctant Dragon, beginning today, March 20 - April 4, 2015. Written by Mary Hall Surface, the show features the story of a young boy who befriends an unconventional dragon in a whimsical and humorous adaptation of the Kenneth Grahame's book. The show promises to bring exciting battle scenes, clever costuming and fairy tale-inspired sets in a tale of an unlikely friendship and a valuable moral lesson.

The story of The Reluctant Dragon unfolds amid a set framed as a giant storybook, fitting with director Michael Miller's vision of the play as a story about stories. "This is a play about how stories are a way to get information, but also how stories give just one version of how things really are. It challenges us to ask questions, to consider more about the story than you realize the first time through," he says.

The set reveals the village of Guildemere in the Downs of England, where we meet Glaston, a boy with dreams of becoming a daring knight and fighting fierce dragons. When he stumbles upon an actual dragon in a cave (and the last dragon left on earth), he is surprised to learn that the dragon would rather paint watercolors, write poetry and play chess than fight and breathe fire. A secret friendship is formed between the kindred spirits.

"Everyone knows what it is like to feel like an outcast, and many of us know what it is like to feel like an outcast for things that we cannot control. There is a sweet relief in finding a friend, in relieving that loneliness and that sense of being singular" says Rose artistic director Matthew Gutschick. "Even though The Reluctant Dragon is based on an older work, the story feels very immediate and very contemporary. I hope that audiences walk away with a deepened sense of compassion."

Glaston and the dragon pass their days in peace and happiness, enjoying their newfound friendship. However, when the village of Guildermere blames the dragon for dying crops and sour milk, they invite famed dragon-slayer, St. George, to rid the village of its dragon problem, forcing Glaston to concoct a plan to save his dragon friend who would much rather sip tea than charge into battle.

"The town has gotten caught up in its own stories about what dragons are and what they are not," says show director Michael Miller. "But there is more to the story than they realize. You can't judge a book by its cover."

The Reluctant Dragon presented The Rose with some unique theatrical challenges - particularly, how to bring a believable larger-than-life dragon to the stage.

"We have been having fun playing with the dragon designs and character," says Miller.

Costume designer Audio Helkuik has created a unique design for the dragon that is part costume contraption, part puppet. She worked closely with the Rose's properties master Liz Spray, scenic charge Lauren Crabtree and technical director Grant Hilgenkamp to bring the dragon to life. The result is an nine-foot-tall creature with a serpent-like neck and 12-foot wide pneumatic wings that give the dragon an incredible presence on stage. Lighting and sound designer Kyle L. Toth has produced custom sounds that enhance the dragon's dialogue in a process that he describes as being similar to creating animation sound designs for live-action acting.

"He is working hard to be a gentlemanly dragon, but on occasion, his innate 'dragon- ness' comes out," says Toth. "The sounds help enhance those dragon qualities."

The dragon is portrayed by Raydell Cordell and Jamie Fields. "He is very much a gentleman dragon," says Fields, "but he is also very childlike. He gets excited about poetry and watercolors and chess. It's a kind of puppy dog excitement that connects with Glaston's innocence."

The end result is an enchanting show filled with magical effects, colorful costumes and a valuable moral lesson about overcoming prejudice. "The Reluctant Dragon has required even more innovation than most shows at The Rose. It is a really special show," says production director Jennifer Collins Hard.

The Reluctant Dragon will capture the hearts and imaginations of families with children ages 5 and up. The show runs March 20 - April 4, 2015, with performances Fridays at 7 pm, Saturdays at 2 pm and 5 pm, and Sundays at 2 pm. There will be an additional performance Sunday, March 29 at 5 pm.

The 2 pm performance on Saturday, March 28 will be interpreted for the deaf and hard of hearing. Sign language interpretation is provided under a contract with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. For information on this performance, contact The Rose Box Office at (402) 345-4849.

Tickets are $18 per person. Discount ticket vouchers are available at all area Hy-Vee stores for $14 each. Members of The Rose receive four free tickets to the production.

The Rose Theater is one of the largest and most accomplished children's theaters in the nation, with a reputation for enriching the lives of children and families through top-quality professional productions and arts education. The Rose is committed to making the arts accessible to all children, providing opportunities for thousands of children throughout the community to attend shows and participate in classes each year.

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