Oregon Children's Theatre Announces 2017-2018 30th Anniversary Season!

Award-winning Oregon Children's Theatre announces its 2017-2018 season and its 30th anniversary of transforming lives through theater! That's 30 years of creating compelling plays for millions of children (literally!). Many parents who came to OCT's first shows are back, but this time with their grandchildren. To celebrate 30 years, OCT is launching a season full of fun and adventure!

A WORLD PREMIERE!

Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt

October 21 - November 19, 2017 • Newmark Theatre • Directed by Stan Foote

X marks the spot as Judy and her brother Stink set sail on a nautical adventure to find Cap'n Weevil's secret pirate treasure. But they'll have to race their swashbuckling rivals, Tall Boy and Smart Girl, to see who will be first to find the gold! Will Judy and Stink crack the secret codes and spot the hidden clues before time runs out?

[Recommended for ages 4 and up]

• A 7-theater co-commission with Adventure Theatre, Bay Area Children's Theatre, Children's Theatre of Charlotte, First Stage Children's Theatre, Orlando Repertory Theatre, and The Rose Theatre

Pete the Cat: The Musical

January 20 - February 18, 2018 • Newmark Theatre • Directed by Isaac Lamb

When cool, smooth Pete the Cat moves in with the perfectly normal Biddle family, he rocks their world with his strumming and strutting. The whole family loves Pete, except for Jimmy, the world's most organized 2nd grader. But when Jimmy draws a blank in art class, Pete takes him on the inspirational road trip of a lifetime! The whole family will love Pete's hilarious, jazzy antics in this toe-tapping musical.

[Recommended for ages 4 and up]

• Based on the bestselling book series by Kimberly and James Dean

And in This Corner: Cassius Clay

March 3 - 25, 2018 • Winningstad Theatre • Directed by Stan Foote & Jerry Foster

Every superhero has an origin story. Twelve-year-old Cassius Clay's story begins in segregated Louisville, Kentucky, with a stolen bike and a chance encounter with a police officer who teaches him how to box. Step into the ring with Cassius as he fights his way to the top to become one of the world's greatest boxers and civil rights advocates, Muhammad Ali.

[Recommended for ages 8 and up]

• Written by NEA award-winning playwright, Idris Goodwin

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show

March 31 - May 13, 2018 • Winningstad Theatre • Directed by Marcella Crowson

Eric Carle's iconic creatures from four different stories crawl from page to stage with the help of a marvelous menagerie of 75 magical puppets. Colorful and kinetic, this adaptation captures all the charm of Carle's original tales and illustrations, while conveying simple messages about the value of creativity, belonging, and growth.

[Recommended for all ages]

• An adaptation, created by Jonathan Rockefeller, of four classic stories from award-winning author, Eric Carle, including The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, Mister Seahorse, The Very Lonely Firefly, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar has sold over 43 million copies worldwide since it was first published in 1969

A Year With Frog & Toad

May 5 - 27, 2018 • Newmark Theatre • Directed by Dani Baldwin

To celebrate OCT's 30th season, we're reviving this award-winning show! Best friends, Frog and Toad, have an adventure for each season of the year: sledding down snowy hills, planting springtime flowers, splashing in summer swimming holes, and raking up autumn leaves. Along their way, they celebrate the differences that make each of them unique, but also makes their friendship so special.

[Recommended for ages 4 and up]

• A 7-time Portland Drammy award winner, including Outstanding Musical

• A Tony-nominated musical

OCT'S YOUNG PROFESSIONALS COMPANY

The Young Professionals Company offers a series of plays and performances presented by our Young Professionals (YPs). YPs are dedicated acting students aged 14-18 who have been selected to participate in a year-long mentoring program, through where they gain advanced training through exposure to a wide range of college-level workshops and professional development.

Jasper in Deadland

October 27 - November 12, 2017 • OCT YP Studio Theater

17-year-old Jasper is lost in the living world, when suddenly his best friend Agnes disappears. He discovers that she has been taken to the mysterious underworld of Deadland, and he sets off on a mythological escapade to bring her back. Will he make it through this treacherous world filled with demons, gods, and monsters in time to save Agnes' life? Or will he be doomed to stay in Deadland forever? An exhilarating new rock musical!

[Recommended for ages 13 and up]

• A pop-rock musical based on the myth Orpheus and Eurydice

Eurydice

January 26 - February 11, 2018 • OCT YP Studio Theater • Directed by Zoë Rudman

An untimely death on her wedding day sends young Eurydice plummeting to the underworld. With no memory of her past, she reunites with her father to try to help her remember her lost love, Orpheus. Every twist and turn will keep you guessing in Sarah Ruhl's contemporary take on the classic myth, Orpheus, as told through the heroine's eyes!

[Recommended for ages 12 and up]

• Sarah Ruhl is an award-winning playwright and a recipient of a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship and the Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award

Impulse: OCT's Improv Troupe

May 4 - 20, 2018 • OCT YP Studio Theater • Directed by Jay Flewelling

After last year's sold-out shows, Impulse is ready to take the stage again to create fast-paced comedic scenes and games-all based on audience suggestions! No scripts, no costumes, and no pre-planned scenes. Get ready for quick wits and lots of laughter.

[Recommended for ages 7 and up]

About Oregon Children's Theatre

The mission of Oregon Children's Theatre is to create exceptional theater experiences that transform lives. Founded in 1988, OCT has served well over two million children, teachers, and families. OCT is Oregon's largest non-profit professional children's theater company and a resident company of Portland'5 Centers for the Arts. Performances are held weekdays for school audiences and on weekends for family audiences. OCT serves more than 120,000 children of all ages each year. OCT offers numerous school services including study guides, teacher professional development opportunities, in-school workshops, and an extensive outreach program. In partnership with Kaiser Permanente, the Educational Theatre Program provides free touring productions that promote healthy living. OCT's year round Acting Academy offers theater classes for children ages 3-18 and the Young Professionals Company, a mentoring program for teens.

Season subscriptions available-visit www.octc.org or call 503-228-9571 for details.

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