Oregon Children's Theatre to Present CHARLOTTE'S WEB, 1/18-2/16

The word is out, he's "some pig," "radiant," "terrific!" A heartfelt story of friendship, loss and love, Charlotte's Web shines onstage. With simplicity and grace, the book by E.B. White has captivated young readers for generations.

When an affectionate pig named Wilbur is saved from slaughter and sent to live on a nearby farm, he finds a barnyard full of animals who quickly become family. But it's the most unlikely of friends that prove to be his best-a spider named Charlotte who uses her skills to save Wilbur's life once more, even as her own is slipping away. It's the classic tale audiences know and love!

Written in 1952, this Newbery Honor book has become one of the most popular children's stories of all time. Charlotte's Web is ranked #1 in "The Top 100 Children's Novels" by School Library Journal.

"I love this story," says Stan Foote, OCT's Artistic Director. "The timeless themes of friendship and community resonate with the child in all of us. It is a celebration of life!" Unique to this production, Charlotte will be weaving her web with aerial silks.

As Eudora Welty wrote of Charlotte's Web in The New York Times in 1952, "What the book is about is friendship on earth, affection and protection, adventure and miracle, life and death, trust and treachery, pleasure and pain, and the passing of time. As a piece of work it is just about perfect, and just about magical in the way it is done."

Charlotte's Web is based on the book by E.B. White. It is adapted by Joseph Robinette and produced by special arrangement with Dramatic Publishing.

The cast features Claire Aldridge as Charlotte; Jonathan Pen as Wilbur; Maya Caulfield as Fern; Jack Clevenger as Avery; Victoria Blake as Edith Zuckerman/Sheep; Orion Bradshaw as Lurvy/Lamb; Sarah Jane Fridlich as Mrs. Arable/Goose; Rick Huddle as Narrator/Uncle the Pig; Bobby Ryan as Mr. Arable/Gander; Mark Steering as Homer Zuckerman; Jake Wiest as Templeton; and Steele Clevenger, Holden Goyette, Ava Grayson, Elisha Henig, Gracelyn Pen, and Ethan Thompson as Baby Spiders. The creative team includes: Lava Alapai (Director), Mark Haack (Scenic Design), Melissa Heller (Costume Design), Gene Dent (Lighting Design), Rory Stitt (Composer), Em Gustason (Sound Design), and Kaye Blankenship (Props Master).

Founded in 1988, Oregon Children's Theatre has served over two million children, teachers, and families. OCT is Oregon's largest non-profit professional children's theater company and a resident company of the Portland Center for the Performing 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, our 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.

Charlotte's Web is sponsored by U.S. Bank/U.S. Bancorp Foundation and Work for Art, including contributions from more than 70 companies and nearly 2000 employees in the region. Funding for the 2013-2014 season is provided in part by the Regional Arts & Culture Council, Oregon Arts Commission, and the Shubert Foundation.

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