CTC's THE UGLY DUCKLING Set for Harris Center, 5/11

In an adaptation of the classic Hans Christian Anderson fairytale, an Ugly Duckling discovers that as he passes through the awkwardness of youth to the grace of maturity he becomes a handsome swan. The nationally-recognized California Theatre Center returns to Harris Center for its fourth and final performances of beloved children's tales this season.

A Folsom favorite for many years, California Theatre Center has repeatedly been recognized as the top professional theatre for young American audiences. Having twice opened the season at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, CTC creates quality experiences for youth and families alike. As an ensemble theater company, CTC employs a company of approximately two dozen versatile actors and theater professionals who perform and staff both local and touring productions

The Ugly Duckling will be performed on Sunday, May 11, 2014 at 1:00 and 3:00 pm. Tickets are $8-$15. Tickets are available online at www.harriscenter.net or from Harris Center Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time. Parking is included in the price of the ticket. Harris Center is located on the west side of Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom, CA, facing East Bidwell Street.

This classic tale, adapted and directed by CTC's General Director Gayle Cornelison, tells the story of a little duckling that was very sad because he thought he was the ugliest amongst all his brothers and sisters. They would not play with him and teased him mercilessly. He decided to leave home and went far away into the woods where he saw a cottage of an old woman, her hen, and her cat. The duckling stayed with them for some time but he was unhappy and soon left. When winter set in the poor duckling almost froze to death. A peasant took him home to his wife and children. The poor duckling was terrified of the children and escaped. The ugly duckling spent the winter in a marshy pond. Finally, spring arrived. One day, the duckling saw a beautiful swan swimming in the pond and fell in love with her. But then he remembered how everyone made fun of him and he bent his head down in shame. What he saw his own reflection in the water astonished him. He was not an ugly duckling anymore, but a handsome young swan! At last he knew why he had looked so different from his brothers and sisters. (Recommended for grades K-5).

Performers for The Ugly Duckling include Mike Birr, Justine Nichole Lauren, Brittney Monroe, Ambre Shoneff and Kalon Thibodeaux.

In conjunction with several of our Partner organizations, such as California Theatre Center, the Harris Center Arts Education program offers a range of performances, lectures and demonstrations that enhance youth arts education, from international artists performing at Harris Center through the Presents program, to the talented regional artists who perform here with our Partner organizations. These shows often run concurrently during the school day.

Geared to address the California Visual and Performing Arts content standards, many of these performances are tailored to meet teachers' needs: nestled into the school day; they are usually an hour in length and can include enrichment sheets to assist in integrating the arts into the required classroom curriculum. For information on school day performances please contact California Theatre Center directly at (408) 245-2978.

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