Four World Premieres Highlight SCT's 32nd Season

Seattle Children's Theatre has announces its 2006-2007 season of plays, which run September through June.  The season will feature an ambitious lineup with four world-premiere productions: OyamO's The Sorcerer's Apprentice; Chad Henry's Goodnight Moon; Bret Fetzer's Everyone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like; and Cheryl L. West's Addy: An American Girl Story.  SCT will also stage Ann Schulman's Harriet's Halloween Candy, set to new music by Chad Henry; John Olive's Jason and the Golden Fleece; and, in a special addition to the season, the Windmill Performing Arts production of Afternoon of the Elves, written by Y York.  

"At Seattle Children's Theatre we honor and celebrate creativity, fantasy and storytelling," said SCT Artistic Director Linda Hartzell.  "This year we will journey into imagination and travel throughout time and around the world-into such places as ancient China/>/>, Greece/>/> and the American South during the Civil War.  Our season of adventure truly has something for everyone."  

Seattle Children's Theatre will launch the 2006-2007 season  with the fun and energetic musical Harriet's Halloween Candy (September 22 - November 12, 2006), based on the fifth book in a series by children's author and illustrator Nancy Carlson. Adapted by Ann Schulman, who is making her SCT debut, and set to new music by Chad Henry, Harriet's Halloween Candy is the story of a young girl's obsession with Halloween candy and the dread of having to share it with her younger brother.  After she hoards all her candy, Harriet learns that things are even better when you share them with those you love. Harriet's Halloween Candy, recommended for ages five and older, will be performed in the Charlotte/> Martin/> Theatre/>/>. Kathleen Collins will direct.

Jason and the Golden Fleece (October 13 - November 26, 2006), John Olive's adaptation of the ancient Greek myth Jason and the Argonauts keeps the hallmarks of the original tale-betrayal, struggle, vengeance and Jason's dangerous journey seeking the famed Golden Fleece to prove his right to be King of Thessaly.  With help from an inexperienced but enthusiastic crew-the untried Hercules and budding poet Orpheus-Jason passes through a series of tests, failures and successes to find out that his strength lies within.  Olive, a widely produced and award-winning playwright, adapted The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Our Only May Amelia and Sideways Stories From Wayside School for Seattle Children's Theatre.  SCT commissioned Jason and the Golden Fleece but granted People's Light & Theatre Company in Pennsylvania/>/> the opportunity to premiere the show in 2005.  Jason and the Golden Fleece, recommended for ages 10 and older, will be performed in the Eve Alvord Theatre.  Rita Giomi is set to direct.

For its holiday play, Seattle Children's Theatre will produce The Sorcerer's
Apprentice (December 1, 2006/> - January 27, 2007/>) with a talented artistic team at the helm-celebrated playwright OyamO (Pink and Say) and noted composer Carman Moore. The Sorcerer's Apprentice has had many incarnations-a poem by Goethe, a 19th-century concert piece by French composer Paul Dukas, and Walt Disney's Fantasia-but SCT's world-premiere production is based on the original ancient Greek tale. The play will use magic realism to bring to life an enchanted forest with talking plants and animals.  When young Charles comes across the queen of the forest and witnesses her magical powers, he vows to become her apprentice.  However, his arrogance and disrespect all but ruin his chances, until he learns his lesson and bravely aids the sorcerer in a battle against her villain.  The Sorcerer's Apprentice is recommended for ages six and older and will be performed in the Charlotte/> Martin/> Theatre/>/>. Linda Hartzell will direct.

SCT will present Goodnight Moon (January 12 - March 10, 2007/>) just in time for the book's 60th anniversary.  The crowning achievement of author Margaret Wise Brown, with adored illustrations by Clement Hurd, this long poem of goodnight wishes
will be brought to life on SCT's stage with fanciful song, dance and puppetry.  The play's script, music and lyrics are by Chad Henry, who has composed for and written many plays at SCT, most recently Sleeping Beauty and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. It will feature direction by Henry's frequent collaborator Linda Hartzell  In the time it takes the little bunny in the green room to succumb to sleep, SCT will explore the rich world of a child's imagination.  Goodnight Moon, recommended for ages four and older, will be performed in the Eve Alvord Theatre.  

Y York's Afternoon of the Elves (February 9 - March 25, 2007) holds a special place in Seattle Children's Theatre history-its premiere opened the inaugural season in SCT's Charlotte Martin Theatre in 1993.  In addition, SCT Artistic Director Linda Hartzell recently directed the production in Adelaide/>, Australia/>/>, which was co-presented by the children's theatre, Windmill Performing Arts, and the state's flagship adult theatre company, State Theatre.  Nearly all of the critically-acclaimed Australian cast will perform in Seattle/>/>'s upcoming production.  Based on the 1990 Newbery Honor book by Janet Taylor Lisle, Afternoon of the Elves is a poignant story about imagination, friendship and responsibility.  An upwardly mobile Hillary has her social standing jeopardized when she befriends her quirky outcast neighbor Sara Kate. Hillary is drawn in with the secret of an enchanted elf village in Sara Kate's backyard.  As the two tend to the village, their relationship grows and the complicated layers of Sara Kate's life unfold, including the responsibility and burden she has taking care of her ill mother.  Afternoon of the Elves is recommended for ages eight and older and will be performed in the Charlotte/> Martin/> Theatre/>/>.      

For his Seattle Children's Theatre debut, local playwright Bret Fetzer adapted the book Everyone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like (March 23 - May 12, 2007) by Jay Williams. In this production, SCT will take its audience into the ancient Chinese city of Wu/>/> and will make use of the inspired art form of puppetry.  In the story, Han, a young orphan, longs for a place to belong-sweeping the gates of the city was not the future he was hoping for.  When the marauding Wild Horsemen come to attack Wu, the bumbling Mandarin decrees that all inhabitants should pray to the Great Cloud Dragon for help. After a hermit is ridiculed for announcing herself the dragon, Han shows great generosity that touches the hermit's heart and causes her to reveal her true Dragon form.  Everyone Knows What a Dragon Looks Like, recommended for ages five and older, will be performed in the Eve Alvord Theatre with direction by Giomi.  

In her first play for Seattle Children's Theatre, celebrated African-American playwright and Seattle/>/> resident Cheryl L. West will adapt Connie Porter's award-winning Addy books (April 13 - June 17, 2007), a series of six historical fiction books in the ever-popular American Girl series. This collection of books focuses on eight girls from different times and places in America/>/>'s history and has sold over 50 million copies since 1986.  Set on a North Carolina/>/> plantation in 1864, Addy: An American Girl Story brings to life the tale of a young girl and her mother who flee the oppressive life of slavery, their terrifying separation from their family and their journey to freedom.  We are afforded a look at the excitement and challenges brave Addy faces once she has that freedom and strives to reunite her family.  Addy: An American Girl Story is recommended for ages eight and older and will be performed in the Charlotte/> Martin/> Theatre/>/>.  Harzell will direct.

Various subscription packages are available beginning April 3 through SCT's
ticket office by calling (206) 441-4488 or visiting by www.sct.org

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