Princess Ariel Tries On Some New Shoes at The 5th, Along with Foster Kids Across King County

This holiday season, Princess Ariel is trading in her flippers for feet, and she's going to need a good pair of shoes to go with them-just like hundreds of children in foster care around King County. As Disney's The Little Mermaid takes the stage, The 5th Avenue Theatre is joining forces with Treehouse, a King County non-profit, to collect new shoes for local foster children. During the run of the production, November 23-December 31, patrons who bring a new pair of shoes to The 5th Avenue Theatre Box Office (1308 5th Avenue) or drop them off in the lobby during a performance of The Little Mermaid will receive a coupon for a 25% discount for the upcoming production of The Secret Garden.

"Every year we are overwhelmed by the generosity of our audiences" said 5th Avenue Managing Director Bernadine Griffin. "In years past, we have asked for warm coats, pajamas and other items for King County's foster kids, and our guests are quick to respond. One of our most successful drives was our 2011 Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella shoe drive, which brought in more than 500 pairs of shoes for kids of all ages. This year, we have challenged ourselves to beat that goal."

Children in foster care live in an uncertain world, moving frequently with very little notice, and often just a small bag filled with their possessions. Be it sneakers, sandals, or snow boots, infants through teens will welcome the warmth and comfort of a new pair of shoes. Through December 31, new shoes may be dropped off during box office hours at The 5th Avenue Theatre, or the lobby during a performance of The Little Mermaid.

About Treehouse

Treehouse is a nonprofit organization with the mission of giving foster kids a childhood and a future. Since 1988, Treehouse has provided essential education and enrichment programs that help foster kids succeed in school, meet key material needs and provide childhood experiences every kid deserves. Core programs serving foster kids in King County include: College and Career Planning, Tutoring, Summer Camp, Little Wishes and a free retail store, the Wearhouse. Treehouse also runs a statewide Educational Advocacy program to help foster youth stay in school and remain on-track to high school graduation. Treehouse serves over 5,000 foster kids each year. Learn more at www.treehouseforkids.org.

About The 5th Avenue Theatre

The nonprofit 5th Avenue Theatre is acclaimed as one of the nation's leading musical theater companies and is especially renowned for its production and development of new works. Since 2001, the Seattle-based company has produced 17 new musicals. To date, nine (including the sensational hit Disney's Aladdin) have moved on to Broadway premieres, earning a combined 15 Tony Awards, including two for Best Musical (Hairspray and Memphis). The 5th Avenue Theatre is also known for its world class, critically acclaimed productions of musicals chosen from both the contemporary canon and the Golden Age of Broadway.

Unique in its Chinese-inspired design, this exquisite theater opened in 1926 as a venue for vaudeville and film. Today, under the leadership of Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong, Managing Director Bernadine C. Griffin and Producing Artistic Director Bill Berry, this nonprofit theater company attracts an annual attendance of more than 300,000, including over 20,000 subscribers - one of the largest theater subscriptions in North America.

In addition to its main stage productions, The 5th Avenue Theatre is also committed to encouraging the next generation of theatergoers through its extensive educational outreach programs that serve over 83,000 youth each year. For more information about The 5th Avenue Theatre, its season and its programs, please visit www.5thavenue.org

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