Young Artists of America at Strathmore to Present Stephen Schwartz's CHILDREN OF EDEN

On Sunday, March 13th at 4pm, Young Artists of America at Strathmore (YAA) presents the youth premiere of the new symphonic version of Children of Eden by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin and The Prince of Egypt). Schwartz himself will be working as a guest mentor with the YAA high school-aged students. The cast, full symphonic orchestra, and chorus will include over 350 youth from all over the DC Metro area including 250 younger artists from North Bethesda Middle School. The performance will take place at The Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Ln, North Bethesda, MD).

"The work in which I am most proud of is Children of Eden," says Schwartz, "I think it's my best score musically." In addition to Schwartz, Ken Page, who created the role of Father in the original stage production of the show will return to the role for the first time since the London premiere 25 years ago. Page will also work individually with YAA cast members on their roles. The performance will be directed by Noah Himmelstein, the Manhattan-based theatre and opera director whose work includes I Am Harvey Milk, An Inspector Calls and Things I Left on Long Island, among others. His work has shown at Lincoln Center, Goodspeed Opera House, Walt Disney Theatre Concert Hall and The Living Theatre.

Tickets for Children of Eden will go on sale February 3rd and range from $18 to $48. For $175 those in attendance can have prime seating and attend a catered reception immediately following the performance. The event is in celebration of YAA's 5th anniversary. It will be held at the Strathmore Mansion and Stephen Schwartz will be in attendance.

Special Guest Bios:

Stephen Schwartz (Guest Mentor) is an American musical theatre lyricist and composer. In a career spanning over four decades, Schwartz has written such hit musicals as Godspell (1971), Pippin (1972) and Wicked (2003). He has contributed lyrics for a number of successful films, including Pocahontas (1995), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), The Prince of Egypt (1998; music and lyrics) and Enchanted (2007). Schwartz has won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics, three Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards and has been nominated for six Tony Awards. He received the 2015 Isabelle Stevenson Award, a special Tony Award, for his commitment to serving artists and fostering new talent.

Ken Page (Guest Artist) is best known as the voice of "Oogie Boogie", the main antagonist of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. On stage, Mr. Page created the eponymous role of Ken in the original Broadway production of Ain't Misbehavin', premiered the role of Old Deuteronomy in both the original Broadway and filmed stage productions of CATS the Musical, and created the role of Father in the world premiere production of Stephen Schwartz's Children of Eden in London's West End. Mr. Page began his career in the chorus of The Muny outdoor theater in his hometown of St. Louis, MO. After making his Broadway debut in The Wiz, Page played Nicely-Nicely Johnson in the all-black revival of Guys and Dolls on Broadway (Theatre World Award). He was then featured in the original cast of the Fats Waller musical revue, Ain't Misbehavin' (Drama Desk Award), a role he reprised in the 1982 television broadcast. Ken also played Old Deuteronomy in the original Broadway cast of CATS, returning to the role in the 1998 video release. He also has the distinction of playing God twice: in Randy Newman's Faust at La Jolla Playhouse and Goodman Theatre and in the world premire of Stephen Schwartz's Children of Eden in London's West End.

Noah Himmelstein (Stage Director) is a theatre and opera director based in Manhattan. His work has been seen at Lincoln Center, Goodspeed Opera House, Circle in the Square, Weston Playhouse, Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Living Theatre, and American Opera Projects among other theatres in NY and regionally. Noah's recently directed the world premiere production of Bleeding Love, a dark comic fairy tale by Harris Doran, Jason Schafer and Arthur Bacon at the Fredericia Teater in Denmark. This past October, Noah directed Andrew Lippa's theatrical oratorio, I Am Harvey Milk at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center starring Kristin Chenoweth and Andrew Lippa among a company of 120 and the Orchestra of St. Luke's. In July he staged the work at Disney Hall in Los Angeles in addition to the world premiere featuring Laura Benanti at the Nourse Theatre in San Francisco last year. (2014 NY Magazine & LA Magazine Critics' Pick, Playbill "Unforgettable Experience of the Year."). In 2016, Mr. Himmelstein will stage the world premiere of I Am Anne Hutchinson, written by Andrew Lippa for Kristin Chenoweth. The world premiere will take place alongside I Am Harvey Milk at The Music Center at Strathmore.

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