Kristin Chenoweth Serves As Honorary Chair For Free Summer Theatre Program

Theatreworks USA (Barbara Pasternack, Artistic Dir.; Ken Arthur, Producing Dir.), the nation's leading not-for-profit professional theatre for family audiences, is pleased to announce that Tony Award-winning actress Kristin Chenoweth will serve as Honorary Co-Chair for the 21st Annual Free Summer Theatre Program.

This summer's featured production is CLICK, CLACK, MOO, a new musical based on the Caldecott Honor children's book by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin.

Directed by Tony Award winner John Rando (Urinetown) and choreographed by Wendy Seyb (Toxic Avenger), CLICK, CLACK, MOO features a book by Billy Aronson (TV's "Wonder Pets," "Postcards from Buster"), lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila (Altar Boyz) and music by Rodgers Award-winning composer Brad Alexander (See Rock City and Other Destinations).

CLICK, CLACK, MOO begins performances on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at Off-Broadway's Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher St.) and continues through Friday, August 22. The Opening Night benefit performance is Thursday, July 24 at 6:30 p.m.

All day long Farmer Brown hears "click clack moo, clickety clackety moo..." The cows are typing and protesting their working conditions! Recommended for children ages four and up, CLICK, CLACK, MOO is hilariously "moo-ving" new musical about compromise, based on the acclaimed 2005 children's book Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type.

Complete casting for CLICK, CLACK, MOO will be announced soon.

CLICK, CLACK, MOO features scenic design by Beowulf Boritt (Broadway's The 25th AnnualPutnamCounty Spelling Bee, Rock of Ages), costume design by Lora LaVon (Theatreworks USA's Junie B. Jones, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere), lighting design by Matthew Richards (Port Authority, Theatreworks USA's Seussical) and sound design by Jeremy Wilson.

Launched in 1989, the mission of Theatreworks USA's Free Summer Theatre Program is to provide New York City youth with their own free theatre tradition that not only entertains, but also educates and fosters positive values and an appreciation for theatre. More than 20,000 FREE tickets will be distributed to CLICK, CLACK, MOO this summer.

Tickets for CLICK, CLACK, MOO are FREE and available on a first come, first served basis in-person at the Lucille Lortel Theatre Box Office (121 Christopher St.) on the day of the performance, one hour prior to curtain time. Individual reservations cannot be made in advance.

CLICK, CLACK, MOO is a 60-minute, one-act musical, recommended for children ages four (4)and up. The performance schedule is as follows:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday - 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Thursday - 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Sunday - 2 p.m.

SCHEDULE EXCEPTIONS: There are no 1 p.m. performances on Tuesday, July 21 or Wednesday, July 22, and there is no 1 p.m. or 6 p.m. performance on Thursday, July 23. Additionally, there is no 10:30 a.m. performances on Tuesday, July 28.

(There are no free tickets available for the Opening Night benefit performance on Tuesday, July 28, although tickets for this performance can be purchased by calling 212-647-1100 ext 126.)

Summer camps, youth programs and social service organizations can make reservations for groups of ten (10) or more by calling 212-627-7373.

Each day, a limited number of free tickets will be made available to individuals at the Lucille Lortel Theatre on a first-come, first-served basis. Distribution will begin one hour prior to each performance, with a limit of four (4) tickets per person.

Because Theatreworks USA accepts reservations from summer camps, public distribution tickets are extremely limited for the weekday daytime performances. Availability is usually better for evening and weekend performances. Once all tickets are distributed, any remaining patrons will be admitted at curtain time on a space-available basis.

For more information, please visit www.twusa.org.

Theatreworks USA is America's largest and most prolific professional not-for-profit theatre for young and family audiences. Since 1961, Theatreworks USA has enlightened, entertained and instructed over 85 million people in 49 states and Canada, now performing for about three million people annually.

Every year, the company tours approximately 16 shows from its ever-growing repertoire of 125 plays and musicals. In addition, Theatreworks USA also has an extensive multi-cultural guest artist roster, including storytellers, puppeteers, poets and magicians.

Theatreworks USA is also one of the most honored theatres of its kind. It is the only children's theatre to receive both a Drama Desk and a Lucille Lortel Award. In addition, Theatreworks USA was the recipient of a 2001 Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Award, and in May 2000, The Actors Fund of America bestowed its Medal of Honor upon its founders, Jay Harnick and Charles Hull.

Theatreworks USA's Free Summer Theatre Program is entirely underwritten by charitable contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations. This year Theatreworks USA is pleased to partner with Free Summer Theatre Committee members Michelle Humphrey (Chair), Amie Carey and Adam Richman, as well as Actors' Equity Association, The Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and the Writers Guild of America.

The activities of Theatreworks USA, including the Free Summer Theatre Program, are made possible with the generous support of AXA Foundation, Con Edison, James T. Lee Foundation, Henry and Lucy Moses Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, New York City Department for Cultural Affairs, New York State Council on the Arts, The Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation Inc., Charles and Mildred Schnurmacher Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, The Jean L. and Robert A. Stern Foundation, The Abram and Ray Kaplan Foundation and other benefactors.