Previews Begin for FRECKLFACE STAWBERRY at NWS, 9/9

FRECKLEFACE STRAWBERRY, a musical based on the children's books by JuliAnne Moore, will open Off-Broadway at New World Stages on October 4, the New York Times reports.  Previews will begin on September 9.  Moore tells the Times, "It's really exciting and fun, and kind of amazing [and] given my history as a performer, super-weird to be in this other position."

Of the story, based on a nickname that she was given at age seven, Moore said, "Of course, you grow up and you go, ‘What's so bad about that?' The message in the book is that the little girl grows up and her freckles don't go away. I didn't want it to be a fairytale. We all have things about ourselves that aren't our favorites, but in the grand scheme of things, it's the last thing that's important."

FRECKLEFACE STRAWBERRY will be directed by Buddy Crutchfield and choreographed by Gail Pennington Crutchfield.  As previously reported on BroadwayWorld, the show has been workshopped with both children and adults; the off-Broadway cast will feature adults, although the cast has yet to be reported.  The musical's book is by Rose Caiola and Gary Kupper; Kupper also wrote the music and lyrics. 

"Everybody should enjoy it, but remember that Freckleface Strawberry is 7 years old," says Moore. "That's the character, so I wanted to make sure that in the jokes and the humor, we stay within that, because that's the charm."

"This show is truly breathtaking," said Caiola. "It reaches out to everyone - children and adults alike. Everyone has faced some type of prejudice in their childhood whether it had to do with race, religion or the clothes they choose to wear. The music and choreography bring FRECKLEFACE to life."

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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