THE LITTLE BIRD THAT WAS CAUGHT, THE RELUCTANT DRAGON and More Set for SteppingStone's 2013-14 Season

Coming off of a very successful 25th Anniversary Season, which had record-breaking ticket sales and new versions of SteppingStone Theatre¹s most popular and exciting plays, SteppingStone Theatre will be continuing that momentum into the new season with ground-breaking new productions, including four SteppingStone Theatre Originals.

The centerpiece of our 26th season is a thrilling first for SteppingStone Theatre. SteppingStone has a long tradition of commissioning professional playwrights to create works for the young actors, but they have never invited young writers to take the mantle of playwright for themselves--until now!

Starting more than a year ago, SteppingStone Theatre has been bringing together a group of young Twin Cities writers, aged 15­19 to Saint Paul to talk, laugh and improvise about their own experiences of bullying. And to add to the excitement, a group of teens from Action Transport Theatre in Ellesmere Port, England have been doing the same thing! Throughout the process, the teens from both sides of the Atlantic have been communicating via Skype and Facebook to talk about bullying. The result is Bully, a brand new play written collaboratively by these talented young artists.

After Bully is produced at SteppingStone Theatre, the British teens' version will be produced at their theatre in Northern England. This amazing cohort of teen writers has created a funny, moving and informative play about bullying and responses to it, from the perspective of those most closely affected by it.

Three other SteppingStone originals will be re-imagined into new productions, The Little Bird That Was Caught: The Story of Jane Gibbs, The Black Snowman and The Nightingale. The Reluctant Dragon will be the perfect family outing for Summer of 2014. And of course the perennial favorite, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever! will be back again for the 22nd time!

In this Season, SteppingStone Theatre will be celebrating their great history and their tradition of productions that bring out the creativity of the young actors, the professional artists who work with them, and the imagination of the audience. The 2013-2014 Season is sure to delight and entertain audience members of all ages.

The Little Bird That Was Caught, The Story of Jane Gibbs
Tonight, October 18 ­- November 3, 2013
By Jenna Zark, Music by Eugene Huddleston.
A SteppingStone Theatre Original
Before Laura Ingalls Wilder, there was Jane DeBow Gibbs ­ Minnesota's First
Pioneer Girl.

A series of misunderstandings brings the orphaned Jane to Minnesota and a family that didn't want her. To escape the troubles at home, young Jane forged friendships with the Mdewakanton Dakota, learned their language, and soon enough the "Little Bird that was Caught" became an ambassador between cultures and families.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
December 6-23, 2013
by Barbara Robinson, based on her popular book.

"Shazaaaam!" When the Angel of the Lord speaks, people listen! Especially when that angel is Gladys Herdman, the youngest, meanest and bitey-est of the whole Herdman crew. The first play that SteppingStone Theatre produced is back again for the 22nd time! Revel in yuletide chaos and hilarity as baby angels, church ladies, firefighters, the Bradleys, and even the Herdmans, discover the true meaning of Christmas in a re-imagined, funny and touching production. (Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.)

The Black Snowman
January 31-February 23, 2014
Script and Lyrics by Deborah Torraine, Music by Gary Rue. Based on the book
by Phil Mendez.
A SteppingStone Theatre Original.

Jacob and his brother build a snowman from the grimy snow of city streets. When they place the kente a colorful storytelling cloth from Africa ­ around its shoulders, the snowman magically comes to life. African drumming and dance provide an authentic backdrop for this Black History Month celebration of family, self, and heritage. Produced in loving memory of the playwright.

Bully: A Transatlantic Collaboration
March 7-23, 2014
By the Young Playwrights of SteppingStone Theatre and Action Transport
Theatre,
with Dane Stauffer and Kevin Dyer
A SteppingStone Theatre Original World-Premiere.

Bullying is something that everyone's witnessed--from one side or another. When SteppingStone Theatre decided to create a Young Playwrights program, the questions we asked the participants were "What is bullying?" and "Can it be stopped?" After more than a year of improvisation, writing and workshops, we are proud to present Bully. The play was created by six young Twin Cities playwrights aged 15­19, and six more from Action Transport Theatre in Ellesmere Port, England. The result is a rich, funny and moving exploration of bullying from the perspective of those closest to it. Bully is an experience not to be missed.

The Nightingale
April 25-May 10, 2014
From Hans Christian Andersen's The Nightingale. By Randy Sue Latimer. Music
by Gary Rue.
A SteppingStone Theatre Original.

The latest and greatest gadget is no substitute for true friendship! Hans Christian Andersen's beloved story shows us how we can lose track of what's really important when we chase after the latest and greatest shiny objects. There is no sound more beautiful to the Emperor than the song of his beloved Nightingale. That is, until he is given a wind-up version that takes the glorious bird's exalted perch! The poor Nightingale is left sad and alone. But when the Emperor falls ill, the mechanical friend cannot cheer him up, and only the real thing can help.

The Reluctant Dragon
July 12-August 3, 2014
Based on the story by Kenneth Grahame. Adapted by Steven C. Anderson.
Music by Dana P. Rowe. Lyrics by John Dempsey.

Not all dragons are scary, and not all heroes are violent. A boy who "reads too much" encounters a dragon who is most "undragony." The boy overcomes his prejudices about dragons when he discovers that this one would rather write poetry than fight and breathe fire. Their secret friendship flourishes until St. George, the famous dragon slayer, comes to town. This adaptation is rich with harmony and musical whimsy. Children and adults alike thrill to this show's comic antics and unforgettable melodies.

Tickets for all performances are available at www.steppingstonetheatre.org or call the box office at 651-225-9265.

Ticket Prices:

Youth and Seniors, Ages 2-17 and Ages 55 and up
$12.00 per person
Adults, Ages 18-54
$15.00 per person
Groups of 20-99, any ages
$7.50 per person
Groups of 100+, any ages
$6.50 per person

SteppingStone Theatre's productions are professionally created and produced, with talents drawn from the best in the Twin Cities and throughout the U.S. The young actors are rigorously trained, but remain fresh and vibrant, bringing their joy and sense of fun to all SteppingStone Theatre's productions. Enjoyed by all ages, adults as well as children, SteppingStone Theatre's productions are affordable, high-quality entertainment.

All performances are in SteppingStone Theatre's new home, a beautifully renovated 100-year-old architectural gem located at 55 Victoria Street North, one block north of Summit Avenue in the Historic Hill District of St. Paul. Performances are appropriate for all ages.

SteppingStone Theatre is fully-accessible to persons with disabilities, and has regularly-scheduled ASL & Audio Described performances. Interpreters can be scheduled for other performances at no additional cost upon request.

Performance dates, times, prices and tickets are available at (651) 225-9265 or www.steppingstonetheatre.org.