TheatreWorks USA’s HENRY AND MUDGE Comes To Westport Country Playhouse 11/15
By: Gabrielle Sierra Oct. 16, 2009
Westport Country Playhouse's Family Festivities Series will present "Henry and Mudge," a musical about a boy and his dog based on the best-selling series of books by Cynthia Rylant, on Sunday, November 15, 1 and 4 p.m. Recommended for grades Pre-K through 3, the show is produced by Theatreworks USA.
When Henry moves to a new neighborhood, he can't find a playmate, but he's got a new friend in Mudge, a big, 182-pound puppy. Henry teaches his new buddy to sit, heel and shake his hand, but rolling over is one trick Henry just can't seem to teach Mudge, no matter how hard he tries. When Henry's cousin Annie comes for a visit, Mudge is so charmed by her that he finally rolls over at her command! Henry thinks Mudge must love Annie more than him, because the dog only does the trick for her. Very upset, Henry runs away into the cold dark woods, but Mudge follows the boy's scent into the forest and their adventures begin.
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 78 million people in 49 states and Canada.
Westport Country Playhouse, a not-for-profit theater, serves as a treasured home for the performing arts and is a cultural landmark for Connecticut. Under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos and management direction of Michael Ross, The Playhouse creates quality productions of new and classic plays that enlighten, enrich and engage a diverse community of theater lovers, artists and students. The Playhouse's rich history dates back to 1931, when New York theatre producer Lawrence Langner created a Broadway-quality stage within an 1830s tannery. The Playhouse quickly became an established stop on the New England "straw hat circuit" of summer stock theatres. Now celebrating its 79th season, Westport Country Playhouse has produced more than 700 plays, 36 of which later transferred to Broadway, most recently the world premiere of "Thurgood" and a revival of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" with Paul Newman, and in earlier years "Come Back, Little Sheba" with Shirley Booth, "The Trip to Bountiful" with Lillian Gish, and "Butterflies Are Free" with Keir Dullea and Blythe Danner. For its artistic excellence, The Playhouse received a 2005 Governor's Arts Award and a 2000 "Connecticut Treasure" recognition. It was also designated as an Official Project of Save America's Treasures by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is entered on the Connecticut State Register of Historic Places. Following a multi-million dollar renovation completed in 2005, The Playhouse transformed into a year-round, state-of-the-art producing theater, which has preserved its original charm and character. In addition to a full season of theatrical productions, The Playhouse serves as a community resource, presenting educational programming and workshops; a children's theater series; symposiums; music; films; and readings.
Tickets to Westport Country Playhouse's Family Festivities are $15 per ticket. Everyone in the audience requires a ticket. Groups of 10 or more save up to 30% off the regular ticket price. For group sales information call (203) 227-5137, x120.
For more information or to receive a Family Festivities brochure, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit the box office at 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport, or www.westportplayhouse.org.
Photo: Illustration from Henry & Mudge: The First Book by Cynthia Ryland- 1987. Used with permission from the Simon and Schuster Children's publishing division
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