WOB Children's Theatre Announces Upcoming Productions

The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre launched its Children Theatre in 1996 with an original production of Sleeping Beauty. Since that first production, it has become one of the most popular family entertainment destinations in the region. To this day, the Way Off Broadway Children’s Theatre is the only children’s lunch matinee offered in the area.

Way Off Broadway has always been at the forefront of family entertainment offering musical stage adaptations of popular fairytales and children’s stories. From Rapunzel to the Aladdin, Cinderella to Jack and his beanstalk, some of the most famous storybook characters have come to life on the Way Off Broadway stage.

When the holidays roll around, the Children’s Theatre’s Christmas show becomes one of the hottest tickets in town, usually selling out far before Santa Claus actually arrives. One of the Children’s Theatre’s most successful productions was the world premiere staging of Robert Barry’s Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree in 2005. Until that time, the only entertainment group to obtain the rights to adapt Barry’s story into a live action version was Jim Henson’s Muppets.

As the years go on and times change, so do the interest of children. While some fairytales such as Cinderella and Sleep Beauty will never be forgotten and always be family favorites, a new wave of children’s characters have emerged and are now making their ways to the stage.

Recognizing the change in interests and wanting to continue to be a leader in entertaining children and introducing them to live theatre, starting in 2011, Way Off Broadway began to make some changes to its Children’s Theatre programming. The 2011 Children’s theatre Season opened with Disney’s 101 Dalmatians, the first Disney show to be presented at the theatre. That was followed in the fall by the sold out run of Dora the Explorer Live! Dora’s Pirate Adventure. Both were regional premieres and both filled the theatre for each performance. The 2012 Season will see names just a popular when Pinkalicious, Flat Stanley, and Winnie the Pooh all appear at Way off Broadway.

The season kicks off in January with Pinkalicious – The Musical. Following in the spring and early summer will be The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley. Then one of the most beloved characters of all times makes his home at Way Off Broadway for the fall, when a just released stage adaptation of Disney’s Winnie the Pooh arrives at the theatre. The holidays will then see a brand new Christmas show added to the Children’s Theatre collection to round out the season.

PINKALICIOUS – THE MUSICAL
January 21 – March 31, 2012
This is the tale, based on the popular book by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann, of Pinkalicious, who can't stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor's office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe - a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of this pink predicament.

THE MUSICAL ADVENTURES OF FLAT STANLEY
April 14 – July 14, 2012
Stanley Lambchop is your ordinary, everyday, run-of-the-mill ten-year-old: normal mom and dad, normal little brother, normal life. That's just the problem...for Stanley, life is too normal. He wants to travel the world, do something amazing, something no one's ever seen before. Careful what you wish for, Stanley.

DISNEY’S WINNIE THE POOH
August 4 – October 28, 2012
Welcome to the Hundred Acre Wood, where Winnie the Pooh is once again in search of honey. Along the way, he meets his pals Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit and Owl, but soon discovers that Christopher Robin has been captured by the Backson! As they prepare for a rescue operation, the animals learn about teamwork, friendship, and sharing snacks! Based on the beloved characters of A.A. Milne and the 2011 Disney animated feature film, Way Off Broadway is excited to have Pooh and all his friends be a part of the 2012 Children's Season!

A Brand New Christmas Show
November 10 – December 29, 2012
It's time for a brand new Christmas show to be added to The Children's Theatre collection. The elves are already hard at work on the script, so we will be announcing the show very, very soon!

“The 2012 Season is going to be the biggest year ever for the Children’s Theatre,” says Bill Kiska, Way Off Broadway’s Executive Producer. “After seeing the enormous success of Disney’s 101 Dalmatians and Dora the Explore, we knew we had to continue bringing new, exciting shows to the Children’s Theatre. That is exactly what we’re doing next season.”

Not only has the Children’s Theatre at Way Off Broadway become a popular entertainment destination for families looking for a fun weekend activity, it has also become a great spot for birthday parties and school trips during the week.

Children’s Theatre performances are every Saturday afternoon and the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month, as well as select added weekday performances throughout the year. Tickets are $17 per person with birthday party packages also available.

To learn about all of Way Off Broadway’s productions, visit the theatre’s website at www.wayoffbroadway.com or call the Box Office at (301) 662-6600.

The Children’s Theatre is part of The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre, a leader in the region’s performing arts community since it first opened in 1995. Under the direction of the Kiska Family since 2002, Way Off Broadway has produced such productions as A Funny Thing . . . Forum, Guys & Dolls, Steel Magnolias, Oklahoma!, Grease, Fiddler on the Roof, The Odd Couple, A Chorus Line, Lend Me a Tenor, The Sound of Music, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Evita, Cats, The Full Monty, South Pacific, and Hairspray, South Pacific, and Chicago, as well as the regional and/or area premieres of Neil Simon’s The Goodbye Girl - The Musical, Jerry Herman’s La Cage aux Folles, the musical comedy The Wedding Singer, Mel Brooks’ The Producers, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, and The Drowsy Chaperone. Located along Route 40 West, the Golden Mile in Frederick, the theatre also produces a one-of-a-kind children’s lunch theatre, as well as a number of special events throughout the year. www.wayoffbroadway.com