Andrew Lippa, A LITTLE PRINCESS, AIDA Set for Fiddlehead Theatre's 2013-14 Season

Fiddlehead Theatre Company has announced its 2013-2014 season, the premiere season as Resident Theatre Company at Boston's Historic Strand Theatre (543 Columbia Road, Dorchester, MA). Fiddlehead Theatre Company has a 20-year history of presenting professional theatre and educational programming for the Boston area and is committed to producing theatre that uplifts while engaging audiences in current issues. The themes embodied in Fiddlehead's 2013-2014 season are well suited to the company's goal to "build community through the arts":

A Little Princess (*Boston premiere!)
November 21, 2013 - December 8, 2013

*Featuring a post-show talkback with composer Andrew Lippa on Friday, November 29th, Hosted by Jared Bowen: Emmy-winning reporter for WGBH TV and host of the weekly arts series, Open Studio with Jared Bowen

A beautiful story of heart and imagination in a multicultural world, A Little Princess is the perfect family outing for the holidays. Separated from her father and the open-hearted Africans who have helped him raise her, young Sara Crewe is sent to boarding school in London. When things go badly for her there, her imaginative powers come to the rescue - helping to transform a drab institution into a place of magic and mystery. As the girl wins the affection of the other boarders she draws the ire of Miss Minchin, the dour headmistress; Sara is made a servant to the institution when her father is reported dead, and his fortune seized. Sara counters all Miss Minchin's best efforts to degrade her with the grace and virtue of a little princess. Book and lyrics by Brian Crawley. Music by Andrew Lippa, and based on the 1905 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Tony-Award nominated composer Andrew Lippa will participate in a talkback on Friday, November 29th following the evening performance of A Little Princess.

Andrew Lippa wrote the music and words to the original theatrical oratorio I AM Harvey Milk that received its world premiere in San Francisco this past June with the San Francisco Gay Mens' Chorus starring Laura Benanti and Mr. Lippa as Harvey Milk. He also wrote the music and lyrics for the upcoming musical Big Fish which opens on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre in October, 2013. He wrote the Tony-nominated music and lyrics for the Broadway musical The Addams Family as well as the music for the Broadway production of Aaron Sorkin's play The Farnsworth Invention. Other musicals include the Drama Desk award winning musical The Wild Party (book/music/lyrics), A Little Princess(music), jon & jen (music/co-wrote book), Asphalt Beach (music/lyrics) and You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (additional music/lyrics and arrangements). Mr. Lippa was music director for Kristin Chenoweth sold-out shows at the Metropolitan Opera House, Carnegie Hall and others. Accolades include a Tony and Grammy nomination, the Gilman/Gonzalez-Falla Theater Foundation Award, ASCAP's Richard Rodgers/New Horizons Award, The Drama Desk and The Outer Critics Circle Award. Andrew Lippa is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

WGBH Executive Arts Editor Jared Bowen is an Emmy-winning reporter with WGBH-TV's nightly news magazine program, Greater Boston with Emily Rooney, and appears regularly on 89.7 WGBH, where he covers the latest happenings in Boston theater, art, music, dance, and film for Boston Public Radio and on WGBH's Morning Edition everyThursday. In February 2013, Jared debuted in his own weekly arts series, Open Studio with Jared Bowen, featuring a blend of local and national stories and profiles.

A Little Princess is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-541-4684; Fax:212-397-4684 www.MTIShows.com

Exclusive Boston-area production of Elton John and Tim Rice's AIDA
April 24, 2014 - May 11, 2014

A modern Romeo and Juliet story driven by a pop-rock score, AIDA transcends the vast cultural differences of warring nations to inspire peace. AIDA is the timeless tale of the bond between an enslaved Nubian princess and an Egyptian soldier. As forbidden love blossoms between them, the young lovers are forced to face death or part forever. Together, they set a shining example of true devotion that ultimately transcends the vast cultural differences between their warring nations, heralding a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity.

Music by Elton John. Lyrics by Tim Rice. Book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls and David Henry Hwang.

Elton John and Tim Rice's AIDA is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019 Phone: 212-541-4684; Fax: 212-397-4684 www.MTIShows.com

To reserve tickets for Fiddlehead Theatre Company's 2013-2014 season at The Strand Theatre, see www.fiddleheadtheatre.com or call 781-329-1901. The Strand Theatre is easily accessed via public transportation (MBTA) or by driving, and free on-street parking is available. For directions, see fiddleheadtheatre.com.

Fiddlehead Theatre Company is the resident theater company of the historic Strand Theater located in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Since its inception in 1993, Fiddlehead Theatre Company has been dedicated to producing professional theater experiences for the greater Boston community, and educating local youth in the theater arts through its Children's Theatre Division. Fiddlehead's partnership with the City of Boston designating the company as residents of the Strand Theatre has placed the IRNE award winning theater-company on the forefront of Boston's regional theater community. Named after the fantastical fiddlehead fern found in fairy-tales and symbolic of imagination, Fiddlehead Theatre Company is committed to producing theater that uplifts the spirit while engaging audiences in provocative social issues, motivating and energizing their audiences to renew their commitment to community, and instilling hope for a better tomorrow. Visit fiddleheadtheatre.com for information about upcoming shows, cast biographies and ticketing information. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/FiddleheadTheatreCompany and on Twitter @FiddleheadTheat.

Pictured: Andrew Lippa. Photo Credit: Walter McBride.

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