Westport Country Playhouse Kicks Off 2013-14 Family Festivities Series Today

Westport Country Playhouse announces its 2013-14 Family Festivities Series beginning in the fall, featuring musicals based on children's classic stories, including "Madeline and the Bad Hat," and an adaptation of Broadway's "Seussical," as well as daredevil acrobatics, magic, puppetry, and glowing electroluminescent creatures.

There will be a free-of-charge Family Festivities Kick-off Party today, November 10, 1 to 4 p.m., featuring games and activities for kids as well as information about the upcoming performances and one-day-only special ticket offers for the Family Festivities Series.

Family Festivities shows are presented on selected Sundays from November through March, at 1 and 4 p.m. Tickets are $20. Family Festivities Partners are Meredith and David Bukzin, Galia Gichon and Adam Clemens, and Darlene Krenz.

"We're thrilled to announce our 2013-14 season of theater for young audiences, with six shows representing the best of children's theater from across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico," said Angela Marroy Boerger, director of education and community programs. "These shows draw on both classic and new works of literature combined with the imaginative materials of the theater to bring stories to life. We can't wait to introduce our youngest audience members to the wondrous world of theater in this new season.

"We also aim to encourage reading and strengthen literacy in our region as a whole by partnering with local Connecticut non-profit Read to Grow, which works to provide access to books to underserved children and to promote literacy from birth," she noted.

Opening the 2013-14 series will be "Madeline and the Bad Hat," on Sunday, November 17, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. The original musical based upon the classic book captures the blithe yet

touching spirit of Ludwig Bemelmans's "Madeline" series. It traces the adventures of a young Parisian girl who, despite starting off on the wrong foot with a mischievous new neighbor, eventually learns that first impressions aren't everything. Produced by ArtsPower, the show is recommended for grades K - 2.

"Circo Comedia" will dazzle audiences just in time for the holidays, on Sunday, December 15, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Following in the tradition of the Quebec Circus, Jean Saucier, master equilibrist, juggler, trick cyclist, acrobat, and magician, performs his feats from dizzying heights, while Patrick Côté, burlesque clown, expert roller skater, and drummer, innocently tries his best to be the (imperfect) assistant. Recommended for ages 4 and up.

In "Dino-Light, on Sunday, January 18, at 1 and 4 p.m., glowing electroluminescent creatures will light up the darkness in a heart-rending original tale. The cutting-edge blend of puppetry, technology, and dance is produced by CORBIAN Visual Arts and Dance, in collaboration with Lightwire Theater, recommended for ages 7 and up.

"Sleeping Beauty Dreams," on Sunday, February 9, at 1 and 4 p.m., reimagines the famous princess as an overprotected daughter looking for a way to break free of her castle walls in order to search for true love...and her true self. The contemporary take on the classic tale using hand-crafted puppets is a U.S. premiere, co-commissioned with the Kennedy Center and Marionetas de la Esquina, and is recommended for ages 5 and up.

"Diary of a Worm, a Spider, and a Fly," on Sunday, March 9, at 1 and 4 p.m., is a coming-of-age musical based on the bestselling books. Worrying Worm, Fearless Fly, and Sassy Spider find that it's not easy being a bug, especially on the first day of school, until every creature finds its special talent. Produced by Omaha Theater Company, the show is recommended for ages 4 and up.

"Seussical," on Sunday, March 23, at 1 and 4 p.m., is adapted from the Broadway musical about Dr. Seuss' stories. Hosted by The Cat in the Hat, the cast features Horton, the elephant; JoJo, the young son of the Mayor of Who-Ville; Miss Gertrude McFuzz, the one-feathered bird; and Lazy Maysie La Bird. Dr. Seuss' beloved characters find themselves intertwined in a crazy-quilt adventure, in which the power of imagination and a miraculous "think" saves the day. Produced by Theatreworks USA, "Seussical" is recommended for grades K - 5.

In conjunction with the Family Festivities Series, The Playhouse will once again host a book collection for Read to Grow, Inc., a statewide nonprofit organization that helps parents take an active role in their children's literacy development by providing free children's books to families with limited access and to community resources that serve them. At each Family Festivities performance, bins will be located in The Playhouse lobby for donations of gently used and new children's books which will be given to families and programs in the greater Fairfield County area through Read to Grow. During last season's Family Festivities series, The Playhouse collected nearly 300 books.

Everyone in the audience requires a ticket. For more information or tickets, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Tickets are available online 24/7 at www.westportplayhouse.org. Stay connected to The Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), view Playhouse videos on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse) or get an insider's peek on The Playhouse Blog (www.theplayhouseblog.org).

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