Photo Flash: First Look at JUNIE B.'S ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL GUIDE TO SCHOOL, Opening Tonight Off-Broadway

This summer Theatreworks USA, the nation's leading not-for-profit professional theatre for young audiences, presents the Off-Broadway Premiere of Junie B.'s Essential Survival Guide to School. Performances began Wednesday July 20th at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, between Bleecker and Hudson Streets). The Annual Opening Night Benefit is tonight, July 27th (6:30 PM). This limited Off-Broadway engagement will continue through August 19th. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Now that JUNIE B. JONES has been going to school for over one-and-a-half years, who better to write the book on EVERYTHING you need to know? From bus rules to band-aids, carpools to cookies, Junie B. and friends deliver the definitive word on surviving and thriving in style. With a jillion tips, tricks and trip-ups, Junie B. shares her hard-won expertise and shows us all how school is sometimes scary, sometimes super-fun, and ALWAYS something to sing about! An all-new musical adventure based on Barbara Park's popular book, is having its Off-Broadway Premiere.

The cast, directed by Peter Flynn with choreography by Devanand Janki, features Sara Glancy (as May), Whit K. Lee (as Herb), Junior Mendez (as Sheldon), Brandi Porter (as Lucille), and Kristin Stokes (as Junie B). Junie B.'s Essential Survival Guide to School has book & lyrics by Marcy Heisler and music & vocal arrangements by Zina Goldrich. The production features scenic design by Luke Hegel-Cantarella, costume design by Lora LaVon, lighting design by Grant W. S. Yeager, and sound design by Laura Brauner.

Junie B.'s Essential Survival Guide to School is a 60-minute, one-act musical recommended for children ages 5 and up. Performances will be Monday through Friday at 10:30am and 1pm; Sundays at 11:00am and 2:00pm; no performances on Saturdays. Additional performances are scheduled for Thursday August 4 and Thursday August 18 at 6pm.

Thanks to the generosity of corporations, foundations, and donors, Theatreworks USA will be able to send over 12,000 underserved youth to the theatre for FREE! Tickets for Junie B.'s Essential Survival Guide to School are FREE and are available on a first-come, first-served basis in-person at the Lucille Lortel Theatre Box Office (121 Christopher Street) on the day of the performance. Tickets for each day's performances will be distributed beginning one hour prior to the first performance of the day. There is a limit of four (4) tickets per adult per day. Individual tickets are extremely limited for the weekday daytime performances. Educational and not-for-profit groups can make reservations by calling 212/627-7373.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Daniel