The Boy Who Loved Monsters & the Girl Who Loved Peas Plays Final Performance on 10/20

Central Texas' most well-known children's theatre company, Pollyanna Theatre in Strategic Alliance with the Long Center, presents The Boy Who Loved Monsters and the Girl Who Loved Peas by well-known playwright Jonathan Graham at the Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 West Riverside, Austin, TX 78704. The show runs from October 12 - 20 with multiple show times, and two 'pay what you like' parties with the cast.

This delightful new play is appropriate for family audiences ages 5 and up. It explores important themes and life lessons surrounding family, imagination, loyalty and togetherness. Graham explains, "I think the play is really about creating a space for collaborative and imaginative play in our busy, fragmented world. This need is particularly important for young children and their parents, but I don't think it stops there. Many of us, whatever our ages, are so plugged into digital devices that we fixate on things that are literal and immediately available. I'm concerned about what that does to our sense of discovery and those things that we can create only by connecting with others."

Judy Matetzschk-Campbell PhD, founder and artistic director of Pollyanna Theatre Company remarks, "I was immediately attracted to Jonathan Graham's play because of the playful nature of the play's action. Evan is a little boy that is very 'average', but he is living in a world that suddenly is anything BUT normal and average. When wishes that are spoken aloud start to come true, Evan finds that his whole world is turned upside down. He finds that what he thought he wanted might not be what is best for him or for anyone he loves. It is a powerful lesson and it is taught through a highly theatrical story with highly theatrical characters. That is exactly the kind of world that Pollyanna loves to create."

The cast includes professional actors David Higgins, Gricelda Silva, Bethany Harbaugh, Robert Burkhalter and Aaron Alexander.

In The Boy Who Loved Monsters and the Girl Who Loved Peas, audiences will follow the story of Evan, who, like many 7 year olds, does not like to clean his plate filled with peas. To make matters worse, his baby sister Sue loves them. When forced to remain at the table until his plate is clean, Evan makes a wish for a monster to come eat his family. Soon Evan and Sue find themselves trying to hide a six foot tall green monster named Pea from their parents. Among the laughs, Evan finds that although his parents discipline him, protecting those he loves is his goal. Pea teaches Evan and the whole family many things including the importance of playing together and keeping imaginations alive.

In addition to public performances, The Boy Who Loved Monsters and the Girl Who Loved Peas is also available for schools throughout Central Texas. Call (512) 743-7966 for more information. As with all Pollyanna productions, accompanying multi-disciplinary curricula and professional development tools are also available free of charge for teachers and parents.

ABOUT POLLYANNA THEATRE COMPANY: The founders of Pollyanna Theatre Company believe that theatre is a powerful teaching tool that speaks to people of all ages in a unique and powerful way through a variety of visual, aural, and emotional languages. Therefore, theatre should be a part of all general education from pre-kindergarten through adulthood. Toward that end, The Pollyanna Theatre Company strives to work alongside educators to inspire, motivate, and teach audiences of all ages. Although the company's primary focus is upon young audience members, the ensemble performs top quality theatrical productions that speak to and illuminate the human spirit and condition for all ages. www.pollyannatheatrecompany.org

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT: Jonathan Graham

Jonathan Graham is an award-winning writer based in Richmond, Indiana. His plays have received dozens of productions in the U.S., Canada and England and are published by Playscripts and Heartland Plays. Jonathan earned an M.F.A. from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He serves as Creative Director in the Marketing and Communications Office at Earlham College.

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