Adventure Theatre MTC Sets 2016-17 Season

Adventure Theatre MTC, the 2015 recipient of the TYA/USA Harold Oaks Award for significant contributions to the Theatre for Young Audiences field, is proud to announce its 65th Anniversary Season featuring five main stage productions with one world premiere musical. Additionally, 2016 marks the celebration of 10 years of Michael J. Bobbitt's leadership for Adventure Theatre MTC. This stand-out anniversary season offers a series of diverse family favorites brought to life for young audiences by award-winning directors and artists in the DC area and across the country.

The season commences with KNUFFLE BUNNY: A CAUTIONARY MUSICAL, based on Mo Willems' Caldecott Honor-winning children's book. Multiple Helen Hayes Award nominee and Charles MacArthur Award recipient, Nick Olcott (Three Little Birds, Garfield the Musical with Cattitude), directs the heartwarming story of a girl, her father, and last but never least her beloved stuffed animal.

ATMTC brings back one its signature shows this the holiday season, a two-person version of THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE based on the story by C.S. Lewis and directed by DC favorite, Tom Story. This imaginative and highly-theatrical version uses props, fantastic onstage talent, and creative staging to bring this classic to life.

ATMTC is thrilled to announce the world premiere of ELLA ENCHANTED: THE MUSICAL, a co-commission with First Stage of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the story portrays the transformation of a young girl's power and freedom. Helen Hayes Award recipient Mary Hall Surface is at the helm of this female-driven artistic team including playwright Karen Zacarias and composer Deborah Wicks La Puma

ALADDIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP, one of the most famous of the Arabian Nights stories, is brought to life through the mastery of Roberta Gasbarre (Helen Hayes Nominated The Red Balloon, Helen Hayes Nominated Goodnight Moon). This rags-to-riches love story of a young man making his way through the world with his wits and a little luck, will feature casting that celebrates diversity.

Finally, ATMTC brings to the stage the world's funniest, flawed kindergartener in JUNIE B. JONES IS NOT A CROOK, directed by Fulbright-Hays Grant recipient Colin Hovde and based on the book series by Barbara Park.

Adventure Theatre MTC's Artistic Director, Michael J. Bobbitt, says of the season, "I'm thrilled to be able to bring to the DC community so many stories that people have been dying for us to tell throughout the course of my 10 years with Adventure Theatre MTC, while solidifying our commitment to diversity and great art for young audiences. I cannot wait for our patrons to respond to these beloved classics."

For more information about Adventure Theatre MTC, call 301-634-2270 or visit www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org. Flexpass sales are currently open for the 2016-2017 season.