the young company Summer Festival Takes the Stage at Stoneham Theatre

The Summer Festival, August 10-20, 2017, is the culmination of 5 weeks of preparation by young company students and their professional Directors, Music Directors, Choreographers, Stage Managers, and Design Team. Performed by actors in grades 4-12, the young company Summer Festival includes 6 fully staged productions: family friendly Doctor Dolittle Jr., upbeat and classic High School Musical, and the quintessential Broadway musical Guys and Dolls. Our high school students continue the fun with the dazzling and ingenious Peter and the Starcatcher, hilarious toe-tapping The Drowsy Chaperone, and the powerful and political Cabaret.

Love knows no species in the heartwarming world-wide adventure Dr. Dolittle, Jr.! Joan Dolittle is a wacky, but kind, doctor who hasn't had the most success treating humans. With a natural skill of learning animal languages, Dr. Dolittle becomes one of the greatest animal doctors around. Her journey takes the audience to the far corners of the world in search of the Great Pink Sea Snail and any animal, or human, she can help along the way. Directed by Daniel Begin, Music Direction by Laura Baronet, Choreography by Autumn Blazon Brown, and Stage Managed by Caitlyn Burns. Book, Music and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. Based on the Doctor Dolittle stories by Hugh Lofting and The Twentieth Century Fox film.

Disney Channel's smash hit movie musical comes to life on stage in High School Musical. The students of East High are used to the status quo: the jocks play sports, the braniacs study for the scholastic decathlons, and the thespians perform in the school plays. However, when new student Gabriella arrives, the status quo is shaken up as the students attempt to be honest with what they love and try new things in the face of adversity and peer pressure. Will everything go back to exactly how it was or will East High be changed for the better forever? Directed and Co-Choreographed by Bernie Baldassaro, Music Direction by Greg Daigle, Co-Choreographed by Liana Percoco, and Stage Managed by Isabelle Miller. Book by David Simpatico, songs by Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil; Ray Cham, Greg Cham, and AnDrew Seeley; Randy Petersen and Kevin Quinn; Andy Dodd and Adam Watts; Bryan Louiselle; David N. Lawrence and Faye Greenberg, and Jamie Houston. Music adapted, arranged, and produced by Bryan Louiselle. Based on a Disney Channel Original Movie Written by Peter Barsocchini.

Saints and sinners press their luck in the classic musical comedy Guys and Dolls, featuring crowd pleasing songs like "Adelaide's Lament" and "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat." Guys and Dolls takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City in an attempt to get everyone right where they belong. Directed and Choreographed by Ceit Zweil, Assistant Directed by Devin Bean, Music Direction by Nate Shaffer, and Stage Managed by Sarah Bendell. Based on a Story and Characters by Damon Runyon, Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser, and Book by Jo Sweling and Abe Burrows.

A lonely orphan boy becomes Peter Pan in the ingenious and imaginative play Peter and the Starcatcher. From marauding pirates and jungle tyrants to unwilling comrades and unlikely heroes, Peter and the Starcatcher playfully explores friendship, duty, bravery, and what it means to grow up. Co-Directed by Dori Robinson & Samantha Richert, Music Direction by Jakob Michaels, and Stage Managed by Lindsey Moran. A Play by Rick Elice, based on the Novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, Music by Wayne Barker. Originally produced on Broadway by Nancy Nagel Gibbs, Greg Schaffert, Eva Price, Tom Smedes, and Disney Theatrical Productions.

The hilarious toe-tapping musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, brings us back to the golden age of Broadway. With the houselights down, two people in chairs appear on stage and put on their favorite record: the cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical. The recording comes to life and The Drowsy Chaperone begins! Mix in two lovers on the eve of their wedding, a bumbling best man, a desperate theatre producer, a not-so-bright hostess, two gangsters posing as pastry chefs, a misguided Don Juan and an intoxicated chaperone, and you have the ingredients for an evening of madcap delight. Directed by Sarah Gazdowicz, Music Direction by Bethany Aiken, Choreography by Sydney Grant, and Stage Managed by Cesara Walters. Music and Lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and Book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. Original Broadway production of The Drowsy Chaperone produced by Kevin McCollum, Roy Miller, Bob Boyett, Stephanie McClelland, Barbara Feritag and Jill Furman.

Theatre meets world politics in the thrilling musical Cabaret. Lights go up in a Berlin nightclub, as the 1920's draw to a close. The Emcee bids you, the audience, a fond welcome and assures you that you will forget all your troubles. Cabaret explores the dark and tumultuous impact as Germany slowly yields to the emerging Third Reich. Musical numbers include "Willkommen," "Maybe This Time," "Don't Tell Mama" and "Mein Herr." Directed and Choreographed by Sarah Elizabeth Bedard, Assistant Directed and Assistant Choreographed by Sarai Warsoff, Music Direction by Lea Peterson, and Stage Managed by Casey Roland. Book by Joe Masteroff, based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood. Music by John Kander and Lyrics by Fred Ebb.

Performances:

Guys and Dolls-Thursday, August 10th at 7pm; Saturday, August 12th at 7pm; and Sunday, August 13th at 7pm. Guys and Dolls is recommended for all ages.

Doctor Dolittle, Jr.-Friday, August 11th at 12pm; Saturday, August 12th at 12pm; and Sunday, August 13th at 12pm. Doctor Dolittle, Jr. is recommended for all ages.

High School Musical-Friday, August 11th at 7pm; Saturday, August 12th at 3pm; and Sunday, August 13th at 3pm. High School Musical is recommended for all ages.

Peter and the Starcatcher-Thursday, August 17th at 7:30pm; Saturday, August 19th at 4pm; and Sunday, August 20th at 12pm. Peter and the Starcatcher is recommended for all ages.

The Drowsy Chaperone-Friday, August 18th at 4pm; Saturday, August 19th at 12pm; and Sunday, August 20th at 7:30pm. The Drowsy Chaperone is recommended for ages 13 and up.

Cabaret-Friday, August 18th at 7:30pm; Saturday, August 19th at 7:30pm; and Sunday, August 20th at 4pm. Cabaret is recommended for ages 13 and up.

Tickets are $15. For more information, call Stoneham Theatre's Box Office at (781) 279-2200, or visit www.stonehamtheatre.org.

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About Stoneham Theatre:

Now in its 18th season of live theatre in Stoneham, MA, the mission of Stoneham Theatre is to keep the art of professional theatre and dramatic education thriving in the suburbs. Each season, we produce seven

Mainstage shows, present a series of Special Events, and run year-round classes, lessons, and fully staged productions through the young company for students in grades 1-12.

About the young company:

the young company at Stoneham Theatre helps the next generation become better artists, better audience members, and better people through dramatic education. the young company offers diverse year-round programs for students in grades 1-12 taught in a professional theatre environment. Through artistic training and performance opportunities, the young company at Stoneham Theatre develops life skills such as confidence, self-discipline, and collaboration to inspire and prepare young actors for future creative engagement and success. the young company lives by the idea that GOOD THEATRE MAKES GOOD PEOPLE.