Griffin Theatre Company Set for Musical Adaptation of THE STINKY CHEESE MAN on 3/12

Chicago's Griffin Theatre Company turns classic fairy tales inside out for the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center Presenting Series season's final family show: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. William Massolia adapted the play from the book by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith. With a host of wacky characters and silly songs, the production offers an 11 a.m. and a 2 p.m. matinee onSaturday, March 12 on the Patricia George Decio Theatre stage. All tickets are $10 and available online at performingarts.nd.edu.

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales is based on an award-winning 1992 book of the same name. It features Jack, of "beanstalk" fame, who is trying to use his wits to escape the terrible Giant. But the little red hen, the princess, the wolf and a host of familiar fairy tale characters keep messing up his plan-and then there's that annoying Stinky Cheese Man! The show runs approximately 60 minutes with no intermission and is recommended for ages five and up.

William Massolia is a founding member of the Griffin Theatre Company. He is the author of over 30 plays and adaptations including, Be More Chill, Little Brother, Stardust, Loving Little Egypt, Shakespeare's Dog, Ash Can Alley, and The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales. Massolia is a 7-time Joseph Jefferson Award nominee for his work as a playwright. A graduate of Southern Illinois University, Mr. Massolia is a past member of the League of Chicago Theatres Board of Directors, a recipient of an IAC Playwriting Fellowship Award and currently sits on the theatre advisory panel for the Illinois Arts Council.

Author Jon Scieszka is the National Ambassador for Children's Literature emeritus and the bestselling author of more than 25 books for kids, including Math Curse, Robot Zot!, and the Time Warp Trio series. Lane Smith has written and illustrated numerous books. Most recently Grandpa Green, which was a 2012 Caldecott Honor book, and It's a Book which was on the New York Times bestseller list for over six months and has been translated into over 20 languages.

The Stinky Cheese Man is generously supported by the Art + Soul of Notre Dame Endowment for Excellence in Education.

Tickets are $10 for children of all ages and adults. Children, regardless of age, are required to have a ticket to enter the venue. For additional information on this performance, visit: performingarts.nd.edu.

Since opening in September 2004, the University of Notre Dame's DeBartolo Performing Arts Center has become an integral part of the University's vision and commitment to becoming a preeminent research university. It is the University's leading presenter of world-class artistic programming, one with an institutional focus on contemporary works. As an academic space, the center enhances the scholarship, teaching and practice of the performing and cinematic arts. As a community space, the center welcomes more than 100,000 patrons annually, including thousands of K-12 students in education and related artistic programs. Presenting Series and Browning Cinema programs are curated to increase the center's capacity to educate, enlighten and engage.

Additional support for the Presenting Series provided by media sponsor WSBT-TV; visiting artist accommodations by The Morris Inn, program printing underwriting by Express Press Inc., WNIT Public Television, and Grass Roots Media.

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