Beck Center Teen Theater to Stage THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, 2/21-3/2

Beck Center Teen Theater presents The Children's Hour in the Studio Theater February 21 - March 2, 2014. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. A special student matinee performance is 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 27. Seating in the intimate Studio Theater is limited and tickets are on sale now. Due to the sensitive subject matter of The Children's Hour, Beck Center has established a PG-13 rating for this piece.

The Children's Hour is a cautionary tale about two women who run a school for girls. After a malicious student starts a rumor about them, it soon turns to scandal. As the young girl comes to understand the power she wields, she sticks to her story, which results in tragedy. It is later discovered the gossip was pure invention, but irreparable damage has been done. This classic play is written by Lillian Hellman and directed by Beck Center's Associate Director of Theater Education Jonathan Kronenberger.

"Although written in 1934, there are many issues in the play that still exist in today's world," remarked Kronenberger. "With bullying and cyberbullying being so prevalent, this piece illustrates that society continues to struggle with these issues along with their repercussions." Kronenberger has cast 16 dedicated Beck Center students ages 12 to 17 who are up for the challenge in presenting its important message to audiences. "This piece is keeping with our dedication to quality material for our teen actors, as well as mirrors some of the risk-taking modeled by our professional theater."

Beck Center's Youth Theater program, considered the longest continually-running youth theater program in the country, is celebrating its 65th season. The Children's Hour, the third of four productions this season, will be followed by The Wizard of Oz, May 9-18, 2014.

Tickets are $10 for Children and $12 for Adults and may be purchased online at beckcenter.org or by calling 216.521.2540 x10. Beck Center is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood. Free onsite parking is available. This production of The Children's Hour is made possible by the generous support of Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and the Ohio Arts Council. The Children's Hour is presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York.

To celebrate the Youth Theater's 65th Anniversary Mitchell's Ice Cream is supplying a "Here's the Scoop" voucher, valid for a free scoop of ice cream, with each Youth Theater ticket sold this season.

Celebrating its 80th anniversary, Beck Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers professional theater on two stages, arts education programming in dance, music, theater, visual arts, early childhood, and creative arts therapies, and gallery exhibits featuring local, regional and International Artists. For more information about Beck Center, visit beckcenter.org.

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