THE SECRET GARDEN and 13 THE MUSICAL Set for Bijou Theatre's SUMMER ARTS thru 7/27

Where has SUMMER ARTS, the Summer Theater Program that has taken Bridgeport by storm, gone? For those of you who arrange your schedules around their shows or have postponed your vacations in order to see their shows for the past eight summers, the incredibleSUMMER ARTS has moved from the Downtown Cabaret after eight years and is now about to start their first season at their beautiful new home, The Bijou Theatre!

Program and Artistic Director Tobi Beth Silver along with her professional staff and program kids, have been beaming with joy since the decision was made to become part of the wonderful new theater. "We are so blessed not only to be a part of the Bijou, but to work with an incredible team headed up by Christine Donahue and Kathy Reynolds.The warm welcome we have received is the same warm welcome each and every theater patron receives as they walk through the doors of the Bijou Theatre. We could not be happier!"

The Bijou has already made some wonderful physical changes to accommodate the program and subsequent programs and performances looking to rent space at the theater. As a removable option, the stage has been expanded to the second row of the theater, additional electrics have been added to accommodate more stage lighting and a full rehearsal space has been added to the second floor along with our new offices! These changes will not only benefit our program but are there for anyone who would like to rent the space.

Ms. Silver has also become the Artistic Director of The Bijou Theatre where she and SUMMER ARTSMusical Director Tom Cuffari have produced A Little Princess the Musical, music by Andrew Lippa, One Enchanted Evening, a night with Rodgers and Hammerstein and along with their collaborator Maureen Lucier, they have been thrilling children of all ages every Saturday for the past three months with The Princess Place and Eugenia...a Princess Story, all conceived and written by Silver. "These three shows were a joy to work on and bring to the Bijou stage. Our audience response was thrilling, we're ready to give them more!" A full concert series is being planned for the 2013-2014 season as well as The Princess Place Christmas Time Special opening this fall! Also being planned for early October is aMusical Theatre Audition Preparatory Intensive for those juniors and seniors in high school beginning the process of auditioning for college theater programs. Guest artists from some of the top musical theater programs in the country will be present to answer parent and students questions in a panel like presentation, as well as a two day seminar of instruction and coaching in acting, dance and voice given by professionals in the industry.

"Our talent pool was so incredible and our group so enthusiastic, we are doing two shows this summer!"All Program Kids will be in both shows. Opening July 18th and running for four performances, The Secret Garden Broadways' most beautiful score by Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman, tells the story of a lost little girl who comes to find herself and her home by bringing life back to her aunt's garden. Going up on July 25th, 13 The Musical by Jason Robert Brown, which takes us on a 13 year old boys journey to find out who he is and ultimately, what really matters. Both shows will be directed by Tobi Beth Silver, musically directed by Tom Cuffari and choreographed this summer by Broadway choreographer and performer Michael Mindlin (Broadways Bring It On, Mama Mia, 9-5, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and about to open in Disney's Aladdin at the New Amsterdam theater this fall).

The Summer Arts at The Bijou Theatre opened for it's five week theater training and rehearsals on Monday June 24th and inclusive of their two shows runs through July 27th.

For information on tickets contact the Bijou Theatre box office 203- 332 -3228.

The Secret Garden
Thursday Friday and Saturday at 8:00PM
Saturday also at 3:00PM

13 The Musical
Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8:00PM
Saturday also at 3:00PM

The nation's oldest movie house reopened its box office in 2011 to bring performing arts back to center stage in historic Bridgeport. The Bijou Theatre, with its intimate 200-seat supper club atmosphere, curates live entertainment from all over the country and includes a sensational repertoire of music, theatre, comedy, art and film. For more information visit thebijoutheatre.com.

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