Coterie Theatre Presents LUCKY DUCK 6/22-8/8

A homely songbird seeks success as a superstar swan. Imagine American Idol with a zany animal characters and song contests and it's Lucky Duck, a new musical at the Coterie Theatre in Crown Center June 22 to August 8.

A modern twist on the Ugly Duckling, the story centers on songbird Serena who is viewed as an odd duck by her family. She runs away from the barnyard mockery to seek her special destiny-success as a supermodel swan-and tries to see what beauty truly is. Audiences will enjoy Serena's journey from barnyard to New Duck City to the Quackerdome with star turn numbers including "Average, Simple Mega Superstar" and "Wipe the Egg Off Your Face" by the award-winning composer Henry Krieger (Dreamgirls; SideShow) with lyrics by Bill Russell (Sideshow; Pageant). Book is by Bill Russell and Jeffrey Hatcher (Tuesdays with Morrie; Ella) and directed by Jeff Church, Coterie producing artistic director. The creators of Lucky Duck will be in residence this summer at the Coterie during the rehearsal process.

"We aim to attract talent of the highest caliber to actively write for our audience," Church said. "With Lucky Duck, this is an important opportunity for us to again work with Broadway talent. In this case, we're thrilled to be working with Henry Krieger, Bill Russell and Jeffrey Hatcher.

"We've also assembled some of the most talented actors and designers in the city. Audiences will see respected musical theatre professionals at their best," he said. "Lucky Duck is really something that anyone who likes musical theatre will enjoy and appreciate - not just the kids."

Lucky Duck is the last of three productions in the Coterie's Family Series this season. It is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Missouri Arts Council (MAC), the William T. Kemper Foundation and the ArtsKC Fund.

LUCKY DUCK AND THE COTERIE LAB FOR NEW FAMILY MUSICALS
Krieger, Russell and co-book writer Jeffrey Hatcher first had Lucky Duck in mind for an adult audience, with its initial production at Theatreworks in Palo Alto (then called Everything's Ducky) and eventually at The Old Globe. The creative team agreed with Church that a new version could become a very smart family audiences' piece with its fractured fairytale sensibility.

"As we've enjoyed much positive response to the show from audiences in the past, we look forward to working with the Coterie's Lab on a version that will reach new audiences," said Bill Russell.

Lucky Duck is the seventh new musical developed in the Coterie's Lab for New Family Musicals. "The Coterie's notable production of Seussical formalized the idea of bringing a different caliber of shows and writers to family musicals," Russell said. Previous musicals in the Coterie Lab include work by Harry Connick, Jr. (The Happy Elf), Stephen Schwartz (Geppetto & Son), Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Seussical, Twice Upon A Time and Once On This Island) and Willie and Robert Reale (The Dinosaur Musical).

"This program was created to help accomplished Broadway composers find a way into the field of professional theatre for young audiences, and at the same time create musicals in a size and scale that other professional theatres for young audiences can produce," Church said. Lucky Duck is presented through special arrangement by Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW) and in its new TYA form will be produced next at South Coast Repertory and Orlando Repertory Theatre.

This season, the Coterie received a prestigious $35,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the NEA's largest theatre award in the state, for the Coterie Lab for New Family Musicals (Lucky Duck and Life on the Mississippi).

ABOUT THE COMPANY
The talented cast features Izzie Baldwin, Sam Cordes, Jennie Greenberry, Seth Golay, Katie Karel, Greg Krumins, Kip Niven, Keenan Ramos, Tim Scott and Julie Shaw. Musicians are Daniel Doss (piano), Sam Wisman (percussion), Ry Kincaid (bass) and Keel Williams (reed).

The artistic and Production Company includes Jeff Church (director), Jessalyn Kincaid (assistant director), Anthony T. Edwards (music director), Ernie Nolan (choreographer), Daniel Doss (assistant music director), Ryan J. Zirngibl (set designer), Ron MeGee (properties designer), Georgianna Buchanan (costume designer), Jarrett Bertoncin (light designer), David Kiehl (sound designer), Amy M. Abels Owen (production stage manager), and Scott Hobart (technical director).

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The Coterie Theatre, now in its 31st Season and named "One of the Five Best Theaters for Young Audiences in the U.S." by TIME magazine, is located on level one of Crown Center Shops in Kansas City, Mo. Lucky Duck performs June 22 to August 8. For specific dates and times, visit www.coterietheatre.org.

Opening Night June 25 audiences are invited to a free post-performance reception with the director and cast. Free question and answer sessions about the show and "how it's done" will take place after the 2 p.m. performances June 26 and 27.

Individual tickets are $15 for adults; $10 for all children, students and seniors age 60 and up; $9 for season ticket holders. Group weekday tickets are $5.50; weekend group tickets are $6.50. TARGET Saturdays: Free ticket with purchase; restrictions apply; not available online. Tickets may be purchased online at www.coterietheatre.org, by calling the Coterie box office (816) 474-6552 or in person at the Coterie box office.

NOTABLE DATES
June 25, Opening Night: Free post-performance reception with director, creators and company.
June 26, 27, Q&A: Free post-performance question and answer sessions with the Company.
June 26, July 3, July 24, July 31 and August 8: Target Saturdays: Free ticket with purchase; restrictions apply; not available online.
July 10, Coterie Under the Stars, Lucky Duck Gala: Benefit featuring cocktails in the Lucky Lounge, dinner and musical excerpts from Lucky Duck. Details here
July 24: Interpreted performance in American Sign Language