Theatre For Young America Announces 2009-2010 Season of Plays At H&R Block City Stage

Theatre for Young America proudly announces its 2009-2010 season of plays to be presented on the H&R Block City Stage, located on the lower level in Union Station at 30 W. Pershing Road, Kansas City, Missouri.

The Theatre for Young America 2009-2010 season play descriptions and dates are as follows:

Goodnight Moon
October 13 through October 31, 2009
Chad Henry's delightful musical adaptation of the classic bedtime story by Margaret Wise Brown adds a larger plot to the simple storyline. The bunny is a four-year old with a loose tooth. The Old Lady, perhaps his grandmother, tries to put him to bed. But his room is a pandemonium of toys, stories, bears, and tooth fairies. Bunny's vivid imagination and energy for playing, and of course, his wiggling tooth, make it impossible to go to sleep. Once the bears have helped yank the tooth, and the Old
Lady has made her tea; Bunny once more tries to sleep. But first he must say goodnight to all his toys, the room itself, and of course, the moon.

The Toughest Kid in the World
November 10 through November 18, 2009
This play dramatizes the adventures of TK, a modern youngster dealing with real problems of anger, conflict and violence. TK defines "tough" for himself and learns to reject violence. The Toughest Kid in the World was created to enrich the Expressions course in the curriculum for sixth graders in Kansas City, Kansas's public schools. A special Outreach Workshop entitled Exploring Conflict Resolution Through Drama was developed to enhance the appreciation of the play's themes. The workshop is available to book in tandem or independently of the production.

Madeline's Christmas
December 1 through December 26, 2009
It's the winter season, and none of the girls can go home for the holidays because they are all sick with flu. Madeline has to care for everyone including Miss Clavel. A mysterious rug merchant comes to the door with twelve very special rugs. The next morning everyone feels better and the students are able to fly home for a holiday treat. They return on New Year's Eve for a reunion with Miss Clavel and all thank Madeline for their great trip. Madeline's Christmas has book and lyrics by Jennifer Kirby and music by Shirley Mier. Ludwig Bemelman's Madeline series of books is the basis for this musical.

Nate the Great
February 2 through February 20, 2010
Pamela Sterling, former Coterie Artistic Director, has adapted this comic mystery from the famous Nate the Great series of books by award-winning writer Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. With jazz music in the background, and in the style of the 1940's film noir movies and early TV detective shows, Nate, with trenchcoat, Sherlock Holmes hat, his trusty dog Sludge, and his friend Rosamond use their brains and problem-solving skills to find all the answers to children's most pressing questions. Nate and his companions also learn, quite by happenstance, a little science along the way.

Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business
March 2 through April 16, 2010
Barbara Park's wildly popular Junie B. Jones character comes to life onstage in this musical adaptation of the book Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business. Junie finds out from her parents that she is getting a present. She is so excited until she finds out it is a "P. U." baby brother! At first jealous, when she hears that her new baby brother is "cute as a monkey", she gets the school kids to give her their snack treats and other gifts in exchange for a peek at the monkey! Songs and words are by Joan Cushing, the same playwright who adapted TYA's Miss Nelson series of musicals.

The Monarchs of KC
April 20 through May 15, 2010
Just in time for baseball fever, The Monarchs of KC brings to vivid life the essential story and some of the most interesting characters from the era of the Negro Leagues in America. Set in the locker room of the abandoned stadium where the Monarchs once played, this musical production raises the ghosts of great baseball players of the Negro Leagues to play one last great contest to conquer the supposed supremacy of the all-white Major Leagues. An all-star dream team, managed by Rube Foster, includes John Jordan, "Buck" O'Neil, Leroy Satchel" Page, James "Cool Papa" Bell, Wilbur "Bullet" Rogan, Josh Gibson, Jackie Robinson, and Toni Stone, a female player who held her own in the largely male world of professional baseball. Kansas City legend, Danny Cox wrote the music which features such songs as "Baseball is a Working Man's Game", "Everybody Gets Three Strikes", and "I Dreamed I Was in the Majors".

Robin Hood
June 15 through July 3, 2010
In the wilderness of Sherwood Forest lurks a band of "merry men" who lie in wait for wealthy men to pass. Once fallen upon by this band, the rich are robbed of their possessions. Led by Robin Hood, the robbers see no profit from their bounty. Instead they distribute it among the poor. The corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham, who is responsible for taxing and oppressing the poor beyond measure, vows Robin Hood and his gang, must be stopped! But the valiant and fun-loving Robin Hood with his band of do-good robbers proves too clever for the Sheriff. Favorite and familiar characters inhabit this adventure-filled production: the bold Little John, the lovely Maid Marian, and the reckless Friar Tuck. Playgoers will enjoy seeing the archery, medieval costumes, games, and the customs of long-ago England as they experience this triumph of good over evil.

Theatre for Young America will also offer the following touring shows in 2009 and 2010:

Goodnight Moon
A touring version of the main stage show is available for local and regional tours in March and April of 2010.

Dramatic History with Danny Cox
Singer/Songwriter Danny Cox puts his unique musical and dramatic stamp on topics of African and African-American history. This show is available to tour from September 2009 through May of 2010.

Triple Play One
A local tour favorite for pre-school and early grade-school children, Triple Play One is a musical show of favorite stories of threes such as: The Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, and The Three Little Kittens. Tour times are March and April 2010 in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Triple Play Two
Presenting more stories of threes for the younger set in March and April of 2010, this musical show tells the stories of The Three Billy Goats, The Three Sillies and others.

For information about Theatre for Young America's tour shows, please contact Vickie Little at 816.460.2083.

Main Stage Shows Ticket Information
Season tickets: Calling Theatre for Young America at 816.460.2083 may reserve season tickets for our main stage shows. Patrons who order season tickets by August 1, 2009 receive a $5.00 per person per season ticket price. Regular Season Tickets are $6.00 per person per show.

Single Tickets: Single tickets may be reserved online at www.unionstation.org or www.tya.org or by calling 816.460.2020 or 816.460.2083. The single ticket price is $8.00.

Groups: Groups of 15 or more are $5.00 per person with a reservation. Organizations calling 816.460.2020 or 816.460.2083 may make group reservations.