FANCY NANCY, THE MUSICAL to Return to the Chance This Spring

Due to overwhelming demand, Chance Theater is delighted to present an encore presentation of Fancy Nancy, The Musical as part of its second Theater for Young Audiences Series. Performances will begin May 6 and continue through May 22 on the Cripe Stage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center. Tickets: $20.00 - $25.00. Call (714) 777-3033 or visit www.ChanceTheater.com.

Based on the popular Fancy Nancy book series by Jane O'Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser, this delightful new show follows Fancy Nancy and her friends Bree, Rhonda, Wanda, and Lionel as they prepare to perform in their very first show -- "Deep Sea Dances." Nancy is positive (that's fancy for "100 percent sure"), that she and Bree will be picked to be mermaids. When another girl wins the coveted role, Nancy is stuck playing a dreary, dull tree. Can Nancy bring fancy flair to her role, even though it isn't the one she wanted?

The Fancy Nancy book series has been a star in the children's literature world since its first book in 2005. That book, titled simply Fancy Nancy, spent nearly 100 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List and launched a series of more than 70 other adventures about the plucky young heroine who likes to be fancy in all aspects of her life. Overall, the books in the Fancy Nancy series have spent 330 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List, been translated into over 20 languages, and sold over 29 million copies.

In 2012, the Vital Theatre Company produced Fancy Nancy, The Musical Off-Broadway. The show is based on Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet, featuring original songs by Susan DiLallo and Danny Abosch, who also co-wrote the script.

After the Chance's sold-out run of the Orange County premiere last spring, Chance Theater is excited to bring Nancy and her friends back to the Cripe Stage for more tea parties, dance recitals and life lessons. A delight for the whole family, as children of all ages learn to deal with both joy and disappointment along with Nancy.

On March 27, 2015, it was announced that Disney Junior will be producing an animated Fancy Nancy television movie, followed by an animated series, targeted to premiere in 2018. Disney Junior chief Nancy Kanter said in Variety, "We are very eager to give [Fancy Nancy] an even bigger stage on which to perform."

Tea Parties with Nancy & Friends (and Fancy Nancy illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser) - Join us for an exclusive TEA PARTY in our Fancy Nancy-bedecked studio with Nancy, Bree, and hosted by Fancy Nancy illustrator, Robin Preiss Glasser. Party & Show Tickets include a reserved seat to the performance and lavish spread (which is fancy for tasty tea sandwiches and divine desserts)! Choice of pink lemonade, strawberry milk or fruity punch (and for our adult guests... enjoy champagne mimosas)! Do come dressed in what makes you feel most exquisite, such as your best tiara, opera gloves, boas, butterfly wings, ballerina tutu, fairy princess gown or all of them ("More is better!" as Fancy Nancy says)! Original artwork and giclee prints from the books will be on sale with all proceeds used to support Chance Theater. Join Robin Preiss Glasser and the entire cast on any of the following dates: May 7th at 2pm, May 8th at 11am, May 14th at 11am & 2pm, May 15th at 11am or May 21st at 11am & 2pm.

"Relaxed Performance" on Saturday, May 14 at 11am - Continuing the initiative that started with the inaugural Theater for Young Audiences Series, the Chance will be presenting a special "relaxed performance" on May 14. This special performance is specifically designed to welcome people that will benefit from a more relaxed environment, including people with an Autism Spectrum Condition, sensory and communication disorders, or a learning disability.

Meet the Creative Team:

Susan DiLallo (Book & Lyrics) is a recipient of the coveted Kleban Foundation Award, given annually to "the most promising librettist in musical theater," as well as a 2008 Jonathan Larson Award. She wrote book and lyrics to an original comedy, Once Upon a Time in New Jersey, which won a Richard Rodgers Award, given by the American Academy of Arts & Letters (Stephen Sondheim, Chairman), as well as The Global Search for New Musicals Competition, Cardiff 2005. It has had several regional and international productions. Other credits include: book and lyrics for the Mattel/Clear Channel production of Barbie Live! In Fairytopia (based on the best-selling DVD); lyrics for That's Life (Outer Critics Circle nominee); book and lyrics for Pinocchio, a Family Musical About Adoption (winner, KIDDSTUFF New Play Competition, 2003); and the librettos for Hear Our Song (Harmony Entertainment Group) and Iron Curtain (2006 NYC Innovative Theater Award, Best Production of a Musical), which was selected to be part of the 2008 O'Neill Music Theater Conference. She is currently working on the libretto for the Broadway-bound A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Susan has taught classes in creative writing (for children) and presentation techniques (for adults). She has worked as a dramaturg and editor for several playwrights and authors, was a humor columnist for The Rye (New York) Record, and has won various Clios, Effies and Andys for her work in advertising.

Danny Abosch (Music & Lyrics) is a composer/lyricist whose musicals include Fancy Nancy, The Musical (Off-Broadway 2012-2014, National Tour 2013-2015, Cast Recording available on Ghostlight Records), Placebo (winner of the 2012 PMTP Development Award, fully produced workshop at the Pasadena Playhouse directed by Ryan Scott Oliver, additional workshops at the University of Michigan, Oklahoma City University, Emerson College, and Pace University), Off The Wall (First Prize winner of NMI's 2014 Search for New Musicals, upcoming workshop and concert in Los Angeles), and Miles & Me (2014 workshop at the Musical Theatre Factory in NYC). Originally from Deerfield, IL, Danny is a graduate of the University of Michigan (B.M. in Music Education), and of NYU's M.F.A. Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. Danny studied musical theatre writing as one of twelve participants in the Johnny Mercer Songwriter's Project at Northwestern University, where he worked closely with Broadway composers Lin-Manuel Miranda and Craig Carnelia. Three of Danny's songs have been chosen by William Finn for his concert series "Songs By Ridiculously Talented Composers and Lyricists You Probably Don't Know, But Should". Danny's music has been featured on the TV shows "Dance Moms" and "Last Call With Carson Daly" as well as in the films "Waiting in the Wings" and "Missed Connections". His songs have been performed in many concert venues, including Joe's Pub and 54 Below. Danny lives in New York City and is currently working on two new musicals. www.dannyabosch.com

Kelly Todd (Director) is a Chance Theater Resident Artist and has worked on multiple productions, garnering acclaim for herself and the theater. Prior credits include Closer Than Ever (Los Angeles Times Critic's Choice), Cabaret (Back Stage Critic's Pick), The World Goes 'Round, Into The Woods (Back Stage Critic's Pick), I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, Anne of Green Gables (later remounted at Heritage Forum), Evita, the professional premiere of Mark Holmann's The Girl, The Grouch and The Goat (two Garland Award nominations), HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical (six LADCC Award nominations, five Ovation Award nominations, including Best Choreography for both), Merrily We Roll Along (four Garland Award nominations), The Who's Tommy at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Jerry Springer: The Opera (Ovation Award winner - Best Musical, five Garland Awards, seven LADCC nominations, five additional Ovation Award nominations), West Side Story (LADCC Award winner, Los Angeles Times Critic's Choice, Back Stage Critic's Pick), Triassic Parq - The Musical (Ovation Award winner - Best Musical, plus ten additional nominations, including Best Choreography), Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Los Angeles Times Critic's Choice, Ovation Recommended), Lysistrata Jones (Ovation Award winner - Best Choreography for Kelly, and two additional nominations), In The Heights (Ovation Recommended), Fancy Nancy, the musical (being remounted by popular demand this year), and Hairspray (Sage Award winner - Best Choreography for Kelly and Christopher Albrecht). Kelly has also directed, choreographed and performed in musicals in Los Angeles and New York, including The Light in the Piazza, Ivy and Bean, The Musical, and Absurd Person Singular at South Coast Repertory, and two world premieres: Keep Movin' On, featuring the music of Sam Cooke, and What's Going On, featuring the music of Marvin Gaye.

The rest of the production team for Fancy Nancy, The Musical includes resident artist Robyn Manion as musical director (In The Heights), scenic designer Megan Hill (The Stinky Cheese Man), lighting designer Jon Hyrkas (Fancy Nancy, The Musical), costume designer Christina Perez (Dogfight), and sound designer Joshue Cardenas (Fancy Nancy, The Musical).

The performers for Fancy Nancy, The Musical include returning cast members Jillian Batt (Alice in Wonderland) and Felicia Fairley, as well as returning Chance artists Amy Bolton (Anne of Green Gables), Monika Pena (Hairspray) and Andrew Puente (Dogfight). Megan Maxwell will be making her Chance debut with this production.

The Executive Producer for this production is Robert Berman, who previously executive produced last season's OC premiere of Fancy Nancy, The Musical. The producers for Chance Theater's 2016 Season are Bette & Wylie Aitken.

Proud to be one of the leading ensemble-driven theatre companies in Southern California, CHANCE THEATER has won five Ovation Awards (including two for Best Production of a Musical--Intimate Theater for Triassic Parq -- The Musical and Jerry Springer: The Opera). The Chance also received an LADCC Award for its reimagined revival of West Side Story. The Anaheim City Council recently named Chance Theater "the official resident theater company of Anaheim". Twice named "Outstanding Arts Organization" by Arts Orange County, Chance Theater is also a recipient of the LADCC's Polly Warfield Award for Excellence. Founded in 1999, Chance Theater is focused on its goal of being Orange County's premiere mid-size contemporary theater by contributing to a more compassionate, connected, and creative community. As a constituent member of Theatre Communications Group, Network of Ensemble Theaters, and the LA Stage Alliance, Chance Theater continues to bring national attention to the Southern California and Orange County theater scenes.

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