Geffen Playhouse Announces 2009-10 Family 'Saturday Scene' Schedule, Performances Begin 10/3

From noble crayons to musical pirates, the Geffen Playhouse ushers in its 2009-2010 family programming with a wide range of productions that provide an interactive alternative to Saturday morning cartoons. Geared to introduce children ages two and older to the magical world of theater and music, the 2009/2010 season is written and produced by some of the top artists in children's entertainment and boasts winners of the Parents' Choice Award and the ArtsReach Award.

"With computers and other electronic gadgets that often isolate kids in a virtual world, spending time together as a family can be hard - and we think Saturday Scene is the perfect antidote," says Geffen Playhouse Director of Education Debra Pasquerette. "These productions inspire children to connect with the performers and with each other, to use their imagination, and often, to learn something without even knowing it!"

Saturday Scene performances are on select Saturday mornings at 11:00 a.m on the Geffen Playhouse's main stage and are followed by complimentary snacks donated by Gelson's Market. Tickets for individual shows are $15 (children 18 months and younger are admitted free of charge) and subscriptions (which package four or more shows) begin at $48. All tickets for Saturday Scene can be purchased through the Geffen Playhouse box office and online at geffenplayhouse.com.

The 09/10 Saturday Scene season, which is sponsored by Gelson's Market and Kids Off the Couch, includes:

SAT, OCT 3 at 11:00am
Ooooogy Green and Other Fables (recommended for ages 3 and up)
This colorful tale from Celebration Theater takes The caterpillar Ooooogy Green on an imaginative journey. Ooooogy Green is afraid to be different, but with the help of puppets, music and timeless fables, his friends teach him that the differences in all of us are what makes the world exciting.

SAT, OCT 10 at 11:00am
Crayon Court (recommended for ages 3 and up)
This large scale puppet extravaganza envelopes the audience into the world of color, art and music as the children are encouraged to participate, discover and learn in a whole new way.

SAT, OCT 17 at 11:00am
Cymbeline the Puppet King (recommended for ages 5 and up)
The Actors' Gang re-imagines Shakespeare's Cymbeline for a younger audience. With an oafish stepson, a docile king, a villainous queen and a young heroine, this age-old tale is a family-friendly introduction into the exciting world of Shakespeare.

SAT, OCT 21 at 11:00am
Ferdinand the Bull (recommended for ages 5 and up)
Based on the acclaimed children's book of the same name, Childsplay Theater introduces children to Ferdinand, the unusual bull who prefers picking flowers to fighting, and to Danilo, a young nobleman whose father has big dreams for him as a matador. The story unfolds when these two reluctant fighters meet in the bullring.

SAT, NOV 28 at 11:00am
Tom Sawyer (recommended for ages 5 and up)
Mark Twain wrote of his most famous story, "Most of the adventures recorded in this book really occurred; one or two were experiences of my own, the rest those of boys who were schoolmates of mine." What flows from this, along the great banks of the Mississippi, is one of the greatest adventures in all literature that comes to life on stage with Will and Company, making the exploits of the young lad, Tom Sawyer, a delight to parent and child alike.

SAT, DEC 5 at 11:00am
Shushybye Dream Band (recommended for ages 2 and up)
Shushybye is sleep-themed entertainment for toddlers and preschoolers, but don't be fooled by their drowsy theme. The Shushybye Dream Band features award-winning - and highly contagious - original songs, which are all professionally composed rock tunes designed to encourage children to look forward to nighty-night time.

SAT, DEC 12 and MAY 22 at 11:00am
Story Pirates (recommended for ages 4 and up)
The Story Pirates are a boisterous gang who adapt and perform stories written by kids as a way of celebrating the words and ideas of young people. Their concept promotes literacy as a vital part of early childhood education and preserves the spark of youthful creativity often lost in the transition to adulthood. And audiences won't be disappointed by that creativity - these shows are about as funny as it gets.

SAT, FEB 13 at 11:00am
Jambo Watoto: Tales and Rhythms of Africa (recommend for ages 5 and up)
Jambo Watoto is a loving homage to the rich and wonderful cultures of Africa featuring stories and traditional rhythms. By inspiring creativity, strengthening cultural pride and encouraging tolerance, this Box Tales production engages young people in the excitement and immediacy of live performance.

SAT, MARCH 6 at 11:00am
Storm Drain to Paradise (recommended for ages 5 and up)
Through a blend of music and theater, Lynn Jefferies and the Ditty Bops tell the story of little Maroo, a girl who falls down a storm drain into a magical world of garbage islands, talking animals and flying plastic boats.

SAT, MARCH 13 at 11:00am
Waters of the Earth: Multicultural Tales of the Sea (recommended for ages 5 and up)
Waters of the Earth explores the rich folklore and mythology of seafaring peoples from all over the globe. Box Tales Theatre Company uses storytelling, music, masks and movement to present world myths and folktales to audiences of all ages.

SAT, APRIL 24 at 11:00am
A Midsummer Night's Dream (recommended for ages 5 and up)
This retelling of Shakespeare's beloved story of wonder in the woods features Will and Company's signature audience participation as the audience follows the pixies, the acting troupe and the lovers through the magical summer night.

SAT, MAY 1 at 11:00am
Artichoke: 26 Animals - (recommended for ages 3 and up)
In this audience participation crowd-pleaser, children are encouraged join in with Artichoke and the gang as they sing songs about animals - one for every letter of the alphabet.

SAT, MAY 8 at 11:00am
Jambo (recommended for ages 3 and up)
Jambo is a musical journey that transports the audience through the roots of American music. One part Mississippi Delta, one part New Orleans street corner, and one part Chicago juke joint, Jambo is all parts fun with songs that promote self-esteem, independence, and celebrate individuality. And, of course, some are just about dancing and having a good time.

The Geffen's Stage for Any Age education and outreach programs seek to make the cultural resources of the Geffen Playhouse available to all of Los Angeles' diverse communities. The wide range of programs focuses on serving populations in need from ages 3 to100 through programs such as Saturday Scene, School Tours, Student Matinees and the theater's award-winning CREATE program.

For more information, visit www.geffenplayhouse.com.