MSMT Announces Three Children's Musicals For Upcoming Season

Maine State Music Theatre (MSMT) will present three children's musicals during its 2009 season. Prior seasons have included two musicals under the title Theatre for Young Audiences, but due to the enormous popularity of the children's shows MSMT is expanding its kid friendly entertainment to three titles for 2009.

Scheduled shows are "A Year With Frog and Toad," presented on Monday, June 8th; "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," presented on Friday, June 12th; and "Schoolhouse Rock Live!" presented on Wednesday, August 19th. Individual tickets are available as of Wednesday, April 29th at 10am by calling (207) 725-8769 or by visiting www.msmt.org. Group rates are also available for summer camps, school groups and other youth organizations with an interest in the performing arts. Ticket prices range from $7 - $11. For group rates, contact the MSMT Box Office. All MSMT performances are at the historic Pickard Theater on the campus of Bowdoin College.

Arnold Lobel's well-loved characters come to life in the musical "A Year With Frog and Toad." Conceived by Mr. Lobel's daughter, Adrianne Lobel, the musical remains true to the spirit of the original stories as it follows two great friends, the cheerful and popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad, through four fun-filled seasons. Waking from hibernation in the spring, they proceed to plant gardens and go sledding, learning life lessons along the way, including a most important one about friendship and rejoicing in the attributes that make each of us different and special. Showing Monday, June 8th only, performances are at 10am and 1pm.

Presented by Theatreworks USA in conjunction with MSMT's Theatre for Young Audiences, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is an enchanting musical is based on C.S. Lewis' famous adventure story about four children of war-torn England, who accidentally enter the land of Narnia by climbing through a magic wardrobe. This strange and wondrous place is ruled by the cold-hearTed White Witch, who makes the winter last year round. Although they seem unlikely saviors, the children fulfill an ancient prophesy by defeating the witch, thus restoring sunshine and peace to the spell-bound Narnia and retuning the great Lion King Aslan to his throne. Showing Friday, June 12th only, performances are at 10am, 1pm and 3pm. This production is sponsored by Downeast Energy and Building Supply.

"Schoolhouse Rock Live!" is pop culture phenomenon returning to the MSMT stage. The Emmy Award-winning 1970s Saturday morning cartoon series that taught history, grammar, math, science and politics through clever, tuneful songs is not only making a small-screen comeback, instructing a whole new generation to "Unpack Your Adjectives" and "Do The Circulation," it's lighting up stages everywhere, including MSMT and all around the country. Showing Wednesday, August 19th only, performances are at 11am and 2pm. This production is sponsored by TD Banknorth.

Photo: Carol Rosegg