Snowlion Rep to Debut THE FREAKS CLUB, June 13

A girl with fish-scale skin, a boy who cannot touch, a friend who sees only shadows...The Freaks Club is the funny, touching new musical where "fish" turns to "dish," dreams become nightmares, and what is lost is the key to finding what really matters.

Snowlion Repertory Company, known for bringing new musicals to the Maine stage, announces the world premiere of The Freaks Club by Thomas Adams (co-book, music) and MK Wolfe (co-book, lyrics). The Freaks Club has been workshopped in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Stamford CT, and now the world premiere production is being staged at the Studio Theater at Portland Stage opening Friday June 14.

The Freaks Club tells the story of Anna, a girl with fish-scale skin who travels to a remote island community in search of a cure, humorously bonding with other "freaks" in the process - blind Cookie, emotionally damaged Jake, and incurable geek Skunk. After Anna's successful treatment (transforming her from "fish" to "dish"!) her dream-come-true turns into a nightmare, and Anna must discover a way back to her own true face. The story touches on important issues such as school bullying and teenage angst while telling an almost fable-like tale of loss and redemption. The script is funny, lively, and moving, and the score, played by a 3-piece band, artfully blends legit musical theater music with pop overtones.

Performances of The Freaks Club begin Thursday June 13 with a special open dress preview. The show opens Friday June 14 and runs through Sunday June 23. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8 pm, with Saturday and Sundaymatinees at 2 pm, for a total of 10 performances, closing on June 23.

Performances are at the Studio Theater at Portland Stage, 25A Forest Avenue, Portland. Tickets are $22 and $20 available at www.snowlionrep.org or by calling (207) 518-9305.

The show is directed by Al D'Andrea with musical direction by Kellie Moody. The cast features remarkable performances by Eileen Hanley, Laura Houck (member AEA), Alan Forrest McLucas, Autumn Pound, Benedetto Michael Robinson, Andrew Shepard, Margen Soliman, and Zachariah Stearn. Lighting design is by Matthew Cost, costume design by Desiray Roy, and set/prop coordination by Joseph Blough. The artwork, pictured below, is by New Jersey artist Narciso Espiritu.