Theatre Memphis Presents FRONT PORCH FAIRY TALES, 7/14-20

Front Porch Fairy Tales will be performed July 14 - 20 at Theatre Memphis, culminating the Summer Teen Performance Workshop for 2014. An original work by Theatre Memphis Director of Outreach and Education Leslie Barker, Front Porch Fairy Tales will be open to the public and will include musical introductions at each show from a variety of acts. Show times are 11:30 am on July 14 - 18, a second show at 7pm on July 18 and 2pm performances July 19 and 20, 2014. Admission is $5 per child and $8 per adult. Tickets may be purchased at the Theatre Memphis box office in advance and by calling 901.682.8323 or at the door. More information is available at www.theatrememphis.org.

Barker, who also directed the show, says that the experience is like listening to "... some Southern fried stories" and will be fun for children and adults to watch. The characters will be hanging out on a front porch, sipping some lemonade and sweet tea and spouting off some outlandish, distinctively Southern tales with characters such as Butter Bean, Britches, Crazy Ernie, and Black-Eyed Susan. Barker adds, "It's a whole mess of cornpone summer fun where daffodils giggle and catfish jump over the moon. And the stories are 100% Memphis-based."

Part of the unique experience of Front Porch Fairy Tales will be special lead-in music and for some shows a lead-in live musical act that will appeal to all ages. Currently scheduled acts are PRIZM who will perform chamber music on Friday night and the banjo/washboard vintage music group The Side Street Steppers will play Saturdayafternoon. Players pending confirmation on actual dates include the 11-year-old, guitar-wielding Davis Twins and a ukulele class performing some common favorites.

Theatre Memphis Executive Producer Debbie Litch feels that this type of offering is relevant to the outreach and education programs Theatre Memphis is involved in now. "It is about entertaining and teaching ... and collaboration with other arts groups and artists. This is such a unique opportunity for our Teen Workshop to perform this original work and for so many talented people to be showcased."

Theatre Memphis is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization located at 630 Perkins Extended (corner of Perkins Extended and Southern) and is a community theatre whose mission is to provide outstanding theatrical experiences to enrich the lives of our audiences and participants.