The Klemperers' New Clothes-Kids' Musical Premieres in Gables

The winning musical of Actors' Playhouse 11th Annual National Children's Theatre Festival is The Klemperers' New Clothes with music by Norman Weiss and written by William Squier. The new children's work will be featured at the theatre's Festival Family Fun Weekend at the Miracle Theatre Saturday and Sunday March 25 and 26 and will play at the Miracle Theatre through April 29 every Saturday at 2 pm. The Festival weekend will host multicultural events for children as well as hands on interactive activities, character brunches, acting workshops, and more. The authors of the new musical will be on hand to meet and greet the audience.
 
Actors' Playhouse production marks the professional world premiere of The Klemperers' New Clothes a "homespun tale" loosely based on the original story The Emperor's New Clothes by Hans Christian Anderson. This new version finds traveling salesman Millard E. Calhoot helping his brother, underappreciated town tailor Willard Mutz, convince the haughty town matriarch Edna Klemperer that she should wear their Fantabulous Frock which is "invisible to fools"! She agrees, and you won't believe what she's a wearin' for the town Promenade!  The heartwarming musical story builds trust, faith, and examples of appreciation of self worth for young people.
 
Norman Weiss, the composer for The Klemperers' New Clothes is currently the Assistant Conductor for Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera, lists among his credits as Music Director and/or keyboardist:  Nine, Little Shop Of Horrors, Doug Henning's Wonderful World of Magic, The Fantasticks, Square One, Philemon (revival), Colette Collage (also conducting the cast recording) and Six Wives. William Squier's musical theatre collaborations have been seen in productions throughout the Northeast, the Midwest and at Florida's Walt Disney World. In addition to winning several new script awards, Squier wrote the book and lyrics for The Klemperers' New Clothes.

"Our children's theatre festival is the only event of this kind in the region, and through this festival, and our ongoing Musical Theatre for Young Audiences program, Actors' Playhouse is committed to bringing the highest caliber of live professional theatre to our community," said Barbra Stein, Executive Producing Director. "Our program has for 11 years enhanced the educational and cultural enrichment of the hundreds of thousands of children who have participated."  Our national call to competition for new children's works attracts script submissions from all over the country," says Children's Theatre Director Earl Maulding. "We're thrilled to foster the development of new works by talented writers and composers while presenting our own community with fresh new world premiere productions."
 
On Saturday March 25 the festival will begin with a complimentary character pancake breakfast provided by IHOP at 10 am, a magic show and story time with Books and Books. Performances of The Klemperers' New Clothes will be at 11am and 2 pm on Saturday. Also appearing Saturday will be the acapella boys group Capellapop! The Hip Hop Kidz, and the musical sensation group the GEMZ. On Sunday, the festival opens with an IHOP pancake character breakfast at 1pm and a performance of The Klemperers' New Clothes at 2pm. On both days, children will enjoy hands on interactive cultural experiences, performances by the talented Actors' Playhouse Musical Miracles performing youth group performing songs from the musical Wicked. Special activities include acting and make-up classes and the Coral Gables antique fire truck (Saturday only), interactive arts & craft tables, face painting and balloon art. Also scheduled to appear are the Jr. Orange Bowl Royal Court and the characters Puss-in-Boots, Cinderella, Tigger, Piglet and Winnie-the-Pooh, and musical stylings by Eliza Berse.

Tickets for The Klemperers' New Clothes and the Festival Family Days are available through the box office at 305-444-9293, Ticketmaster, or online at www.actorsplayhouse.org . Admission for the Festival Family Days, Saturday and Sunday March 25 and 26 is $15 for an all day pass. Tickets for Saturday 2 pm performances from April 1-29 are $12 a person with group rates for birthday parties of 15 people or more.  Performances for school groups are held weekdays at 10 am for pre-arranged bookings through our education department.

The Award-Winning Musical Theatre For Young Audiences will present the WORLD PREMIERE musical NO DOGS ALLOWED! June 15-July 29, Saturdays at 2pm at the Miracle Theatre. The Musical Play, NO DOGS ALLOWED! is written by Sonia Manzano with music by Stephen Lawrence and lyrics by Billy Aaronson. The authors will be in town for the premiere opening on Saturday, June 17. Sonia Manzano, has endeared the world as "Maria" on Sesame Street for 22 years. Her book tops the Dade County Public Schools reading list.