Cast Set for SPOOKLEY THE SQUARE PUMPKIN at Stages Theatre Company

Join us as we welcome Spookley the Square Pumpkin and his friends to Stages Theatre Company!

Spookley the Square Pumpkin is teased by the other pumpkins because of his odd shape. His new friends - three hilarious spiders named Edgar, Allan and Poe - try to convince Spookley that square or not, he has a right to be the Pick of the Patch on Halloween. Spookley isn't sure he has what it takes until a mighty storm threatens to destroy the entire patch, sending the round pumpkins rolling towards the raging river.

"I am so excited to share this story with our audiences," states Stages Theatre Company's Cody R. Braudt, who directs this production. "We are bringing puppets to our main stage season like never before!"

Just in time for Halloween, Spookley - the "Official Spokes Pumpkin" for National Bullying Prevention Month as recognized by PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center - teaches us that sometimes being different can make all the difference in the world!

Along with the musical direction of James Lekatz, and puppet builders Joseph McGreevy and Gordon Smuder, this adorable tale is brought life before your eyes. It will remind us that it doesn't matter what you look like, we are all special and meaningful to each other.

The complete local cast is as follows: Alexandra Bragg (Coon Rapids), Lucy Daniels (Golden Valley), Sophie Farrell (Hopkins), David Gamache (Maple Grove), Carly Joseph (Maple Grove), Sophia Markstrom (Mound), Bridget Miller (Hopkins), Helena Moore (Chanhassen), Lindsay Odegaard (Hopkins), Matt Ouren (Minneapolis), Wes Quist (Excelsior), Mayah Tamfu (West St. Paul), and Anna Vinup (Maple Grove).

The creative team for Spookley the Square Pumpkin includes: Artistic Director - Sandy Boren-Barrett, Director - Cody R. Braudt, Puppet Builders - Joseph McGreevy and Gordon Smuder, Music Director - James Lekatz, Choreographer - Nikki Swoboda, Costume & Make-Up Designer - Lisa Mangone, Lighting Designer - Grant Merges, Sound Designer - Gretchen Katt, Props Designer - Jim Hibbeler, Set Designer - Erica Zaffarano, Production Manager - Melanie Salmon-Peterson, Stage Manager - Becca Buntjer

Spookley the Square Pumpkin opens Friday, September 30 and runs through Sunday, October 30, and is for all ages. Tickets are on sale now! Visit www.stagestheatre.org or the show page at www.stagestheatre.org/2016-2017-season/spookley-square-pumpkin for performance dates and times, or call the Box Office at (952) 979-1111, option 4, Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets are $16 for adults; $14 for seniors, ages 60+; $12 for children, ages 5 to 17.

Stages Theatre Company was founded in 1984 and since then has grown to become one of the largest professional theatres for young audiences in the country. We engage young artists with themes relevant to their lives and involve them in creating magical works featuring young people in meaningful roles. Through theatrical productions, workshops, conservatory classes and other outreach programs, Stages Theatre Company annually serves more than 145,000 young people and their families.

Spookley the Square Pumpkin was created by children's author and lyricist Joe Troiano when his young son, Nicholas, asked him for a bedtime story -- something not scary, something about pumpkins. Joe Troiano's bedtime story became "The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin," a top-selling book for 10+ years and the beginning of a series of stories, movies, songs, and stage shows about Spookley and his friends from Holiday Hill Farm. For more information visit www.holidayhillfarm.com.