DIARY OF A WORM, A SPIDER AND A FLY Regional Premiere to Open at Stages Theatre, 1/18

Doreen Cronin's popular series of books featuring bugs come together in the regional premiere musical "Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly" starting Jan. 18 at Stages Theatre Company. Appropriate for all ages, this hilarious script written by Joan Cushing gives audiences an inside look to what a worm, a spider and a fly really think about the world around them.

"Joan Cushing has honored the episodic nature of the books by including the characters writing in their diaries, and a number of characters sharing facts about their essential natures. Bonds can be formed with the most unlikely characters. Honoring the uniqueness of others can help one find one's own place in the world," says Director Melanie Salmon-Peterson. Audiences can expect to see several types of music and dance, including traditional musical theatre, hip-hop and the jitterbug. Anticipate a funny and fast-paced romp through the school year of worm, spider and fly," says Salmon-Peterson.

"Diary of a Worm, a Spider and a Fly" opens Jan. 18 and ends Feb. 17, with a run time of 60 minutes and is suitable for all ages. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.stagestheatre.org for performance dates and times, or by calling the Box Office at (952) 979-1111, Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, and $12 for children (ages 5 to 17) and seniors (60+). There is limited availability for weekday matinees.

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 130,000 young people and their families.