GIGGLE, GIGGLE, QUACK Opens at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, April 13

The barnyard characters are back in "Giggle, Giggle, Quack" the second installment in the popular series written by Doreen Cronin, opening April 13 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. This follow up to "Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type" has Farmer Brown taking a vacation and his brother Bob coming in to watch The Farm. The clever and mischievous duck finds a pencil and begins writing his own notes for Bob to find and follow.

"Giggle, Giggle, Quack" opens April 13 and ends May 13, and 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, $12 for children (ages 5 to 17) and seniors (60+). Lap passes are available for free (ages 0 to 2) and $5 (ages 3 to 4).

Matt Ouren, who plays Charles (the duck), began his professional acting career at Stages Theatre Company (STC) as a youth actor at the age of 13 when he landed a role in "The Boxcar Children: Yellow House Mystery." After graduating from high school, Ouren enrolled at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. where he discovered his passion and in 2006 he graduated with a double major in Theatre and Communications.

A simple phone call to Artistic Director Sandy Boren-Barrett paved his way back on stage at STC. "I wanted to get back to Stages Theatre Company in any way possible. This institution taught me all about theatre and instilled the love of teaching and theatre into my heart," says Ouren.

Excited to be back where it all started, Ouren has a new perspective on how theatre truly affects the lives of young children. "I am watching kids and teens getting really excited about theatre and eager to learn more about the craft. It is exciting to be in the shoes of someone who is, hopefully, looked up to in the way I used to look up to adult actors, and hopefully I am helping teach them as much as they are teaching me."

Fans of "Giggle, Giggle, Quack" know Ouren's character, Charles, likes to keep life on The Farm interesting. "Audiences can expect hijinks galore. With a crazy French accent and an inflated ego, there is no telling what can happen," says Ouren.

"Giggle, Giggle, Quack" opens April 13 and ends May 13, and 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, $12 for children (ages 5 to 17) and seniors (60+). Lap passes are available for free (ages 0 to 2) and $5 (ages 3 to 4).

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.