Photo Flash: Children's Theatre Company's Presents MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS

Children's Theatre Company presents Mr. Popper's Penguins in association with Kenny Wax Family Entertainment and TC Beech.

The production runs January 15 through February 24, 2019, and is based on the novel by Richard and Florence Atwater, adapted for the stage by Pins and Needles Productions, with music by Luke Bateman, lyrics by Richy Hughes, set and costume design by Zoe Squire, and directed by Emma Earle. Puppetry design by Nick Barnes, lighting design by Ric Mountjoy,and sound design by Jason Barnes.

The cast includes Richard Holt as Mr. Popper, Monica Nash as Mrs. Popper, Christopher Finn as Mr. Greenbaum/Captain Cook, and Susanna Jennings as Admiral Drake/Greta. Creative team and actor bios are below. Single tickets and subscription packages are now on sale.

It's hard enough for Mr. Popper, a modest painter, to support himself and his wife, and the unexpected addition of ten penguins makes it even tougher. But then! The imaginative Popper turns his talented penguins into a traveling vaudeville act. They sing! They dance! They become a theatrical sensation and give a must-see Penguiny performance! Applause! Applause! This play shows you a wild and witty way to follow your dreams.

This presentation is supported by the Arts Midwest Touring Fund, a program of Arts Midwest that is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Crane Group. Proudly supported by Deluxe.

"We're delighted that our adaptation of Mr. Popper's Penguins is coming to CTC," stated Director Emma Earle. "Just like the story, our performing penguins are traveling all over the world! We hope audiences are charmed by this story of a humble house painter with big dreams and his family of flippy, flappy penguins."

Artistic Director Peter C. Brosius states, "Mr. Poppers Penguins is a story about dreamers?-?that incredible story of Mr. Popper who wants to be an explorer?-?he is obsessed with listening to the stories on the radio of the great adventurers who travel to our Poles and encounter incredible adventures and test themselves?-?a very big dream when you spend your days as a house painter in a small town. Then he is given the 'gift' of a series of penguins, which he transforms into a wonderful vaudeville act. It is both a piece about the power of theatre and the delight of creating an act out of dancing, singing penguins. It is also about what it means to never give up, to press for your dreams, though they may seem foolish to some. It is a joyous, fun, very smart, and theatrical production, and I am thrilled to bring this story back in a new production to CTC."

Photo Credit: Dan Norman