Nashville Children's Theatre Reveals New Logo, 2018-19 Season At Grand Night Patrons Party

With its vision focused squarely on the future, Nashville Children's Theatre (NCT) - the nation's oldest professional theater for young audiences - last night revealed its upcoming "Season of Discovery," a slate of six challenging productions, along with an updated rendering of the company's iconic dragon logo.

"NCT incorporates a youthful interpretation of the magic and imagination that happens at NCT symbolizing a creative and polished theatre company," according to a press release provided to media after the reveal at Woolworth's on 5th, a new restaurant in a historic location in downtown Nashville, during the Patron's Party for the theater's upcoming Grand Night celebration.

"Our new logo better communicates what NCT stands for today," explains Ernie Nolan, NCT's executive artistic director. "It provides us with an updated view of our new vision - that reflects our heritage - but allows us to emphasize our efforts to build a stronger future and achieve organizational growth through programming, serving the entire community, and increasing diverse offerings for a vibrant Music City, as well as the world."

Hidden in the dragon's curves is a capital N for Nashville, which can also be seen as an indication of NCT's downtown location near the Cumberland River. The logo portrays historical impact, forward-momentum, and the future of the organization, according to the release. Coupled with the new logo, Nolan revealed the "groundbreaking" 2018-19 season that will include six shows new to the organization, which represent both both world and regional premieres.

The new brand identity presents NCT as modern, evolving, creative, and inclusive of all ages. The new imagery will be conveyed throughout all aspects of the organization in order to emphasize forward-thinking programming, specifically its upcoming season:

• Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star running August 11, 2018- September 9, 2018

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star - an NCT Snuggery performance - World Premiere August 11, 2018- September 9. Written and Directed by Ernie Nolan. Star light, star bright, first star we see...wait a minute...little star isn't in the nighttime sky! Where can it be? It's up to two stalwart starkeepers to search the galaxy and solve this cosmic cliffhanger in an interactive, immersive theatrical experience especially designed for the youngest of theatre goers.

• Tuck Everlasting running September 13, 2018-October 7, 2018

Tuck Everlasting - TYA World Premiere Adaptation September 13, 2018-October 7, 2018. Book by Claudia Shear and Tim Federle, music by Chris Miller and lyrics by Nathan Tysen. Directed and choreographed by Ernie Nolan, musical direction by David Weinstein and featuring the Nashville Children's Theatre Orchestra. After adventuring beyond her white picket fence, "good girl" Winnie Foster meets the energetic teenager Jesse Tuck, who leads her on an unexpected, magical journey. Soon she is faced with an extraordinary question: If you could choose to live forever, would you? Based on the best-selling novel by Natalie Babbitt, this heartfelt Broadway musical is full of soaring melodies and mischief.

• Disney's The Little Mermaid running November 8, 2018-December 23, 2018

Disney's The Little Mermaid - TYA Regional Premiere - November 8, 2018-December 23, 2018. Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, book by Doug Wright. Directed and choreographed by Ernie Nolan, musical direction by David Weinstein and featuring the Nashville Children's Theatre Orchestra. In a kingdom beneath the sea, King Triton's youngest daughter Ariel yearns to have her questions answered about the human world. When she saves the handsome Prince Eric from drowning, Ariel begins to discover her own voice with the help of her friends - even after the tricky sea witch silences her. Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved fairy tales, this classic will be given its own dose of NCT magic.

• Ghost running January 17, 2019-February 3, 2019

Ghost - World Premiere - The inaugural new play generated from The NCT Hatchery January 17, 2019-February 3, 2019. By Idris Goodwin, based on the book Ghost by Jason Reynolds Directed by Jon Royal. Castle Crenshaw, a.k.a. Ghost, has been running his entire life, but for all the wrong reasons. Then one day he meets Coach, an Olympic medalist who sees his unique raw talent. Can Ghost achieve the speed he needs for success, or will his past finally catch up to him? A world premiere especially developed for Nashville Children's Theatre.

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show running February 21, 2019-April 7, 2019

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show - Nashville and Regional Premiere - February 21, 2019-April 7, 2019. Created by Jonathan Rockefeller, based on Eric Carle's books. Directed by Ernie Nolan. Direct from Off-Broadway, four beloved classics - Brown Bear, Brown Bear, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, The Very Lonely Firefly and The Very Hungry Caterpillar - leap off the page and on to the stage right in front of your eyes brought to life by a menagerie of 75 incredible puppets.

• Tomás and the Library Lady running April 25, 2019-May 19, 2019

Tomás and the Library Lady - A Bilingual Production - April 25, 2019-May 19, 2019. By José Cruz González, adapted from the book by Pat Mora. Directed by Alicia Fuss. Based on the true story of Mexican-American author and educator Tomás Rivera, this play, told in both Spanish and English, follows the son of migrant farm workers as he discovers a surprising world of possibility inside his local library thanks to a special librarian. This inspirational, theatrical biography proves that reading and respect can make anything possible.

In addition to the slate of productions, Nolan unveiled original artwork for the six shows, created by Vaclav Bicha, an artist from Prague, Czech Republic, now living in Portugal. Since childhood, Bicha has felt a great passion for visual art, especially comic books and animation. He spent much of his youth drawing and he studied art at Jan Evangelista Purkyn? University. After finishing school he continued his art and enjoys good times with family and friends, as well as skateboarding, snowboarding and surfboarding.

To create his art, he uses a simple layering technique, hand cutting the colored paper after the pieces have been sketched and gluing them to kapaline boards (foam boards) to add depth. He mounts them within a square frame to add the final touches. Bicha's inspiration can be found through some of his favorite illustrators and favorite movies. More of his work can be seen as www.vaclavbicha.com.

In addition to the six new shows on its 2018-19 season, NCT launches two significant additions to its programming:

The Snuggery, which is specifically designed as Theatre for the Very Young and is a professional performance series for children 0-5 (and their grown-ups). It is especially designed to overcome age, language, and developmental barriers with shows performed for a small audience in an immersive environment.

About The NCT Snuggery - Theatre for the Very Young NCT's professional performance series for children 0-5 and their grown-ups especially designed to overcome age, language, and developmental barriers. Snuggery shows are performed for a small number of audience members in an immersive environment. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star is NCT's 2018 Snuggery performance and runs August 11, 2018- September 9, 2018. Bongo Java will provide complimentary coffee for adults.

Nolan explained that dragons lay their eggs in a "snuggery."

The Hatchery is a new works incubator program that will develop new and invigorating new plays for young audiences and is committed to promoting the voices of artists of color.

"We now offer theatre arts to all persons, of any age," says Nolan. "As an institution with longstanding impact, and history that we cherish, we believe it's important to ensure that the community, residents, and visitors understand that you can visit us often and either be a child, or a child at heart, to participate, engage, and enjoy the programs of NCT."

About The NCT Hatchery - A New Works Incubator Program NCT is committed to contributing new and invigorating plays to the world of Theatre for Young Audiences, and is also committed to promoting the voices of artists of color. The Hatchery serves both of these goals. The inaugural script created from NCT's Hatchery is Ghost by playwright Idris Goodwin. The play is based on Jason Reynold's popular book of the same name. The Hatchery is perpetually in multiple stages of development. During the 2018-19 season which contains Ghost as a performance, a new script for inclusion in NCT's 2019-20 season is being written. This formula ensures NCT will always remain a relevant and open artistic organization for both local and worldwide communities.

A special preview of the 2018-19 Season, along with an open house, will be offered to the public on Saturday, June 16, at noon. Described as a "fun, free event," scenes and songs from NCT's 2018-19 season will be presented.

About Nashville Children's Theatre Nashville Children's Theatre is a professional theatre company providing the children, families and educators of Middle Tennessee with extraordinary shared theatrical experiences that inspire imagination, develop creativity, and build community. NCT was founded in 1931 by the Junior League of Nashville and is recognized as the oldest professional children's theatre in the country. A national leader in professional theatre arts and education programs for young people, NCT is ranked by Time magazine as one of the top five children's theatres in the country. For more information including specific performance dates and time, please visit www.NashvilleCT.org.

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