Family Performance of AUSTIN THE UNSTOPPABLE Premieres at George Street Playhouse Today, 11/3

George Street Playhouse's Educational Touring Theatre will present a performance of the world premiere musical Austin the Unstoppable, by Barry Wyner and Daniel Israel, today, November 3 at 2 pm. The performance is geared toward students in grades 3-8 and lasts approximately 60 minutes, including a post-play workshop.

Admission is $5 for advance reserve seating, but seats will also be available at the door on a pay-what-you-wish basis. To purchase tickets, call the George Street Playhouse Box Office
732-246-7717, or visit www.GSPonline.org. George Street Playhouse is located at 9 Livingston Avenue in the heart of New Brunswick's dining and entertainment district.

The performance is part of the George Street Playhouse Open Stage Series, a number of family-friendly performances for the community.

Austin the Unstoppable is the tale of Austin, an eleven-year-old master of the X-Box and a junk food junkie. He and his family must face the consequences on an unhealthy life style when his mother is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. The musical explores the challenges that face the family when having to making healthy choices together. It has been developed in partnership with Shaping NJ and is the inaugural production developed at George Street Playhouse as part of the Victoria J. Mastrobuono New Work Development Program with additional funding provided by Bristol-Myers Squibb and The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. It boasts a book and lyrics by Barry Wyner (Calvin Berger at GSP), and music by Daniel Israel, and is directed by Kevin Del Aguila, who wrote the book for the long-running off-Broadway show Altar Boyz.

In addition to Mr. Del Aguila as director, the show is stage managed by Elizabeth Salisch and features the talents of Eva Casey, Charlo Kirk, Gabriella Saramago and Jerome R. Shuler.

The centerpiece of George Street Playhouse's educational programming is its Touring Theatre, which commissions and produces first-class productions with relevant themes for young audiences, such as conflict resolution, racial tolerance, anti-bullying, cyber-bullying, and health and wellness. Provided in part by support from the New Jersey State Bar Foundation, each play is followed by an in-depth discussion led by the actors, for which they receive specialized training. These productions tour from September – May throughout the tri-state area, and are seen by more than 40,000 students. The Department's rapidly growing program of School-based Theatre Arts residencies are rapidly expanding throughout local school districts. Tailored to meet the specific curricular goals of the classroom, residencies enhance literacy, expand creative expression, and cultivate collaboration. George Street Playhouse teaching artists are trained to integrate theatre practice into Social Studies, English Language Arts, and Science classrooms. In addition, GSP's Theatre Academy celebrates each student as an artist; providing transformative learning experiences in an engaging environment. The classes are ideal for students of all ages, with or without previous theatre experience, and focus on the foundations of acting, movement, voice, musical theatre and design. For further information on any of the George Street Playhouse educational opportunities, visit www.GSPonline.org, or call (732) 846-2895, extension 115.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director David Saint, George Street Playhouse has become a nationally recognized theatre, presenting an acclaimed mainstage season while providing an artistic home for established and emerging theatre artists. In August 2011, the Playhouse appointed noted arts administrator Norma Kaplan Managing Director. Founded in 1974, The Playhouse has been well represented by numerous productions both on and off-Broadway – recent productions include the Outer Critics' Circle Best Musical Award-winner The Toxic Avenger, the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Drama League nominated production of The Spitfire Grill and the Broadway hit and Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning play Proof by David Auburn, which was developed at GSP during the 1999 Next Stage Series of new plays. 

George Street Playhouse's Educational Touring Theatre's Open Stage Series presents Austin the Unstoppable, today, November 3 at 2 pm. Advance seating $5; admission at the door on a pay-what-you-wish basis. Call the GSP Box Office, 732-246-7717 or reserve online www.GSPonline.org. George Street Playhouse is located at 9 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ.