THE GARDEN OF RIKKI TIKKI TAVI Opens This Coming Weekend

Beginning April 14, Mile Square Theatre presents public performances of its revival production of Y York's The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi. Restaging its 2011 production for a new audience, MST is thrilled to reunite much of the creative team from the earlier production, including MST Artistic Director Chris O'Connor and actor Blaire Brooks (Bull, Blacklist) as Darzee the Tailor Bird. The cast includes MST regular Andrew Baldwin (Frog and Toad), Cameron Blankenship (Lyric Rep), and Arielle Legere (Princess K.I.M.).

York's adaptation of the Rudyard Kipling story playfully dramatizes the conflict between Nag the Cobra and Darzee the Tailor Bird, Chuchu the Muskrat, and Rikki the Mongoose. Darzee, the diva, is incensed when Rikki washes up in her pristine garden. She and Chuchu attempt to run off the pesky, cheerful mongoose, until they see the cobra Nag run in fear when Nag discovers that a mongoose is on the loose. This comedy about sharing, cooperation, and growing up will appeal to all audiences 4 years and older.

The Garden of Rikki Tikki Tavi is directed by Mile Square Theatre's Artistic Director Chris O'Connor. A decade-long artistic associate of Seattle Children's Theatre and a member of the Theatre faculty at Molloy College, Mr. O'Connor directed MST's productions of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Betrayal, Circle Mirror Transformation, 12th Night, and many others. Returning to the design team is scenic designer Jen Price Fick (Associate Scenic Designer for Broadway's Angels in America and winner of two New Hampshire Theatre Awards for best scenic design) and MST resident designer Matthew Fick (The Net Will Appear, Betrayal, A Midsummer Night's Dream). Peter Fogel (MST's The Net Will Appear, 39 Steps, Betrayal) designs costumes.

Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English poet, short-story writer, and novelist chiefly remembered for his celebration of British imperialism, tales and poems of British soldiers in India, and his tales for children. Kipling received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907. He was born in Bombay, British India, and was taken by his family to England when he was five years old. Kipling is best known for his works of fiction, including The Jungle Book (a collection of stories which includes Rikki Tikki Tavi), Kim, many short stories, including The Man Who Would Be King; and his many poems.

Y York's plays include Eggs (People's Light & Theatre Company); and L.A. Is Burning (New Harmony Project, 2007, Main Street Theater, Houston, 2008); Getting Near to Baby (2008 People's Light & Theatre Company, Barrymore nomination for Outstanding New Play); River Rat and Cat (2006 ChildsPlay, Arizona); Nothing Is the Same (TCG-Pew Charitable Trust, 2004 Kennedy Center New Visions/New Voices Festival); Fork in the Road (Dramatic Publishing commission); The Forgiving Harvest (2004 AT&T: OnStage Award, 2004 People's Light & Theatre AATE Distinguished Play Award); Mask of the Unicorn Warrior (Rockefeller Foundation grant, Seattle Children's Theatre); Othello (4-character hip-hop adaptation); Krisit (2001 Primary Stages); In June 2006, York received the Hawai`i Award for Literature. She is a proud alumna of New Dramatists, member of The Dramatists Guild and still lives with Mark Lutwak to whom all things are still dedicated. For current information visit yyork.com.

For more information on Mile Square Theatre, please visit www.milesquaretheatre.org.