Theatreworks USA Presents Off-Broadway Premiere of SKIPPYJON JONES, 7/17-8/17

Theatreworks USA (Barbara Pasternack, Artistic Director; Ken Arthur, Producing Director), the nation's leading not-for-profit professional theatre for young audiences, has announced the Off-Broadway premiere of the new children's musical SKIPPYJON JONES.

SKIPPYJON JONES begins performances on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at Off-Broadway's Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street) and continues through Friday, August 17, 2012. Opening night is set for Wednesday, July 25 at 6:30pm.

Skippyjon Jones wants to be the best Chihuahua ever! The only problem: he's actually a Siamese cat. Before you can say "holy guacamole," Skippyjon's wild imagination transforms him into El Skippito Friskito, the greatest sword fighter in Mexico! SKIPPYJON JONES is based on the popular picture book series of the same name by Judy Schachner.

Directed by Peter Flynn (Junie B. Jones, Henry & Mudge) and choreographed by Devanand Janki (Lortel nominee forJunie B. Jones and Henry & Mudge, Callaway nominee forThe Yellow Brick Road), SKIPPYJON JONES features music by Eli Bolin ("Sesame Street") with book and lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila (Drama Desk nominee: Click, Clack, Moo; Altar Boyz).

The production features scenic design by Rob Odorisio, and costumes by Tracy Christensen (Lortel nominee: Seussical). The lighting is designed by Jeff Croiter (Newsies, Tony nominee: Peter and the Starcatcher), and the sound designer is Carl Casella (Silence! The Musical). Orchestrations are by Frank Galgano and Matt Castle, the latter of whom also is music director for SKIPPYJON JONES. The cast will be announced soon.

Launched in 1989, the mission of Theatreworks USA's Free Summer Theatre Program is to provide New York City youth with their own theatre tradition that not only entertains, but also educates and fosters positive value and an appreciation for theatre. More than 15,000 FREE tickets will be distributed to SKIPPYJON JONES this summer.

Tickets for SKIPPYJON JONES are FREE and are available on a first-come, first-served basis in-person at the Lucille Lortel Theatre Box Office (121 Christopher Street) on the day of the performance. Tickets for each day's performances will be distributed beginning one hour prior to the first performance of the day. There is a limit of four (4) tickets per adult per day.

SKIPPYJON JONES is a 60-minute, one-act musical recommended for children ages 4 and up. The performance schedule is as follows: Monday through Friday – 10:30am and 1pm; Sundays: 2pm, 4:30pm.

SCHEDULE EXCEPTIONS:There are no 1pm performances July 17-20, no 10:30am performance on Wednesday July 25, and no 4:30pm performance Sunday August 5. There are added 6pm performances on Thursday August 2 and Thursday August 16. (No free tickets are available for the opening night benefit, Wednesday July 25 at 6:30pm.)

Summer camps, youth programs and social service organizations can make reservations for groups of fifteen (15) or more by calling 212.627.7373.

Because Theatreworks USA accepts reservations from summer camps, individual tickets are extremely limited for the weekday daytime performances. Reservations cannot be made by the general public*. Availability is better for evening and weekend shows, which are entirely open to the public. Once all group tickets are distributed, any remaining patrons will be admitted at curtain time on a space-available basis.

For more information, please visit www.TWUSA.org.

If you want great reserved seats in the orchestra section, then make a donation to Free Summer Theatre. All donations are 100% tax-deductible and will go directly to offset program costs. For every $50 you donate, you are entitled to one reserved VIP seat for the performance of your choice (excluding the opening night benefit on Wednesday July 25 at 6:30pm). Limit 10 tickets per order. No exchanges or refunds. For more information, call 212.647.1100 x126 or email development@twusa.org.

Theatreworks USA, which just completed its 50th Anniversary Season, is America's foremost professional theatre for young and family audiences. Theatreworks USA's mission is to create imaginative and sophisticated shows that are educational, entertaining, and thought-provoking, and to ensure that these shows are accessible to audiences across America regardless of geography and socio-economic status. Since 1961, Theatreworks USA has reached over 93 million people in 49 states and Canada, and the company now performs for about three million young people annually.

Every year, the company tours approximately 10 shows from its ever-growing repertoire of 132 plays and musicals. In addition, Theatreworks USA has an extensive guest artist roster of multi-cultural storytellers, musicians, puppeteers, magicians and more.

Theatreworks USA's honors include a Drama Desk Award, Lucille Lortel Award, the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Award, the William M. Dawson Award for Programmatic Excellence given by the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, and the Medal of Honor from the Actors Fund of America.

Past Free Summer Theatre productions at the Lucille Lortel Theatre include The Yellow Brick Road (Callaway nominee: Best Choreography); We the People: America Rocks! (Lortel nominee: Best Musical); Click, Clack, Moo (Lortel nominee: Best Musical, Drama Desk nominee: Best Lyrics); and Seussical (Lortel and Drama League nominee: Best Revival of a Musical).