Steampunk OLIVER!, CINDERELLA and More to Bring the Holidays to The Secret Theatre, Dec 2013

This holiday season, The Secret Theatre is Long Island City's entertainment destination. With a daring new Steampunk-infused version of Oliver!, musicals made just for children as part of LIC's only weekly children's theatre program, a raucously funny new adaptation of fairytale favorite Cinderella, performances by The Secret Theatre Academy of Dramatic Arts' students, cast-led carols, trees, wreaths, presents and even a visit from Santa Claus, the stage is set for magical holiday memories.

Oliver! the musical kicks off the season December 6 in a production of the show like you've never seen it before. Led by acclaimed director Lenny Banovez of TITAN Theatre Company, this unique production puts a Steampunk twist on Lionel Bart's familiar music and lyrics, based, themselves, on the Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist. The cast features Artistic Director of the Secret Theatre Richard Mazda in the infamous role of Fagin, Chicago Shakespeare's Gregory Isaac as Bill Sykes, Bailey Seeker of NYU-CAP21 as Nancy and introduces both Amanda Dupuy as Oliver and John Alden Hooper as the Artful Dodger. The cast also includes a large and talented ensemble of children and adults. The artistic team features Costume Designer Becky Willett of Broadway's Lucky Guy and Off-Broadway's Somewhere Fun and The Rain Maker, Musical Director Dror Baitel, Choreographer Nicholas Sotack, Lighting Designer Dan Jobbins, Prop Designer Anna Grace Carter and the pair Richard Mazda and Jasmine Roberts for Set Design. Tickets for Oliver! are $25 for adults, $15 for children and $70 for Family 4-Packs.

Santa comes early to The Secret Theatre with special 11 a. m. holiday performances of children's musicals Pirate Pete's Parrot on Saturday, December 21, and Princess Particular on Sunday, December 22. Directly after these two performances, the casts will lead the audience in rounds of holiday carols, and, if everyone is very good, Santa will bring a goodie bag for every child!

Pirate Pete's Parrot: A Musical for Kids and the Entire Family features the mischievous Pirate Pete in a quest to find his lost parrot, Polly. Tired of her mundane birdseed breakfast, Polly runs away to find pancakes. However, when she is captured by the misunderstood villain, Baron Big Butt, it's up to Pete and his pirate crew to save the day! In this Mazda original, Terry Olear appears as Pam, Pete's mom, and directs a cast including Richard Mazda as Pirate Pete, Talia Aull as Polly and Nicholas Delgado as Baron Big Butt.

Princess Particular: A Royal Holiday Musical for Kids and The Entire Family presents Princess Particular, the little girl who has everything except her parents' permission to be a ballerina. The rest of the castle is populated with characters right out of the age-old nursery rhyme "Sing a Song of Sixpence," opening the way for witty one-liners and humorous anachronisms. Lena Moy-Bergen directs this Mazda production, and Kelly Blaze portrays the Princess.

These shows feature quirky, but relatable humor that aims to please audiences of all ages, from toddlers to adults. Tickets are already selling for these special one-time holiday showings. Kids' tickets are just $10 and adults' are $15, with the option of Family 4-Packs for $40.

Cinderella is sure to please if you're looking for a new spin on a true classic. Showing in a limited holiday engagement December 18 - 22, this Mazda production fuses elements of modern culture with the traditional fairy tale in a riotous romp of traditional British pantomime style and contemporary pop cultural overtones. Cinderella's stepmother, Immorala, and her "Ugly Stepsisters" plot to prevent "Cinders" from going to the fated ball. Fortunately, her hip-hop-loving fairy godmother magically provides a coach and horses as well as a beautiful dress for the ball, allowing Cinders to go to the party and meet her One True Love, the Prince. Cofounder of the Obligatory Theatre Company Derek Thomas Butts directs, and the full list of artistic talent is forthcoming. Tickets for Cinderella are $18 for adults and $10 for children or $45 for Family 4-Packs.

Students of The Secret Theatre Academy for the Dramatic Arts conclude their semesters in a weekend of performances December 15 and 16. Each day, the classes put on Richard Mazda's newest children's show, Super Mutant Kids/The Secret Life of ... at 2 p.m. and Hello Broadway!, a musical showcase, at 3:30 p.m. Tickets to each are $15 for adults and $10 for children, or $40 for Family 4-Packs.

For more information or to purchase tickets to any of these shows, visit www.secrettheatre.com, The Secret Theatre Box Office at 44-02 23rd St, LIC, NY or call (718) 392-0722.

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