Children's Theatre Company's latest offering 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA isn't what we usually think of as theater. But it is the best game of make-believe ever, and what is theater if not an elaborate game of make-believe? CTC is an expert at playing to their target audience while still creating art that we grown-ups can enjoy as well. And kids are quite familiar with playing make-believe, acting out their favorite stories, TV shows, books, or movies. That's pretty much what this show is - fan fiction (created by the wonderfully inventive team of Ryan Underbakke and Nick Ryan) about Jules Verne's novel with a fantastic team of actors playing the characters and leading the audience, who are also playing characters, through the story. It's an exercise in the collective power of imagination, something that comes naturally to kids, but that's necessary for adults to take part in occasionally as well. 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA is a super cool and totally unique experience.
?Being a grown-up is hard. You have to be concerned about things like bills, a job, a house, traffic, the deterioration of the environment, and violence and injustice in our backyards and around the world. It's really a drag - no wonder Peter Pan doesn't want to be one! And while we boring and worried grown-ups don't have the option of returning to a blissful childhood, we can go to the Children's Theatre Company and forget about all of our grown-up worries, remembering and reveling in the joy and freedom of youth. What better choice for CTC, then, than the musical adaptation of J.M. Barrie's iconic tale about the boy who won't grow up? Kids love it because they see themselves in Peter, and we grown-ups see an even deeper meaning in the story as we watch the children around us grow up in an increasingly dangerous world, and long for our own days of innocence. It's a perfect choice perfectly executed by the entire cast and creative and technical teams. This PETER PAN is something quite magical, and quite simply the best thing I've seen at CTC.
Children's Theatre Company (CTC) is thrilled to present Peter Pan the Musical for the first time on our stage, now through June 21, 2015 on the UnitedHealth Group Stage. Ivey Award-winner Peter Rothstein directs with choreography by Joe Chvala (Flying Foot Forum). Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!
Children's Theatre Company (CTC) is thrilled to present Peter Pan the Musical for the first time on our stage, April 21 through June 21, 2015 on the UnitedHealth Group Stage. Ivey Award-winner Peter Rothstein directs with choreography by Joe Chvala (Flying Foot Forum). The creative team of national theatre luminaries includes Set Designer Walt Spangler (Broadway credits include A Christmas Story the Musical, Scandalous, Desire Under the Elms), Costume Designer Linda Cho (Tony Award for A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder) and Sound Designer Philip S. Rosenberg (Broadway credits include The Elephant Man and A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder).
Based on Mark Twain's classic Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Children's Theatre Company (CTC) will present Greg Banks' adaptation of Huck Finn, now through April 4, 2015. Banks, whose CTC credits include Pinocchio, Robin Hood, Antigone, Romeo and Juliet and more, will direct, with music composed by Victor Zupanc, set by Joseph Stanley, costumes by Mary Anna Culligan and lighting design by Paul Whitaker. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!
Based on Mark Twain's classic Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Children's Theatre Company (CTC) will present Greg Banks' adaptation of Huck Finn, tonight, March 3 - April 4, 2015.
Based on Mark Twain's classic Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Children's Theatre Company (CTC) will present Greg Banks' adaptation of Huck Finn, March 3 - April 4, 2015. Banks, whose CTC credits include Pinocchio, Robin Hood, Antigone, Romeo and Juliet and more, will direct, with music composed by Victor Zupanc, set by Joseph Stanley, costumes by Mary Anna Culligan and lighting design by Paul Whitaker. Huck Finn premiered at CTC in the 2006-2007 season and is part of the theatre's ongoing commitment to reimagining classics for the stage.
It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Minneapolis Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!
Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Minneapolis Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!
Children's Theatre Company has announced that Alanna Saunders, who plays Tiger Lily in NBC's Peter Pan Live, will play Wendy in this spring's Peter Pan the Musical. Joining her will be 2014 Ivey Award-winner for Emerging Artist Tyler Michaels in the title role. Audience favorite Reed Sigmund, now in his 15th season as a CTC Acting Company member, brings his signature style to the loathsome, tortured Captain Hook. Peter Pan the Musical runs April 21 through June 21, 2015 on the UnitedHealth Group Stage and is directed by Peter Rothstein.
'Tis the season for stories of sad, lonely, grumpy people who experience a change of heart and learn to love their fellow citizens, whether of London or Whoville. After a double bill of CHRISTMAS CAROLs last week, I saw a similar story this week in Dr. Seuss' classic fable HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS. Like Scrooge, the Grinch hates Christmas, people, and dogs. Also like Scrooge, the Grinch learns how wrong he was, not from ghosts but from one sweet open-hearted little girl. Where A CHRISTMAS CAROL is the perfect image of a Victorian Christmas, THE GRINCH takes place in the fantastical rhyming world familiar to anyone who's read Dr. Seuss, or had it read to them, as the case may be with much of Children's Theatre Company's audience. It's a bright and colorful, silly and funny, sweet and heart-warming tale of redemption and love.
Children's Theatre Company (CTC) remounts the holiday classic Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, on stage tonight, November 11, 2014 to January 4, 2015 on the UnitedHealth Group Stage. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in action!
Children's Theatre Company (CTC) remounts the holiday classic Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, on stage November 11, 2014 to January 4, 2015 on the UnitedHealth Group Stage. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in action!
Children's Theatre Company (CTC) will present Busytown the Musical, based on the beloved children's book 'What Do People Do All Day?' by Richard Scarry, adapted by Kevin Kling, directed by Sean Graney, with music by Michael Koerner and choreography by Tommy Rapley, on the UnitedHealth Group Stage today, September 16 - October 26, 2014. Live music performed onstage by Music Director/Sound Designer Victor Zupanc as a one-man band!
Children's Theatre Company (CTC) will present Busytown the Musical, based on the beloved children's book 'What Do People Do All Day?" by Richard Scarry, adapted by Kevin Kling, directed by Sean Graney, with music by Michael Koerner and choreography by Tommy Rapley, on the UnitedHealth Group Stage September 16 - October 26, 2014. Live music performed onstage by Music Director/Sound Designer Victor Zupanc as a one-man band!
Acclaimed director Peter Rothstein (Cabaret, Theatre Latte? Da) will bring a magnetic Shrek the Musical to life on CTC's UnitedHealth Group Stage beginning today, April 22. With a seasoned cast including Reed Sigmund, Autumn Ness and Ansa Akyea, incredible scenic and costume designs, choreography by Michael Matthew Ferrell and Tony-nominated music, Shrek is an ogre-sized musical with an equally big soul, sure to delight everyone from the very young to the young at heart.
Acclaimed director Peter Rothstein (Cabaret, Theatre Latte? Da) will bring a magnetic Shrek the Musical to life on CTC's UnitedHealth Group Stage beginning April 22. With a seasoned cast including Reed Sigmund, Autumn Ness and Ansa Akyea, incredible scenic and costume designs, choreography by Michael Matthew Ferrell and Tony-nominated music, Shrek is an ogre-sized musical with an equally big soul, sure to delight everyone from the very young to the young at heart.
