Pittsburgh Int'l Children's Theater Presents 24th Annual Festival 5/12-16

Pittsburgh International Children's Theater, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, presents the 24th annual Pittsburgh International Children's Festival from May 12-16, 2010, in the green spaces surrounding Schenley Plaza and the University of Pittsburgh, and at various indoor theaters in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh. Giant Eagle is the lead sponsor of the 2010 Pittsburgh International Children's Festival.

The Festival will feature U.S. and world premieres by performers from Scotland, Kenya, Russia, Italy, Canada, and the USA. "The 24th International Children's Festival is full of great opportunities for children and adults to see. This year's featured performances touch on themes like conservation, imagination, family, friendship, love, and so much more," comments Pamela K. Lieberman, Executive Director-Pittsburgh International Children's Theater & Manager and Children's Theater Programming-The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

The experience of live theater for a child is as extraordinary as it is unforgettable. Theater, puppetry, storytelling, sound-scapes, music, movement, and dance will open children's eyes to a world of new cultures and ideas. Each performance will be as educational as it is fun, and throughout the Festival children are encouraged to participate in the process.

In addition to the featured ticketed performances, the Festival will provide over 30 plus free hands-on academic, cultural, and international activities, as well as performances at the free outdoor Target Community Stage located in Schenley Plaza. New to the festival this year is a one-of-a-kind Interactive Technology Installation created by three local artists from Pittsburgh's East End: Fouad Bou-Joude, Amer Obeidah, and Jason Smith. The installation will consist of two Digital Harps that will allow children and adults to play sounds on laser light strings. The second installation is a Sound Pad that will create music from the nations featured in this year's Children's Festival when children and adults stand or move on top of the piece. The installation is free and will be located on the outdoor Festival grounds.

During the Festival, free outdoor activities and performances will take place weekdays from 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and weekend 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Performance schedule for the Festival will feature the following events, which require ticket purchase.
For tickets and information, visit www.pghkids.org or call 412-456-6666.

The Man Who Planted Trees (U.S. Premiere Tour, Puppet State Theatre Company, Scotland) Bellefield Hall Auditorium, May 12: 2:30 p.m.; May 13: 9:45 & 11:15 a.m.; May 14: 12:30 & 7:00 p.m.; May 15 & 16: 12:30 & 2:00 p.m. Based on the beloved fable and book by Jean Giono, The Man Who Planted Trees is a unique blend of comedy and puppetry that tells the tale of a human being who recognized the destruction of our environment, decided not to ignore it, and set out on a mission "to put things right."

Bathtime (Théâtre Bouches Décousues, Quebec, Canada) Studio Theatre, May 12 & 13: 9:45 a.m.; May 14: 9:45 & 11:15 a.m.; May 15 & 16: 10:00 & 11:00 a.m. Featuring puppet, piglet, and Mrs. Fireball in this gentle, award-winning tale that depicts bath time as a great place for a child and their adult to reconnect and discover a sea of imagination.

Aga-Boom (Created by Dimitri Bogatirev, Russia/USA) Charity Randall Theatre, May 13: 9:45 a.m.; May 14: 9:45 & 11: 15 a.m.; May 15: 12:30 & 2:00 p.m.; May 16: 3:30 p.m. The Aga-boom trio will delight audiences of all ages using everyday items, a towering punch-away paper wall and even some brave audience members. Aga-Boom showcases the best traditions of circus arts, physical comedy and European avant-garde.
Droplets (U.S. Premiere, La Società Della Civetta, Italy) Studio Theatre, May 12: 12:30 p.m.; May 13: 11:15 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.; May 14: 12:30 p.m.; May 15 & 16: 2:00 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. Through the use of storytelling, props and water, this adventurous tale transports audiences on a journey from the Western world to Africa in search of enchantment and magic. Along the way the story will inspire audiences to appreciate and learn that drop by drop water is an essential resource not to be wasted, and to be valued and loved.

Beppe's Elephant (World Premiere, Zany Umbrella Circus, Pittsburgh, PA, USA & recipient of the 5th annual Stanier Arts Award*) Charity Randall Theatre, May 12: 9:45 a.m.; May 13, 15 & 16: 12:30 p.m.; May 14: 12:30 p.m. Through circus arts, masks, puppetry, video and music, audiences will be amazed by Zany Umbrella Circus' world premiere performance of circus extravaganza Beppe's Elephant. In this dream circus, the Italian circus artist believes he can be the first to train an elephant to walk on a tight wire!

Mapapa Acrobats (Kenya) Bellefield Hall Auditorium, May 12: 9:45 & 11: 15 a.m.; May 13: 12: 30 p.m.; May 14: 9:45 & 11:15 a.m.; May 15 & 16: 10:00 & 11:00 a.m., 3:30 p.m. The Mapapa Acrobats are a super circus show from the heart of Africa. The troupe performs to native African music while performing exhilarating acrobatics, tumbling, contortions, dance, juggling, and chair-balancing. With gravity-defying feats of strength, the energy and power of this performance will leave you breathless.

* About the Stanier Arts Award
Created in memory of William and Clarissa Stanier, devoted patrons of youth arts education, the Stanier Arts Award funds the development of new performing arts work for children by artists residing in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

Pittsburgh International Children's Theater, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, opens the door for children to experience professional performing arts programming for children which inspires, challenges, educates, and stimulates respect for and an understanding of all cultures in an entertaining and enlightening way. Pittsburgh International Children's Theater is one of only four international children's presenting organizations in the nation.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit organization whose mission is the cultural and economic development of Pittsburgh's 14-block Cultural District through public and private support. The Trust presents and encourages diverse performing and visual arts programs within the District, and is an impetus for additional development in downtown Pittsburgh.

In addition to the Pittsburgh International Children's Theater and Children's Festival, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series Pittsburgh Dance Council, Trust Presents, CD Live, JazzLive, First Night Pittsburgh, Gallery Crawl, and Three Rivers Arts Festival, among other Cultural District and arts events.

The Trust owns Theater Square and the Cabaret at Theater Square; the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts; Byham, O'Reilly, and Harris Theaters; Wood Street Galleries; SPACE, a visual arts gallery at 812 Liberty Avenue; and 937 Liberty, a multipurpose performance and exhibit space, among other downtown arts facilities.

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