Oregon Children's Theatre to Open Season with IVY + BEAN

Meet Bean. She's a loud and wild 7-year-old with a huge imagination. Bean rules the neighborhood on Pancake Court and the kids love her. Meet Ivy. She's new to the street. She's a quiet, nice - and in Bean's opinion - "boooorrrring!" 7-year-old. Clearly, Ivy and Bean will NEVER be friends. But when Bean decides to play a trick on her bossy sister, she discovers that Ivy's proper manner is masking a mischievous witch-in-training. Together they partner up in a rambunctious backyard caper that just could be the beginning of a fabulous friendship!

The show features Madison Wray and Haley Ward, the fabulous duo from Fancy Nancy! Ivy + Bean is an Oregon premiere based on the New York Times bestselling book series by Annie Barrows.

Annie Barrows talking about Ivy and Bean:
"One of the big problems of being a kid is that your parents often try to make you play with people you don't really like. My parents were forever trying to get me to like the kids of their friends. These kids were often weird. I didn't want to play with them.

I remembered that when I was writing the first "Ivy + Bean." Ivy and Bean are very different. Bean is loud and wild and goofy. She loves to be involved in games and poke her nose in other people's business. Ivy is quiet and full of ideas. Each girl thinks the other one is weird. Each girl thinks she could never be friends with the other.

But sometimes opposites can become the best of friends because they're opposites. For example, people who like to talk need people who like to listen. And people with great ideas need people who can put those ideas into action. For Ivy and Bean, their differences mean that they have more fun together than they could ever have separately. It also means that, together, they do more wacky things than any one kid could ever dream up."

Book, music, and lyrics by Scott Elmegreen. Based on the book by Annie Barrows, illustrated by Sophie Blackall. The cast features Madison Wray as Ivy, Haley Ward as Bean, Stephanie Roessler as Nancy, Alex Leigh Ramirez as Mom, Joey Côté as Dad, Jonathan Pen as Eric, David Van Dyke as Leo, and Sophie Keller as Sophie.

The creative team includes: Isaac Lamb (Director), Mont Chris Hubbard (Musical Director), Kristeen Crosser (Scenic Designer), Ashton Hull (Costume Designer), Phil BcBeth (Lighting Designer), Amy Beth Frankel (Choreographer), Scott Thorson (Sound Designer), Kaye Blankenship (Props Master).Written by: Book, music, and lyrics by Scott Elm green. Based on the book by Annie Barrows, illustrated by Sophie Blackall.
Directed by: Isaac Lamb
Dates: October 25-November 23, 2014
Times: Saturdays at 2:00 & 5:00 pm and Sundays at 11:00am & 2:00 pm
Location: Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway
Tickets: $18-$30 for adults and $15-$26 for children (group rates also available)
Box Office: 503-228-9571 or www.octc.org/boxoffice
On the web: www.octc.org
Other info: Recommended for ages 4 and up.

Pictured: Madison Wray as Ivy and Haley Ward as Bean. Photo by Owen Carey.