X Marks the Spot! Oregon Children's Theatre to Stage 'JUDY MOODY & STINK'

X marks the spot as Judy and her brother Stink set sail on a nautical adventure to find Cap'n Weevil's secret pirate treasure. But they'll have to race their swashbuckling rivals, Tall Boy and Smart Girl, to see who will be first to find the gold! Will Judy and Stink crack the secret codes and spot the hidden clues before time runs out?

In an extraordinarily unique partnership, Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt has been co-commissioned with seven of the country's leading children's theaters: Adventure Theatre, Bay Area Children's Theatre, Children's Theatre of Charlotte, First Stage Children's Theatre, Oregon Children's Theatre, Orlando Repertory Theatre, and The Rose Theatre.

The Judy Moody book series are international bestsellers with over 22 million copies in print and translated into 26 languages worldwide. "Pirate treasure awaits those who are clever enough to follow the clues and the competition is stiff," said Director Stan Foote. "Riddles, codes, and acrostics confound and confuse Judy Moody and her brother Stink, but in the end Pirate Rule Number Two prevails: If you find the treasure, you have to share it-even Steven-or you will be marooned on a desert island with nothing but bugs for grub."

"Judy Moody is a compelling character and a great fit for the stage," said playwright Allison Gregory. "She activates the world around her. From her dogged determination (which frequently looks like impulsivity), to her scrappy resourcefulness, she engages other characters, and us, to root for her." The Judy Moody books are also a popular option with children who are reluctant to read. For many, it's their first experience with a chapter book. Author Megan McDonald said, "I've had kids come up to me and say, 'I read a book like my mom and dad read.'"

The cast features Grace Malloy as Judy Moody, Ethan Thompson as Stink, Conor Eifler as Dad, Karen Moore as Mom, JarEd Mack as Scurvy Sam, Nirmay Ananthma as Tall Boy, Luisa Kashiwabara as Smart Girl, Kimo Camat as Mr. Todd, Elijah Castillo as Rocky, and Sakura Swartz (Ensemble).

The creative team includes: Stan Foote (Director), Daniel Meeker (Scenic/Lighting Designer), Emily Horton (Costume Designer), Rory Stitt (Composer/Sound Designer), and Laura Fraley (Props Master). Book by Allison Gregory.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCE EVENTS:

- Before Every Performance: Come a little early for a pre-show activity!

- Following Every Performance: Meet the cast, take photos, and get your playbill autographed!

- Saturday, October 21st, all shows: First Timer/First Saturday. $5 tickets for children attending theater for the first time. See www.octc.org for details.

- Sunday, October 22nd and November 19th: Grandparent Day. Join us for special senior (age 62+) ticket prices on the first and last Sunday of each show. Tickets are only $11 - $21.

- Saturday, October 28th, 2:00 pm: Interpreted performance in American Sign Language.

- Saturday, October 28th, all shows: Scout Day. Tickets for Girl and Boy Scouts are discounted 25%. Fun patches are available for sale for $2 each (order in advance).

IF YOU GO:

Oregon Children's Theatre presents Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt

A world premiere!

Based on the bestselling book series by Megan McDonald
Written by: Allison Gregory
Directed by: Stan Foote

Dates: October 21-November 19, 2017
Times: Saturdays at 2:00pm and 5:00pm
Sundays at 11:00am and 2:00pm [No 11:00am show on 11/5, 11/12, and 11/19]

Location: Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway

Tickets: $18-$32 for adults and $14-$28 for children (discounts for groups of 8+)
Box Office: 503-228-9571 or www.octc.org

Recommended for ages 4 and up.

Founded in 1988, Oregon Children's Theatre (OCT) has served well over two million children, teachers, and families. Its mission is to create exceptional theater experiences that transform lives. OCT is Oregon's largest nonprofit professional performing arts company for young audiences and a resident company of Portland'5 Centers for the Arts. Performances are held weekdays for school audiences and on weekends for family audiences. OCT serves more than 120,000 children of all ages each year. OCT offers numerous school services including study guides, teacher professional development opportunities, in-school workshops, and an extensive outreach program. In partnership with Kaiser Permanente, the Educational Theatre Program provides free touring productions that promote healthy living. OCT's year round Acting Academy offers theater classes for children ages 3-18 and Young Professionals Company, a mentoring program for teens.

Funding for Oregon Children's Theatre's 2017-2018 season is provided in part by the Shubert Foundation, the Regional Arts & Culture Council, and Work for Art. Oregon Children's Theatre receives support from the Oregon Arts Commission, a state agency funded by the State of Oregon and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Adapted by Allison Gregory. Based on the books "Judy Moody" and "Judy Moody and Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt" written by Megan McDonald and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. Published by Candlewick Press, Inc. This play was co-commissioned by First Stage, Adventure Theatre MTC, Bay Area Children's Theatre, The Rose Theatre, Oregon Children's Theatre, Children's Theatre of Charlotte and Orlando Repertory Theatre.

Pictured: Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt. Photo by Owen Carey.