B Street Theatre's Family Series to Premiere ANANSI THE SPIDER, 10/3-11/8

B Street Theatre's Family Series, Northern California's only fully professional, resident theatre for children, is pleased to present the World Premiere of ANANSI THE SPIDER, running October 3 - November 8, 2015.

This adaptation of classic African folktales is the first show of the 2015-2016 Family Series season. This production marks the 163rd play written by B Street Staff. For the second year in a row, the 2015-2016 Family Series Season features four World Premieres of scripts written by B Street Staff.

After the popularity last year of Dia De Los Cuentos, a collection of Mexican-American folk tales adapted for the stage, B Street is enthusiastic about presenting African folk tales this season with ANANSI THE SPIDER. Traditional stories, handed down from one generation to the next, contain lessons, motivation or cautionary tales. They are an integral part of the fabric of most cultures and the lives of their children. By producing plays that incorporate various cultures and reference points, B Street honors the diversity of all children's cultural backgrounds while educating others about each culture.

Anansi is the self proclaimed, "cleverest, funniest, happiest spider in all the world." He is a great story teller who believes in the power of stories and that stories are meant to be shared. Through the adventures of Anansi and his jungle friends, we experience the tales as they unfold and realize that each of us hasstories to tell.

B Street's children's shows serve two audiences: 1. Presented to families in the Family Series on weekends and, 2. School children in the Student Matinee program for weekday field trips. Nearly 5000 kids, along with their teachers and chaperones, attend each production of the Student Matinees. Many of these kids are avid theatre enthusiasts but for most, the field trips are their only exposure to live theatre. Teachers appreciate the plays and often create lessons around their stories and themes. B Street provides teachers with study guides featuring thematic writing exercises, games, and lessons incorporating history, literature, science or critical thinking; all integrating California's Common Core standards. But it is the smiling faces and animated discussions of the kids as they leave the theatre that says it all.

IF YOU GO: ANANSI THE SPIDER. Showtimes: 1 pm and 4 pm. Saturdays and Sundays. Preview: Saturday, October 3 at 1pm. Opening: Saturday, October 3 at 4pm. B Street Theatre Family Series Stage is located at 2711 B St., Sacramento. Tickets: $20 adults, $15 Children, $12 and $8 Preview tickets. For tickets and more information, call (916) 443-5300 or visit www.bstreettheatre.org. (*Please note this price includes a $5 Facility Fee. For details, visit bstreettheatre.org/next-stage/fee.)

About Playwright David Pierini - David began working for the B Street Theatre in 1990. He started as an actor for the B Street Theatre School Tour, then started to write and direct for the Tour. David has acted steadily in B Street productions from its inception in 1991. In 2004, B Street Producing Artistic Director Buck Busfield suggested David try to write an adaptation of the beloved children's book, The Boxcar Children. Thus began a long fruitful relationship with the B Street Family Series.

About Director Greg Alexander - Greg has appeared in numerous B Street Theatre productions including I Am My Own Wife, The Big Bang!, Around The World In 80 Days, Escanaba In Da Moonlight, and Outside Mullingar. Most recently he wrote and directed Walk In Our Shoes - a show promoting mental health awareness - for B Street Theatre's School Tour. Sponsored by the California Mental Health Services Authority, Walk In Our Shoes was performed at over 100 schools throughout the state. Additional regional theatre credits include work at The Jewish Theatre of San Francisco, Sacramento Theatre Company, Capital Stage, Actor's Theatre of Louisville, Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Philadelphia Theatre Company and People's Light and Theatre Company in Malvern, Pa. Greg lives in Sacramento with his wife Sean and their Westies, Milo and Magoo.

About the Cast:

Anansi the Spider: Aja Houston - is an actress, writer, director and producer hailing from Las Vegas. She received her Bachelor of Theatre Arts Degree from Pitzer College in Claremont, CA. Aja is a proud member of The League of Professional Theatre Women, AEA, British Actor's Equity, and the Dramatists Guild. Acting credits include Permission To Play (Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, London, UK) and Hearts Like Fists (Flux Theatre Ensemble, NYIT Leading Actress Nominee, New York, NY). Aja studied playwriting at Primary Stages Einhorn School of Performing Arts, in New York City. All of her plays have received developmental rehearsed readings at Primary Stages, Classical Theatre of Harlem, and Flux Theatre Ensemble. Some of Aja's work includes, Salvation (published by Indie Theatre Now! 2011) Hagiography of Scooter Collins (Midtown International Theatre Festival Short Play Lab Series 2013, New York, NY) Remembrance (DC Black Theatre Festival "Festival Favorite" 2014) and The Spooks (Towne Street Theatre 10 Minute Play Festival 2014, Los Angeles, CA, Flux Theatre Ensemble Food: Soul, 2013, New York, NY). Please visit www.ajahouston.com.

Tiger King: Ed Claudio - is a founding Company member of B Street Theatre. He appeared in the first two productions at B Street (Bill C. Davis's Mass Appeal with Timothy Busfield & Aaron Sorkin's Hidden in this Picture with Timothy Busfield & Aaron Sorkin). The Sacramento Metropolitan Art's Commission awarded him a fellowship when he received the "Arts Educator Award", and he is the recipient of the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre's "Lifetime Achievement Award". As the Producing Artistic Director of the Actor's Theatre of Sacramento, Ed has produced and/or directed more than 180 full length plays, and over 1,000 one act plays for children, teens and adults. He is the owner/operator of Sacramento's Actor's Workshop, where he has taught children, teens and adults for more than 25 years. A member of Actors Equity & SAG, he has appeared in several made for television films for all three major networks, as well as HBO & Showtime. Independent film work includes more than a dozen roles over the last two decades. He is currently a proud member of the B Street Acting Company.

Tucan, Terry Tree Frog and Tammy Tayra: Safiya Fredericks - is thrilled to be working at B Street Theatre with this amazing team! In the Bay Area she has most recently been seen in Idris Goodwin's West Coast Premiere of Blackademics at Crowded Fire Theatre, and as the Witch in Into the Woods at SF Playhouse (BATCC Nominee.) Other roles have included Once on This Island (Asaka) at Theatreworks, Merry Wives of Windsor (M.Page) at African American Shakespeare Co., and the titular role in Antigone at San Jose Rep. On the New York stage she has been featured in The Civilians production of In the Footprint, By Hands Unknown at the New York Fringe festival, and Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge with the Gallery Players. The film America Is Still the Place, in which she plays Anne Walker is currently making festival rounds and she can also be heard as the voice of PBS's Independent Lens. She studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and received her BA in Drama from the University of California Irvine. Learn more at safiyafredericks.com.

Boar, Turtle, Ollie Ocelot, Hunter #1 and Elephant: Dave Pierini - see bio above.

Monkey, Old Mother Iguana, Hunter #2, Hippo: Katie Walton - Katie is thrilled to have joined the B Street family as an Acting Intern. She is a graduate of Foothill College's theatre conservatory and UC Davis. She has spent the past two years in Sacramento working primarily with the Actor's Workshop of Sacramento and is delighted to be on stage again with Ed Claudio. Favorite past roles include: Portia from The Merchant of Venice, Mindy from 5 Women Wearing the Same Dress and The Woman from The Woman in Black.

About Scenic Designer Samantha Reno - Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Sam has designed and painted for the Cincinnati Opera, Children's Theatre of Cincinnati and Town Hall Theatre, among many others. Ms. Reno has taught scenic artistry at the high school level. Her B Street credits include Boom!, Jenny Chow, Love Child, and Hound of the Baskervilles. She earned two bachelor of fine arts degrees from Northern Kentucky University in both set design and graphic design.

The B Street Theatre's Family Series is California's only fully professional, resident theater for children. Operating under a Theatre for Young Audience agreement with Actors Equity Association, the Family Series' mission is to introduce children to the wonder of professional theatre through the production of original plays, and original adaptations of contemporary novels and classic works of literature. Since its premiere season in 2003, the Family Series has presented over 40 professional plays for approximately 250,000 children and families of the Sacramento region.

More about B Street Theatre: B Street Theatre is a non-profit, professional theatre company producing primarily new work for adults, families and children. The two-theatre playhouse on B Street in Midtown Sacramento is home to the Mainstage Series, B3 Series and Family Series, each created to feature intimate, quality theatre for audiences year-round. Recognized as one of the nation's top professional theatres, B Street Theatre has produced more than 100 new plays, 60 of which are world, national, West Coast or regional premieres.

B Street Theatre was originally founded in 1986 for the purpose of bringing the excitement of live performance to children through the B Street Theatre School Tour. This educational outreach program serves over 200,000 students in Northern California annually.

B Street Theatre programs include the Mainstage Series, B Street Theatre Family Series and Family Series Student Matinees (for school field trips), the B3 Series, B Street School Tours, Sketch Comedy, B Street Acting Conservatory and Studio for Young People, and the B Street Theatre Internship program for pre-professional and post-college training.

In 2014, B Street brought its most popular play ever, Around the World in 80 Days, to India. The original cast performed in 3 Indian cities, furthering the organization's mission by bringing

high quality theatre to an international audience, while also raising money for Indian educational enrichment and schools and partnering with an overseas performing arts center with the hope of future international collaboration.

B Street Theatre has produced over 250 professional productions since 1986.

More information at www.bstreettheatre.org.

The mission of B Street Theatre is to promote education and literacy, social interaction, and cultural enrichment by engaging children and adults in the highest quality theatre arts and playwriting.

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