Berkeley Playhouse TeenStage Presents CARNIVAL, Now thru 2/3

Berkeley Playhouse presents its next TeenStage production, CARNIVAL. Poignant, and poetic, CARNIVAL tells the tale of Lili, a charming orphan who appears at a small European traveling circus and is taken in by the troupe. Looked after by the carnival folk, Lili winds up performing in a show that becomes the circus' main attraction. She also becomes somewhat infatuated with the carnival's magician, but soon realizes that her future is entwined with the lame, misanthropic puppeteer. Featuring the hauntingly beautiful musical theme "Love Makes the World Go Round," 30 students from TeenStage perform this tender and complex love story.

Incorporating circus performance elements, including stilt-walking, magic, aerial arts, acrobatics, juggling, and mime, this production of CARNIVAL recreates the strange and wondrous world of a vintage traveling European circus. Kimberly Dooley (Lucky Duck, Seussical, the Musical, Once On This Island at Berkeley Playhouse) directs and choreographs this classic musical from the Golden Age of Broadway, with musical direction by Margaret Halbig (San Francisco Conservatory of Music).

Berkeley Playhouse believes that kids and teens have the ability to command their own audiences. The company's acclaimed TeenStage program gives talented students the opportunity to participate in full-scale youth-only productions of the highest quality with some of the best professional directors, choreographers, and designers in the Bay Area. Cast members of TeenStage productions receive ongoing training in acting, voice, and movement.

Nominated for eight and winner of five BATCC Awards for 2011, Berkeley Playhouse was founded by actor, director, and teacher for over 20 years, Elizabeth McKoy. Under the artistic guidance of McKoy, and Managing Director Lauren Hewitt, Berkeley Playhouse is a professional theater for all ages that presents a season of year-round musicals, providing children and families with unique and sophisticated musical theater experiences. In addition, Berkeley Playhouse has a music theater conservatory, which offers a range of educational instruction classes in music performance skills. In 2009, Berkeley Playhouse made its permanent performance home at the historic Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley.

The production runs tonight, February 1, 7pm; Saturday, February 2, 2pm and 7pm; Sunday, February 3, 2pm at the Julia Morgan Theatre, 2640 College Avenue, Berkeley. For tickets ($20 Adults, $15 Youth) and more information, the public may visit berkeleyplayhouse.org or call 510-845-8542x351.