Photo Flash: TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Presents TUCK EVERLASTING

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley brings an enchanted bestseller to life for the holidays with the regional premiere of Tuck Everlasting. Set in the 1890s, free-spirited Winnie Foster searches for adventure, finding the Tucks, a close-knit family that has discovered the secret to everlasting life. Winnie faces the choice of a lifetime: return to everyday life, or join the Tucks on their infinite, irreversible voyage through time. Directed by TheatreWorks Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley, Tuck Everlasting will be presented November 28 - December 30 (press opening: December 1) at Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto. For tickets ($40-$100) and more information the public may visit TheatreWorks.org or call (650) 463-1960.

Featuring a rousing score with music by Chris Miller and lyrics by Nathan Tysen and a wealth of warm-hearted humor in Claudia Shear and Tim Federle's charming book, this whimsical Broadway musical offers families a magical holiday treat. This production also marks something of a homecoming for Miller and Tysen, who created songs for Tuck Everlasting while in residence at the 2010 TheatreWorks' Writers' Retreat, and developed and presented their earlier musical The Burnt Part Boys at TheatreWorks' 2006 New Works Festival.

Based on the bestselling novel by Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting has been adapted into a 2002 Disney film and a 1981 One Pass media film. The musical adaptation of Tuck Everlasting made its World Premiere at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre in 2015, where it won the Suzi Bass Award for "Outstanding Musical Production." Its 2016 Broadway debut was nominated for a Tony Award, as well as the Outer Critics Circle Award for "Outstanding Musical" and Drama League Award for "Outstanding Production of a Musical." The New York Times called it "Rapturous, warm-spirited and touching," while Associated Press declared, "The music is magical. Long may it live." Variety said, "This is an intimate family story of love, loss and the purpose and power of storytelling in the American folk tradition of Twain and Wilder."

TheatreWorks has assembled a stellar cast for this production, featuring Natalie Schroeder and Katie Maupin who share the part of Winnie Foster. Schroeder returns to TheatreWorks after performing as Young Miriam/ Leah in last season's world premiere of Stephen Schwartz's The Prince of Egypt. One of 12 performers to be selected to sing the national anthem for the U.S. Open, Schroeder has also performed at Lincoln Center in the Broadway Dreams NYC Showcase and at Berkeley Playhouse. Making her TheatreWorks debut, Maupin has starred in productions at 42nd Street Moon and Hillbarn Theatre.

Photo Credit: Kevin Berne