Seattle Public Theater Youth and Woodland Park Zoo to Present THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, 9/17-19

Seattle Public Theater's (SPT) Youth and Woodland Park Zoo (WPZ) present their first collaboration with this classic story of friendship and adventure. Adapted by Don Fleming from Kenneth Grahame's timeless tale, The Wind in the Willows is directed by SPT alumna and veteran teaching artist, Emily Purington.

FOUR [free] performances: Friday, October 17th @ 7pm, October 18 @ 2pm & 7pm, and October 19th @ 2pm at the historic Bathhouse Theater on Green Lake. Admission to all Youth performances is free to the community. Donations are encouraged to support SPT's Theater Youth Program and to offer student tuition assistance.

Join Woodland Park Zoo and Seattle Public Theater's Youth Program for their first collaboration and this classic story of friendship and adventure! Based on Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows! Will Mr. Toad's friends be able to convince him to give up stealing human beings' motor cars and return to being a simple toad before the devious weasels, ferrets and stoats take over Toad Hall?

"I am thrilled to work on this play with such an amazing group of young actors," says director Emily Purington. "I'm so glad we have formed this partnership with Woodland Park Zoo! Our cast excursions to the Zoo have been especially rewarding, as observational learning is an important part of the acting process. We've been able to learn so much about the animals in our play from getting to see them up close."

"This book is one of the favorites of my childhood," says SPT Artistic and Education Director, Shana Bestock. "It blends sophisticated language with a deep and joyful love of nature and friendship that continues to inform my life today! Plus, this partnership with the Zoo is a dream a long time in the making, and I'm thrilled to see it come to life!"

"This partnership allows us to spread our wings in the community and bring a new audience to the zoo," says Margaret White, Woodland Park Zoo Associate Director of Education and Business Operations. The Wind in the Willows offers a wonderful synergy between theatre arts and the natural world."

The Wind in the Willows is directed by Emily Purington and assistant directed by Britt Boyd. The production features the acting talents of Aliyah Goldberg, Calvin Johnson, Camille Lauvstad, Celeste Castaneda-Lopez, Elora Coble, Felix Coble, James Brammer, Mia Sanchez, Stellan Rude and Una Christophersen.

Ensemble features actors Grades 5-8.