Creative Cauldron Presents Musical Adaptation of E.B. White Classic CHARLOTTE'S WEB

Creative Cauldron presents a beguiling new version of E.B. White's beloved classic story Charlotte's Web with music and lyrics by Broadway composer Charles Strouse (Annie, Bye Bye Birdie) and a book adapted by national award-winning playwright, Joseph Robinette. E.B. White's classic tells the story of Wilbur, a little pig who becomes famous with the help of his clever friend Charlotte the spider and their animal friends. The beautiful lessons of friendship and loyalty embedded in the story have made this tale one of the most famous classics of children's literature. Press night for Charlotte's Web is Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 8:00 PM at ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 South Maple Avenue, Falls Church, VA.

Charlotte's Web is directed by Matt Conner and features a professional cast that includes Will Stevenson as Wilbur and Abby Middleton as Charlotte. Stevenson appeared last season as Captain Crewe/Carrisford in A Little Princess, and Abby appeared as Diane de Poitier in The Mistress Cycle. Stevenson's other roles at Creative Cauldron include Fagin in Oliver Twist (2016) and Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol Memory (2017). He has appeared regionally as Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd at Red Branch Theatre and Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit at Adventure Theatre. Middleton's regional credits include: Magnolia in Showboat at Toby's Dinner Theatre and Some Enchanted Evening at Riverside Dinner Theatre. Sophia Manicone will play the role of Fern Arable, the precocious young girl who intervenes and saves Wilbur from the ax. Manicone appeared last season as Tina Denmark in Ruthless the Musical, and as the granddaughter in the world premiere musical Kaleidoscope. She received a 2017 WATCH nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Play for her role as Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird at Providence Players.

Fern's mother (Martha Arable) will be played by Izzy Smelkinson and her father (John Arable) will be played by Sylvern Groomes Jr. Smelkinson made her debut last season as the irascible Miss Minchin in A Little Princess. Groomes recently appeared as Nick in Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day at Adventure Theatre, and The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber at Riverside Center for the Arts. Fern's aunt and uncle, Homer and Edith Zuckerman will be played by Garrett Matthews and Anna Philips Brown. Matthews has been a regular performer with the In Series professional cabarets and recently appeared as Oliver in the Rainbow Theatre's production of The Doma Diaries. Brown is a student in the musical theatre program at Catholic University who is currently appearing as Aunt March in Little Women. She claimed the title of first runner up in Signature Theatre's "Signature Voice" program in 2016.

Participants from Creative Cauldron's Musical Theater pre-professional training program will play ensemble roles in Charlotte's Web. After an eight-week workshop process that provides instruction in dance, voice and acting technique, participants are then invited to join the professional cast of Creative Cauldron's final production of the season. The program was launched last season with The Wizard of Oz. Ensemble members include: Madeline Aldana, Morgan Beltson, Libby Brooke, Miri Brooke, Talia Cutler, Mai Gabra, Leif Hernandez, Emma Hill, Nora Hill, Alyson Kentner-Leary, Amelia Magee, Constance Meade, Alessandra Simmons-Robles, Gabriela Simmons-Robles, Owen Thiebert and Arianna Vargas.

Helen Hayes Award nominated director Matt Conner (The Turn of the Screw and Blues in the Night) will be joined on the creative team by resident scenic, costume and puppet designer Margie Jervis, Lighting Designer, Lynn Joslin and Music Director, Amy Conley.

Tickets for Charlotte's Web can be purchased at creativecauldron.org or by calling 703-436-9948.