Download chicago children`s theatre exporting its singular brand of top

Press contact: Jay Kelly, L.C. Williams & Associates
[email protected] or 312.565.4623
CHICAGO CHILDREN’S THEATRE EXPORTING ITS SINGULAR BRAND OF
TOP-QUALITY CHILDREN’S THEATER AROUND THE U.S
RECENT HITS THE HUNDRED DRESSES AND JACKIE AND ME PICKED UP FOR
PRODUCTIONS IN NEW YORK, HOUSTON AND ST. LOUIS
Photos of Chicago Children’s Theatre’s world premiere productions of The Hundred Dresses and Jackie and Me
by Michael Brosilow. Contact Jay Kelly, [email protected] or 312.565.4623 for hi-res versions.
CHICAGO, February 13, 2011 – Chicago Children’s Theatre, now enjoying a smash hit run with its newest
world premiere musical, The Houdini Box, is proud to announce the company is exporting its singular
brand of professional children’s theater beyond the Windy City and to major cities around the U.S.
CCT’s smash hit musical The Hundred Dresses, which premiered at Chicago’s Royal George Theater in
2009, will make its New York debut in a new production by Atlantic Theater Company, Feb. 19-May 11.
Based on Eleanor Estes’ timeless children’s novel, The Hundred Dresses tackles the topic of bullying
head on by taking audiences on a fun, funny, heartwarming journey that explores the bonds of
friendship, the willingness to be yourself, and the courage it takes to stand up to others ― even when
you’re standing alone.
CCT’s production of The Hundred Dresses, which had a subsequent successful run in 2010 at Skokie’s
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, was co-written by musician Ralph Covert (Ralph's World,
The Bad Examples) and G. Riley Mills, and was originally directed by CCT Artistic Associate Sean Graney.
The Chicago Sun-Times called it "altogether beguiling...enchanting...bound to become a family
classic...its biggest hit to date." The Chicago Tribune raved "The best yet! Chicago Children's Theatre
has delivered on its promise to elevate the experience of children's theatre in this city."
-more-
Chicago Children’s Theatre’s The Hundred Dresses and Jackie and Me around the U.S.2.13.12.pg 2 of 3
“As a theater devoted to tackling important social issues impacting today’s youth, we think The Hundred
Dresses is the ideal production to introduce our work to audiences outside of Chicago and to add to the
children’s theater canon nationally,” said Jacqueline Russell, Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Chicago
Children’s Theatre. “The play’s anti-bullying message struck a strong chord in Chicago with children,
parents, critics and educators. So we are thrilled that this new New York production of The Hundred
Dresses will bring even more national attention to the critical issue of bullying, not to mention the
pioneering new play development work of Chicago Children’s Theatre. Plus, we have our own plans to
tour CCT’s original production of The Hundred Dresses regionally in the future as well.”
For tickets to the The Hundred Dresses at New York’s Atlantic Theater, presented in the Peter Norton
Space, 555 West 42nd St., call 212.279.4200 or visit atlantictheater.org.
More recently, Chicago Children’s Theatre hit another one out of the ballpark when it opened its world
premiere play Jackie and Me about Jackie Robinson last year at this time. Like The Hundred Dresses,
Jackie and Me has been picked up for subsequent productions at Houston’s Main Street Theater, Feb. 6Feb. 24, and the Metro Theater Company in St. Louis, Jan. 8-Jan. 23, 2013.
Based on the popular children’s novel by Dan Gutman about the courageous athlete who broke
baseball’s color barrier, Jackie and Me was adapted by acclaimed playwright Steven Dietz, and originally
directed by Derrick Sanders. CCT’s world premiere was quickly awarded 3-1/2 stars by the Chicago
Tribune, and hailed as “smart, charming and tremendously engaging” by the Chicago Sun-Times.
For tickets to the current production in Houston, call the Main Street Theater box office, 713.524.6706
or visit mainstreetheater.com. For information about the Metro Theater Company’s 2013 production of
Jackie and Me in St. Louis, call 314.997.6777 or visit metrotheatercompany.org
Back in Chicago…The Magic Continues!
CCT’s newly opened world premiere musical The Houdini Box, based on the book by Brian Selznick,
author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret (now Martin Scorsese’s Oscar nominated Best Picture Hugo) is
wowing critics and audiences alike. The Chicago Tribune called CCT’s charming story of a boy who
idolizes Harry Houdini a “big-hearted production” that “merits a trip to the Mercury Theater with
someone one loves.” The Chicago Sun-Times raved “Highly Recommended…adults and children are sure
to fall in love” with the show. Time Out Chicago called it a “fun-loving musical” with “whiz-bang visuals
and whimsical puppetry.”
The Houdini Box, directed by Blair Thomas, music by Mark Messing, book and lyrics by Hannah Kohl,
runs now through Mar. 4 at Chicago’s Mercury Theatre, 3745 N. Southport Ave., Chicago (tickets:
773.325.1700 or chicagochildrenstheatre.org), followed by a suburban remount Mar. 14-25 at the North
Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie (tickets: 847.673.6300 or chicagochildrenstheatre.org)
Following The Houdini Box, Chicago Children’s Theater completes its 2011-2012 by presenting the
internationally acclaimed Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia’s Brown Bear, A Moon and A Caterpillar:
Treasured Stories by Eric Carle, May 2-May 27, at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln
Avenue, Chicago. For discounted school, scout and group rates to The Houdini Box or Brown Bear…,
contact GroupTix at 773.327.3778 or visit GroupTix.net.
-more-
Chicago Children’s Theatre’s The Hundred Dresses and Jackie and Me around the U.S.2.13.12.pg 3 of 3
About Chicago Children’s Theatre
Chicago Children’s Theatre focuses on the production of first-rate children’s theatre in Chicago, with top
writing, performing and directorial talent and high-quality design and production expertise. Chicago
Children’s Theatre aspires to enrich our community through diverse and significant theatrical and
educational programming that engages and inspires the child in all of us.
Led by Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell, and Board Chair Todd Leland, the company is supported by a
committed Artistic Council of Chicago-based actors, directors, musicians and designers, and a dynamic
Board of Directors comprised of dedicated individuals from the fields of entertainment, philanthropy
and business. Officers include David Saltiel, President; J. Scot Pepper and Jacqueline Tilton, Vice Chairs;
Lynn Lockwood Murphy, Vice Chair and Secretary; and David Chung, Treasurer.
Launched in 2005, Chicago Children’s Theatre strives to provide affordable and accessible theatre for
families and area school children. To enhance the impact of any given production’s themes, Chicago
Children’s Theatre offers educational materials and programs for families and educators.
For more information about Chicago Children’s Theatre visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call
773.227.0180.
# # #