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THE TEACHER FROM THE BLACK LAGOON
& OTHER STORY BOOKS
The Teacher From the Black Lagoon & Other Story Books, a musical revue based on favorite
contemporary children’s literature, will be performed at _______________________________________ on
__________________________________ at ________ o’clock under the auspices of
______________________________________________.
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Eight delightful stories come to life in Theatreworks USA’s musical revue The Teacher From the
Black Lagoon & Other Story Books. Books featured in the show include:
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“THE TEACHER FROM THE BLACK LAGOON” Follow Hubie’s imagination as he faces his comically
horrific fears and discovers that his new teacher is pleasantly human after all. Based on The Teacher
from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler and Jared Lee, adapted by Michael Ogborn.
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“DOGZILLA” During the First Annual Barbecue Cook-Off, the dreaded Dogzilla awakens and the
residents of Mousopolis must run for their lives. Can they get rid of that stinky dog before it’s too late
and Mousopolis is destroyed? Based on Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey, adapted by Kevin Del Aguila and Eli
Bolin.
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"GRUMPY BIRD" Bird woke up one morning feeling too grumpy to fly or play. A succession of happygo-lucky animals help Bird turn his day around as a walk turns into an impromptu game of
follow-the-leader. Based on Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard, adapted by Kevin Del Aguila and Eli
Bolin.
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“I WANT MY HAT BACK” Bear’s hat is gone and he wants it back! No one seems to know where it is!
When the Deer comes by and asks a simple question, the Bear’s memory suddenly returns and he
renews his search with a vengeance. Based on I Want My Hat Back, by Jon Klassen, adapted by
Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin.
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“LILY’S PURPLE PLASTIC PURSE” Lily loves everything about school, especially her teacher, Mr.
Slinger- until he takes away her musical purse. Lily’s fury leads to revenge, then to remorse as she
sets out to make amends. Based on Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes, adapted by David A.
Austin.
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“LOVE SPLAT (SPLAT THE CAT)” Splat has a special valentine for his classmate Kitten, but she
doesn’t seem to like him at all. Will Splat’s heartfelt valentine win Kitten’s paw in the end? Based on
Love Splat (Splat the Cat) by Rob Scotton, adapted by Sam Carner and Derek Gregor.
(MORE )
TEACHER FROM THE BLACK LAGOON…
THEATREWORKS USA
PAGE 2 of 2
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"THE GRASSHOPPER AND THE ANT" An Ant community narrowly focused on work and possessions
learns from the music of little Grasshopper that feeding the belly and feeding the soul both have
value. Based a fable by Aesop, adapted by Eric March.
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Tommy Newman wrote the revue’s opening number, “All You Need is a Book”
The workshop for this production featured direction by Jeremy Dobrish and choreography by Connor
Gallagher. The scenery is designed by Rob Odoriso, with costumes by Lora LaVon. This 60-minute musical
is recommended for ages 4 and up.
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Theatreworks USA has a distinguished history of not only providing young audiences with their first
taste of the performing arts, but also giving young actors, writers, directors, and designers an early
opportunity to work in this field. A list of Theatreworks USA alumni reads like a veritable "who's who" of
theatre: four-time Tony-winning director Jerry Zaks, Robert Jess Roth (Beauty and the Beast), Michael Mayer
(Thoroughly Modern Millie); writers Marta Kauffman and David Crane (TV's "Friends"), Lynn Ahrens and
Steven Flaherty (Ragtime, Once on This Island), Jason Robert Brown (Parade), Larry O'Keefe (Bat Boy),
Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx (Avenue Q); and Tony-winning actors John Lloyd Young, Roger Bart, Chuck
Cooper, and John Glover. Esteemed performers F. Murray Abraham, Henry Winkler, and Judy Kuhn also got
their start with Theatreworks, and other actors have gone on to originate lead roles in such Broadway shows
as Avenue Q, Hairspray, Young Frankenstein, Rent, Wicked, Jersey Boys, and many others. The actors,
writers, director, choreographer, and designers of The Teacher From the Black Lagoon may also go on to
similar success in musical theatre.
Theatreworks USA is America's largest and most prolific professional not-for-profit theatre for young
and family audiences. Since 1961, Theatreworks USA has enlightened, entertained, and instructed over 90
million people in 49 states and Canada, now performing for about three million people annually. Every year,
the company tours approximately 16 shows from its ever-growing repertoire of 133 plays and musicals. In
addition, Theatreworks USA also has an extensive multi-cultural guest artist roster, including storytellers,
puppeteers, poets, and magicians. Under the direction of Barbara Pasternack (Artistic Director) and Ken
Arthur (Managing Director), Theatreworks USA is also one of the most honored theatres of its kind. It is the
only children's theatre to receive both a Drama Desk and a Lucille Lortel Award. In addition, Theatreworks
USA was the recipient of a 2001 Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Award, and in May 2000,
The Actors Fund of American bestowed its Medal of Honor upon its founders, Jay Harnick and Charles Hull.
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