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Thursday, May 31, 2012

THE GROWING STAGE ANNOUNCES 2012-2013 SEASON OFFERINGS: MARK YOUR CALENDARS

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The Growing Stage – The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey’s announces its 2012-2013 Main Stage Season—A WORLD OF PURE IMAGINATION! Based in the Historic Palace Theatre on Route 183 in Netcong, the professional Equity theatre company has developed a celebrated reputation and received national acclaim for presenting quality theatre for young people and their families throughout their 31 year history.

Opening September 22 and running to October 14 The Growing Stage opens its season with Roald Dahl’s WILLY WONKA, words and music by Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley and adapted for the Stage by Leslie Bricusse & Timothy A. McDonald. Roald Dahl's timeless story of the world famous candy man and his quest to find an heir comes to life in this stage adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which features the songs from the classic family film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. The memorable score features “The Candy Man,” “Pure Imagination,” “Oompa Loompa” and “I Want it Now” by Academy® and Grammy® award winners Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.

For the holidays from November 23 to December 23 the company presents RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, a musical stage adaptation of the classic 1964 Christmas television special. The stage adaptation by Robert Penola tells the timeless story of a true misfit who transforms into a beloved hero. Set in a magical, holiday world in and around the North Pole, and populated by endearing characters—from a talking snowman to flying reindeer—the production will feature Johnny Marks well-known Christmas songs and the enduring Christmas spirit of the television special which has been seen by over one billion people since 1964.

The New Year begins with the New Jersey Premiere of WITH TWO WINGS by Anne Negri that will run February 1 to the 24, 2013. In a world where people are born with wings and the ability to fly, a young boy named Lyf lives a hidden existence in the woods with his parents. One day, a pair of twins, Meta and Taur, stumble upon Lyf’s isolated home. Meta gives Lyf secret flying lessons and Taur begins to ask questions about Lyf’s mysterious family. When Lyf discovers his father’s top-secret invention, Lyf must confront his parents and face a reality that will either tear them apart or bring them closer together. This piece was selected from the Growing Stage’s 2011-2012 New Play Reading Series that was done in collaboration with Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey.

PINKALICIOUS THE MUSICAL closes the 31st Main Stage Season as it runs from April 12 to May 12. Based on the popular book by Elizabeth Kann & Victoria Kann, PINKALICIOUS features the music of John Gregor, with lyrics by John Gregor, Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann. This is the tale of Pinkalicious, who can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe – a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of this pink predicament. PINKALICIOUS THE MUSICAL is about learning the power of self-control and the importance of moderation.

In addition to its Main Stage offerings the Growing Stage will also continue its Youth Theatre initiative—the Studio Series—that provides young people the opportunity to work alongside the Growing Stage professional production team in all-youth productions at no cost.

The Series will open with EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON which was adapted by Brian Kral and is based on the Norwegian Folk Tale which will run from January 11 to 20, 2013. EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON features a young girl battling supernatural forces to free a young man from a terrible spell. Karen is on a quest into the dark Scandinavian wilderness, populated by magical trolls, mysterious hags and talking gargoyles. Without hesitation she struggles to save a young man from the curse that makes him "a bear by day and a man by night." Humor and heroic adventure accentuate this adaptation of the epic of a girl achieving adulthood.

Next in the Series is JUNGALBOOK, adapted by Edward Mast and based on the Mowgli stories of Rudyard Kipling which will run March 8 to 17. This dramatization places the jungle of India on a children's playground. The dialog and action refer to the jungle, but the play draws color and style from a child's intense world of playfulness, loyalty, adventure and betrayal. Mowgli, the human child grows up in the jungle, raised by wolves under the guidance of Baloo the bear. The tiger Sherakhan killed his parents and wants the boy's flesh, but Bagheera, the lone panther, protects him. Mowgli grows up wild and unconcerned, believing he's a wolf; but the tiger works long and hard to poison the wolf pack against him. With rope stolen from the human village, Mowgli meets and destroys Sherakhan; but his use of "manthing" has broken jungle law. Mowgli must choose whether to defy the law or leave the jungle forever. JUNGALBOOK received the Distinguished Play Award from the American Alliance for Theatre & Education.

The series concludes with SHUT DOWN by Growing Stage Teaching Artist Danny Campos who will also direct the piece. The performance date has not yet been determined. Technology—has it run amok? Individualism—is it a thing of the past? How do you unplug innovation that has been created to serve the masses, when a part of its outcome steals the creativity of the one? Presented in a unique, free format utilizing words and music—this piece explores the effect the wireless world has on communication, relationships and the social communities where our young people are growing up.

The Growing Stage will also feature THE WAR OF THE WORLDS adapted for the Radio by Howard Koch and based on the book by H.G. Wells. This presentation will be run October 27 & 28, 2012 and will be simulcast by an area radio station. On Sunday, October 30, 1938, millions of radio listeners were shocked when radio news alerts announced the arrival of Martians. They panicked when they learned of the Martians' ferocious and seemingly unstoppable attack on Earth. Many ran out of their homes screaming while others packed up their cars and fled. Though what the radio listeners heard was a portion of Orson Welles' adaptation of the well-known book, War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells, many of the listeners believed what they heard on the radio was real. All across the United States, listeners reacted. Thousands of people called radio stations, police and newspapers. Many in the New England area loaded up their cars and fled their homes. In other areas, people went to churches to pray. People improvised gas masks. Many people were hysterical. They thought the end was near.

For Season Ticket, Individual Show Tickets, Group Information and Birthday Party Plans call the TGS Box Office at 973.347.4946 or log onto www.growingstage.com. The Growing Stage—The Children’s Theatre of New Jersey programs are made possible, in part, by funding from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals.

The Growing Stage is committed to creating and presenting professional theatre for young people and their families. “It is not an offset or side programming feature of our organization—it’s our life’s work, it’s what we as a company of professional artists are dedicated to create for our audiences” states company director, Steve Fredericks. The Growing Stage strives to provide audiences with the unique and affordable opportunity to share a fun, culturally significant moment in their intimate and very special venue.