CHARLOTTE, N.C.: Children’s Theatre of Charlotte has announced its 2016–17 season, which will also include a play festival and educational programming.
The season will begin with A Year with Frog and Toad (Sept. 30–Oct. 16), with music by Robert Reale and book and lyrics by Willie Reale, based on the books by Arnold Loebe about a friendship between a frog and a toad throughout the seasons.
Next will be the world premiere of Grace for President (Oct. 21–Nov. 6), with book, music, and lyrics by Joan Cushing. The musical is based on Kelly S. DiPucchio’s book about a girl in third grade who discovers that there has never been a female president.
Following will be the world premiere of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical (Nov. 25–Dec. 23), adapted by Jahnna Beecham and Malcolm Hillgartner from the book by Barbara Robinson, about a group of mischievous children who decide to participate in the annual Christmas pageant when they learn that free snacks are involved.
Next will be Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook (Feb. 3–19, 2017). When Junie’s furry mittens go missing, she learns a lesson about respecting other people’s belongings and honesty.
Following will be Bud, Not Buddy (March 24–April 9, 2017), adapted by Reginald André Jackson from the novel by Christopher Paul Curtis about a 10-year-old in Depression-era Michigan who sets off to find his biological father.
Next up will be Go, Dog. Go! (April 14–30, 2017), adapted by Steven Dietz and Allison Gregor from P.D. Eastman’s book. The musical, which features music and lyrics by Michael Koerner, is about dogs on scooters and cars zooming around the world on their way to a special party.
The season will conclude with a festival (Jan.14—28, 2017) kicking-off with Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Following will be Carlos Alexis Cruz’s The Commedia Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The festival will conclude with Dennis Foon’s New Kid, about a young boy and his family who leave their native country for America.
Also part of the season will be the PlayPlay! Theatre series, featuring innovative performances for children, ages 3 and younger. Titles and dates will be announced at a later date.
The programming will also include teen performance experiences, a summer education program for 8th–12th graders to work with professional teaching artists and technicians to create productions.
The teen performances begin with Shakespeare’s The Tempest (July 1–2), about a shipwrecked party that lands on an island ruled by a sorcerer.
Following will be the teen performance of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita (Aug. 5–6), a musical about the legendary Argentine political leader and fashion icon Eva Perón.
Children’s Theatre of Charlotte, founded in 1948, mounts nearly 15 productions each year and provides educational programs for young people.
