SEATTLE: Seattle Children’s Theatre has announced its 2017-18 season which will feature six shows for young audiences, including a handful of musicals and two world premieres. The season also brings the expansion of Access SCT which provides discount tickets for military and veteran families, and for students of SCT’s drama program.
“We are so proud of everything that awaits in 2017-18,” said artistic director Courtney Sale in a statement. “The titles will engage, inspire and wow you. We hope you will join us on the incredible journey of our 43rd season, and that families continue to create experiences together around the wonder of theatre arts.”
Kicking off the season will be Go, Dog. Go! (Sept. 28-Nov. 26), adapted by Allison Gregory and Steven Dietz, based on P.D. Eastman’s book, following the wild adventures of Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green Dog, canines who drive cars and get into other shenanigans.
Next up will be Mr. Popper’s Penguins (Nov. 9-Dec. 31), adapted for the stage by Pins and Needles Productions, featuring music by Luke Bateman and lyrics by Richy Hughes. This British tale follows a painter named Mr. Popper, his family, and Captain Cook, a penguin they’ve taken in. When Captain Cook finds a penguin wife and has penguin children, the Poppers find themselves outnumbered in their own home. The show will be presented in association with Kenny Wax Family Entertainment and TC Beech.
The season will continue with The Little Prince (Jan. 18-March 4. 2018), adapted by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar, based on the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, with original music by David Dabbon. A pilot stranded in the desert meets a young prince who has fallen from an asteroid onto Earth in this tale that explores the curiosities of the adult world. Sale will direct.
Following will be Citizen 13559: The Journal of Ben Uchida (Feb. 8-March 4, 2018), adapted by Naomi Iizuka, based on the book by Barry Denenberg, which looks at the life of Ben Uchida, a 12-year-old boy trapped in a Japanese internment camp in California during World War II.
Next will be the world premiere of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience (March 22-May 13, 2018), with book and lyrics by Mo Willems and music by Deborah Wicks La Puma. In this story of friendship accompanied by a rock score, Wilbur is a naked mole rat who loves clothes—despite the pressures from his friends to be just like everyone else.
Closing the season will be the world premiere of The Lamp is the Moon (April 12—May 20, 2018), by Kirk Lynn, about a science-loving young girl whose imagination wanders during nap time. One nap time, she and her friend Lamp go on an adventure to outer space.
Seattle Children’s Theatre, founded in 1975, is dedicated to producing new works for young audiences and offering educational programs to the community.
