Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater
presents
Theatreworks USA
the Pittsburgh premiere of
Skippyjon Jones
November 13-20, 2011
Six performance locations throughout Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, presents Theatreworks USA in the Pittsburgh premiere of Skippyjon Jones on November 13-20, 2011, at six performance locations throughout the area. Performance locations include:
City: Byham Theater, November 13 at 2:00 p.m. & Student Matinee: November 14 at 10:15 a.m.;
East: Gateway High School, November 16 at 7:00 p.m.;
North: Marshall Middle School, November 17 at 5:30 & 7:30 p.m.;
West: Moon Area High School, November 18 at 7:00 p.m.;
South: Upper St. Claire High School, November 19 at 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.; and
Butler: Seneca Valley Senior High School, November 20 at 2:00 p.m. Citizens Bank is the season sponsor of Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, and Erie Insurance is the lead performance sponsor.
Based upon the best-selling children’s picture book by Judith Byron Schachner, Theatreworks USA’s Skippyjon Jones is a new musical about a Siamese kitten that just refuses to be an ordinary cat.
This stage adaption features a libretto and lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila and a score by Eli Bolin. The show is directed by Peter Flynn and choreographed by Devanand Janki, with costumes by Tracy Christensen, and sets by Rob Odorisio. The musical staged adaption will feature characters from the book: Skippyjon Jones, Junebug (Skippyjon Jones’ mother), El Skippito Bandito (the greatest Chihuahua sword fighter in Mexico), Great Bumblebeeto (a giant bee who has stolen all of their beans), and Chihuahua friends Los Chimichangos. This 60 minute play is recommended for ages 3-10.
Since 1961, Theatreworks USA has enlightened, entertained, and instructed over 68 million people in 49 states and Canada. The company tours approximately 16 shows from its ever-growing repertoire of 110 plays and musicals, performing for about four million people annually. Under the direction of Barbara Pasternack (Artistic Director) and Ken Arthur (Managing Director), Theatreworks USA is the only children's theatre to receive both a Drama Desk and a Lucille Lortel Award, and they are known for an extensive multi-cultural guest artist roster, including storytellers, puppeteers, poets, and magicians.
Pennsylvania-native Judith Byron Schachner has been illustrating and writing children's books since 1992. Her stories have held a place among the The Center for Children’s Books Best Books of 1999, The Mockingbird Award Books, Young Hoosier Book Award K-3, and Washington Children's Choice Picture Book. In 2004, Schachner won the E. B. White Read Aloud Award for Skippyjon Jones, as well as the New Hampshire State Library’s 2005 Ladybug Picture Book Award, the 2005 Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award, and the 2006 Colorado Council International Reading Association (CCIRA) Colorado Children’s Book Award for a Picture Book. She currentlylives in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania with her family, a dog, and two Siamese cats.
Individual tickets ($11 at the door; $9.50 in advance) can be ordered online at www.trustarts.org/KIDS, by calling (412) 456-6666, or in person at the Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue. Group tickets can be ordered by calling (412) 471-6930; and for season subscriptions call (412) 456-1390.
Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, opens the door for children to experience professional performing arts programming which inspires, challenges, educates, and stimulates respect for and an understanding of all cultures in an entertaining and enlightening way. Each year Pittsburgh International Children's Theater presents a Family Series and the Pittsburgh International Children's Festival, which is one of only four international children's theater festivals in the nation.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit organization whose mission is the cultural and economic development of Pittsburgh’s 14-block Cultural District through public and private support. The Trust presents and encourages diverse performing and visual arts programs within the District, and is an impetus for additional development in downtown Pittsburgh. In addition to the Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater and Children’s Festival, The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust presents the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series Pittsburgh Dance Council, Trust Presents, CD Live, JazzLive, First Night Pittsburgh, Gallery Crawl, and Three Rivers Arts Festival, among other Cultural District and arts events. The Trust owns Theater Square and the Cabaret at Theater Square; James E. Rohr Building & Arts Education Center; the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts; Byham, O’Reilly, and Harris Theaters; visual arts galleries: Wood Street Galleries; SPACE, at 812 Liberty Avenue and 937 Liberty, a multipurpose performance and exhibit space, among other downtown arts facilities. www.TrustArts.org
