Main Street Youth Theater to Present Classic Tale
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Main Street Youth Theater proudly presents Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland from the books by Lewis Carroll.  Adapted by Deborah Lynn Frockt and directed by Ted Giles, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland will be presented to the public March 5, 12, 19, 26, & April 2, 2005.  Recommended for Pre-Kindergarten – 4^th Grade students and their families.

Performances for the public are on Saturdays at 1pm, 3pm, & 5pm; performances for school groups are Monday–Friday, 9:30am, 11:00am and 12:30pm, March 1 – April 1, 2005. Performances are at Main Street Theater–Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose Boulevard in the Museum District.  Ticket prices for public performances are $9 for students and seniors and $11 for adults.  Tickets are on sale in person at the Main Street Theater Box Office at 4617 Montrose, via phone at 713.524.6706 or online at www.mainstreettheater.com.  Groups and schools should call 713.524.7998 or go online:  www.mainstreettheater.com.  Special rates available.

About Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Alice sits patiently as a Portrait Painter paints her picture.  Not very exciting for a young girl with a vivid imagination!  Suddenly the painter begins to suggest that Alice look deeper into the canvas on which he’s been working.  At first she only sees the little girl he has painted.  All of a sudden, the Painter steps through the picture frame and is gone!  When he does not return, Alice gets curious and goes through the frame herself and the next thing she knows – she is in Wonderland!

Once there, she meets all kinds of amazing and strange creatures.  A White Rabbit in a waistcoat with a pocket watch, a Lory, a Dodo, a Caterpillar, talking flowers, a crazy Cheshire Cat, a Gryphon, a Mad Hatter, an angry Queen, and many, many more.

At the peak of the craziness, when Alice fears for her very head, she finds herself back in the room where she started with the Painter who seems to have no idea what Alice has been through – no time seems to have passed at all!  Adults and children alike will love this classic tale of imagination and exploration.

About author Lewis Carroll

Lewis Carroll, born Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, was born on January 27, 1832.  Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, perhaps his most famous works, came to be after Carroll met a young girl named Alice Liddell and made up nonsense stories to amuse the child.  Carroll was also a mathematician and a prolific writer of mathematical works, though he is mainly known throughout the world for his marvelous Alice and her incredible Wonderland.  Carroll died on January 14, 1898 of bronchitis.

About the Production

Director Ted Giles returns to Main Street Youth Theater after directing last season’s production of Charlotte’s Web.  The production will feature Katharine Randolph as Alice.  Ms. Randolph recently starred as Leslie in Main Street Youth Theater’s Bridge to Terabithia and has also been in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and The Outsiders this season.  The rest of the cast includes Chris Tennison (The Outsiders, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Miss Nelson Has a Field Day) as Mouse/Tiger Lily/Tweedledum/the Mad Hatter/Humpty Dumpty/the Knave, Mischa Hutchings (The Outsiders, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Bridge to Terabithia) as Lory/Daisy/the Duchess/the Mock Turtle/Doormouse, Richard Solis (Julius Caesar) as the Caterpillar/the Cheshire Cat/the Gryphon/the White Knight/the King, Robert de los Reyes (The Outsiders, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Bridge to Terabithia) as the White Rabbit/Painter/Dodo/Royal Painter, and Linda Royce as Duck/Rose/Cook /Tweedledee/the March Hare/the Queen. 

The design team includes Boris Kaplun (set), Josiah Franklin (costumes), Blake Minor (lighting), Richard Solis (props), and Shawn W. St. John (sound).

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was originally commissioned and produced by Seattle Children’s Theatre.

Since 1975, Main Street Theater has produced high quality professional theater for audiences of all ages through its MainStage productions and Main Street Youth Theater.  The Main Street Theater Kids On Stage program offers performing arts classes and camps for children 5 years to 14 years of age.  The organization produces plays at two locations, 2540 Times Boulevard in Rice Village and 4617 Montrose Boulevard at Chelsea Market.

Main Street Theater is a member of the Fresh Arts Coalition, a collaboration of 19 arts organizations that work collectively to raise awareness of the size and diversity of the arts in Houston, and a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for not-for-profit theaters.  Main Street Youth Theater is a member of ASSITEJ, International Association of Theater for Children and Young People.

Main Street Youth Theater to Present
Superfudge

April 13 – May 20, 2005

Main Street Youth Theater proudly presents Superfudge from the book by Judy Blume.  A musical version of the beloved children's novel, the lyrics are by Faye Greenberg, the music is by David Evans, and the book is by Michael Slade.  Superfudge will be presented to the public April 23 & 30, May 7 & 14, 2005.  Performances for the public are on Saturdays at 1pm, 3pm, & 5 pm.  Recommended for 1st - 6th Grade students and their families.

Performances for school groups are Monday–Friday, 9:30am, 11:00am and 12:30pm, April 13 – May 20, 2005.  Performances are at Main Street Theater–Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose Boulevard in the Museum District.  Ticket prices for public performances are $9 for students and seniors and $11 for adults.  Tickets are on sale in person at the Main Street Theater Box Office at 4617 Montrose, via phone at 713.524.6706 or online at www.mainstreettheater.com.  Groups and schools should call 713.524.7998 or visit our website.  Special rates available.

About Superfudge

Peter believes his worst problem in life is his 4 year-old brother, Fudge.  That is, until he finds out his Mom is expecting another baby and the family is moving to New Jersey for a whole year!  Now he’s worried that he’s going to have another Fudge on his hands.  Peter will also have to face life at a new school, make new friends, live in a house instead of an apartment, help with the new baby, AND look out for Fudge who will be going to Peter’s school.  It’s just almost too much for any boy to handle.  Throughout these new adventures, Peter learns to make new friends, keep old friends, become a big help to his family and his school – and of course, a big help to Fudge.

Fudge, Peter, Sheila and the rest of the gang are back in this delightful musical sequel to Judy Blume’s Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.

About author Judy Blume

Judy Blume grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey and graduated from New York University in 1961.  She has written numerous books, most of which are for children, but some of her novels are for adults.  More than 75 million copies of her books have been sold.  Ms. Blume lives with her husband George Cooper, who is also a writer.  They have three grown children.

About the Production

Director Freeman Williams returns to Main Street Youth Theater after directing last season’s production of Henry & Ramona and If You Take a Mouse to School.  The production will feature Andrew Ruthven as Peter.  Mr. Ruthven recently appeared in Main Street Youth Theater’s The Outsiders and Miss Nelson Has a Field Day.  The rest of the cast includes Chris Tennison (The Outsiders, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Miss Nelson Has a Field Day) as Jimmy Fargo/Mr. Bogner/Henry/Daniel, Mischa Hutchings (The Outsiders, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Bridge to Terabithia) as Grandma/Mrs. Muldour/Joanne/Mabel/Ms. Ziff/Mrs. Manheim, Kregg Alan Dailey (The Outsiders, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Miss Nelson Has a Field Day) as Dad/Alex/Mr. Green, Linda Boelsche as Mom/Martha/Mrs. Hildebrandt, and child actress Lyndze Duke (Bridge to Terabithia) as Fudge.  Michael Mertz is the Musical Director.

The design team includes Henry Lozano (set), Blake Minor (lighting), Richard Solis (props), and Shawn W. St. John (sound).  Kathryn Lanning is the stage manager.

Since 1975, Main Street Theater has produced high quality professional theater for audiences of all ages through its MainStage productions and Main Street Youth Theater.  The Main Street Theater Kids On Stage program offers performing arts classes and camps for children 5 years to 14 years of age.  The organization produces plays at two locations, 2540 Times Boulevard in Rice Village and 4617 Montrose Boulevard at Chelsea Market.

Main Street Theater is a member of the Fresh Arts Coalition, a collaboration of 19 arts organizations that work collectively to raise awareness of the size and diversity of the arts in Houston, and a constituent of Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for not-for-profit theaters.  Main Street Youth Theater is a member of ASSITEJ, International Association of Theater for Children and Young People.