Skippyjon Jones

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Show Publicist: Shaunda Miles, Director of Public Relations, 412-471-1578/Miles@TrustArts.org      
Other Contact: Diana Roth, Communications Manager, 412-471-8717/Roth@TrustArts.org
Images available: TrustArts.org/press
Search: 2014 Skippyjon

PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST ANNOUNCES

PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S THEATER

PRESENTS

THEATREWORKS USA IN

SKIPPYJON JONES

OCTOBER 19 ̶ 26, 2014 | SIX PERFORMANCE LOCATIONS IN PITTSBURGH!
Pittsburgh, PA ̶   Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, a division of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, presents Theatreworks USA’s Skippyjon Jones from October 19 ̶ 26, 2014, at six performance locations throughout the area.  Tickets go on sale September 8th at 9:00am.

“A popular book brought to life on stage opens our season and we are excited to host this award-winning theater company so that children and families throughout the region can experience live professional performances in their neighborhood,” commented Pamela K. Lieberman, Manager of Children’s Programming from the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Executive Director of Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater.

Citizens Bank is the 2014-2015 season sponsor of Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater.
Theatreworks USA’s Skippyjon Jones, based on the book of same title by Judy Schachner, is an enchanting musical for younger audiences that tells a story about unleashing your powerful imagination and following your dreams.  Devanand Janki is the director and choreographer for this current tour.  The scenery is designed by Rob Odorisio, with costumes by Tracy Christensen and features a libretto and lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila (Drama Desk nominee for ALTAR BOYZ and Theatreworks USA’s Click, Clack, Moo!).  Theatreworks USA’s Skippyjon Jones was nominated for a 2013 Lucille Lortel Award in the Outstanding Musical category.  This 60-minute musical is recommended for ages 4 and up.

Photo Credit:  Jeremy Daniel

Skippyjon Jones tells the tale of a Siamese cat with big dreams and an even bigger will to be anything but a cat! “Holy guacamole,” Skippyjon exclaims. “My ears are too big for my head, my head is too big for my body. I am not a Siamese cat – I am a CHIHUAHUA!” Take an adventurous ride as Skippyjon Jones struggles to find himself and is faced with one of the biggest decision of his life; will he help save his “fellow” Chihuahua’s or will he soon realize that he may be the wimpy little Siamese cat that he’s been hiding from.

To view a sample of this stage production, visit: http://www.theatreworksusa.org/show_detail.cfm?show=1546

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.  Subscriptions and Flex Ticket Packages to the Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater series are available by calling 412-456-1390.

Illustration from Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachter. ©Theatreworks USA.

Performance Locations

City: Byham Theater | Sunday, October 19 | 2:00 p.m.
Students only matinee | Byham Theater | Monday, October 20 | 10:15 a.m.
East: Penn Hills High School | Wednesday, October 22 | 7:00 p.m.
North: Marshall Middle School | Thursday, October 23 | 5:30 & 7:30 p.m.
West: Moon Area High School | Friday, October 24 | 7:00 p.m.
South: Upper St. Clair High School | Saturday, October 25 | 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
Butler: Seneca Valley Intermediate High School | Sunday, October 26 | 2:00 p.m.

Theatreworks USA
Theatreworks USA is America's largest not-for-profit theatre for young and family audiences. Since 1961, Theatreworks USA has engaged and educated over 85 million people in 49 states and Canada, now performing for about three million people annually.  Theatreworks USA has a reputation providing young audiences with their first theater experiences as well as providing young actors, writers, directors, and designers with experience and training within this field.

Read more about Theatreworks USA
Page to Stage: Turning Children's Books into Theater Productions, By Raven Snook | Publisher’s Weekly, April 5, 2013

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/56695-page-to-stage-turning-children-s-books-into-theater-productions.html

Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater
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.  The Family Series, now in its 45th season, introduces children to the arts early in life sparking their interest and appreciation so they continue to enjoy and support the arts as they grow up.

The 2014 ̶ 2015 Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater series also includes:
Skink | November 16 ̶ 22, 2014 | Six locations
Big Nate (Season Special) | November 23 ̶ 24, 2014 | Byham Theater only
Click, Clack, Moo!  | January 11 ̶ 18, 2015 | Six locations
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse   | February 22 ̶ March 1, 2015 | Six locations
The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley | April 4 ̶ 10, 2015 | Byham Theater only
In addition to the Family Series, the Children’s Theater division presents the annual Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival, one of only four international children’s theater festivals in the nation.  Now in its 29th year, the Pittsburgh International Children’s Festival will take place May 13 ̶ 17, 2015.  For more information, visit www.TrustArts.org/kids.

Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has overseen one of Pittsburgh’s most historic transformations: turning a seedy red-light district into a magnet destination for arts lovers, residents, visitors, and business owners. Founded in 1984, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a non-profit arts organization whose mission is the cultural and economic revitalization of a 14-block arts and entertainment/residential neighborhood called the Cultural District. The District is one of the country’s largest land masses “curated” by a single nonprofit arts organization. A major catalytic force in the city, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is a unique model of how public-private partnerships can reinvent a city with authenticity, innovation and creativity. Using the arts as an economic catalyst, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has holistically created a world-renowned Cultural District that is revitalizing the city, improving the regional economy and enhancing Pittsburgh’s quality of life. Thanks to the support of foundations, corporations, government agencies and thousands of private citizens, the Trust stands as a national model of urban redevelopment through the arts. www.TrustArts.org
Follow us on Twitter @CulturalTrust, and like us on Facebook.
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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

44th Season of Pgh International Children's Theater Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today's date: May 15, 2013
Media Contacts:
Shaunda Miles – Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, 412-471-1578 / miles@TrustArts.org
Diana Roth – Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, 412-471-8717 / roth@TrustArts.org

Electronic images are available: http://trustarts.org/press
Search: 2013-2014 Children's Theater

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
announces the 44th season
Pittsburgh International Children's Theater 2013-2014 Family Series
Featuring award-winning theater companies from
Canada, Russia, United Kingdom and the USA.

Six perfomance locations throughout the Pittsburgh area.

PITTSBURGH, PA:  The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is pleased to announce the 2013-2014 Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater Family Series.  Now in its 44th season, the Family Series will present award-winning, professional theater companies featuring live performances for young audiences ages 3 and up.   Performances based on prize-winning and popular children’s books adapted for the stage by  Theatreworks USA (USA), Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia (Canada), and Big Wooden Horse Theatre Company (UK) can be seen at various locations throughout the Pittsburgh area.   Hand Made Theatre (Russia) will present a U.S. premiere choreography that creates a magical world of trains, boats, ticking clocks, flocks of birds and more.  New to the 2013-2014 Family Series is a series special, Junie B. Jones by Theatreworks USA.  School matinee performances for some shows will be held on Mondays at 10:15 a.m., at the Byham Theater.

Citizens Bank is the season sponsor of Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater 2013-14 Family Series.

“Through the tradition of performing arts, Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater is proud to bring the 44th Family Series, featuring timeless storybook favorites-old and new- along with a US premiere from Russia. Bringing these artists and performances to the Pittsburgh area for children and their families to enjoy and experience live- some for the first time- is at the heart of our goals,” commented Pamela K. Lieberman, Manager of Children’s Programming-Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Executive Director -Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater.

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.  The series introduces children to the arts early in life sparking their interest and appreciation so they continue to enjoy and support the arts as they grow up.  In addition to the Family Series, the Children’s Theater division also presents the annual Pittsburgh International Children's Festival (May 14-18, 2014, 28th year; details to be announced Fall 2013), one of only four international children's theater festivals in the nation.

Tickets and Information
Season Tickets: TrustArts.org/kids • 412-456-1390
Single Tickets: TrustArts.org/kids • 412-456-6666
Group Tickets: TrustArts.org/groups • 412-471-6930

Five-show season subscription ($42) includes Peter Pan, Time for Fun, Stuck, Teacher from the Black Lagoon, and Swimmy, Frederick & Inch by Inch.  Season Ticket holders can order extra tickets, when available, to any show at a reduced rate of $9.

Flex Ticket Package ($55.50) includes a package of six tickets.   Flex tickets are vouchers that can be exchanged for tickets to any available performance during the season. Additional vouchers can be added on at the time of purchase for $9.25.

Single Tickets: $9.50 in advance • $11.00 at the door, if available.
Group Tickets (10 or more): $8 per person

Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater 2013-2014 Family Series

Theatreworks USA (USA), Peter Pan
Peter Pan has never been told like this! This production encourages children to let their imaginations take “flight” and to create their own adventures. Watch as a group of children playing in an old attic morph into the classic characters of Peter Pan right before your eyes!

October 20-27, 2013, Ages 3 and up
•         City:  Byham Theater, Sunday, October 20, 2pm
•         East: Linton Middle School, Wednesday, October 23, 7pm
•         North: Marshall Middle School, Thursday, October 24, 5:30 & 7:30pm
•         West: Hopewell High School, Friday, October 25, 7pm
•         South: Mt. Lebanon High School, Saturday, October 26, 11am & 2pm
•         Butler: Seneca Valley Intermediate High School, Sunday, October 27, 2pm

Since 1961, Theatreworks USA has enlightened, entertained, and instructed over 78 million people in 49 states and Canada.  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.

Hand Made Theatre (Russia), Time for Fun, US Premiere
Time for Fun delights children with wonderfully choreographed hands and arms interlock and entwine to create trains, sailboats, ticking clocks, flocks of birds and more in this St. Petersburg production making its U.S. Premiere!

November 17-24, 2013, All Ages
•         City: Byham Theater, Sunday, November 17, 2pm
•         East: Linton Middle School, Wednesday, November 20, 7pm
•         North: Marshall Middle School, Thursday, November 21, 5:30 & 7:30pm
•         West: Moon Area High School, Friday, November 22, 7pm
•         South: Upper St. Clair High School, Saturday, November 23, 11am & 2pm
•         Butler: Seneca Valley Intermediate High School, Sunday, November, 24, 2pm

Hand Made Theatre from St. Petersburg, Russia presents a unique performance through skilled puppetry, imagination, humor, and storytelling, performers use their hands to a create a magical world on stage.  The company’s actors are trained in puppetry at Russia’s State Theatre Arts Academy.

Big Wooden Horse Theatre Company (UK), Stuck
Floyd got his kite Stuck in a tree! To get the Kite down, he tosses his shoe in the tree to shift if… but that gets Stuck, too! Soon, Floyd’s other shoe, his cat, a ladder, the kitchen sink, and an orangutan areStuck in the tree, too! This brand new story by Oliver Jeffers has been adapted into an exciting production by the team behind Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and The Way Back Home.

January 12-19, 2014, Ages 3-10
•         City: Byham Theater, Sunday, January 12, 2pm
•         East: Linton Middle School, Wednesday, January 15, 7pm
•         North: Marshall Middle School, Thursday, January 16, 5:30 & 7:30pm
•         West: Moon Area High School, Friday, January 17, 7pm
•         South: Upper St. Clair High School, Saturday, January 18, 11am & 2pm
•         Butler: Seneca Valley Intermediate High School, January 19, 2pm

Big Wooden Horse Theatre Company presents high quality theatre to younger audiences in the United Kingdom and represents the best of British theatre craft abroad.  The company believes that young people deserve the highest quality of writing, performance and production that a professional theatre company can offer.  They strive to both entertain and inform young people, drawing from difference cultures and traditions.

Theatreworks USA (USA), Teacher from the Black Lagoon
This musical revue based on the books Teacher from the Black Lagoon, Dogzilla, I Want My Hat Back, Love, Splat, and more show outrageously funny ways that our imagination can get the best of us! These stories promise to have you laughing in the face of fear and singing along!

February 16-23, 2014, Ages 3-10
•         Butler: Seneca Valley Intermediate High School, Sunday, February 16, 2pm
•         East: Linton Middle School, Wednesday, February 19, 7pm
•         North: Marshall Middle School, Thursday, February 20, 5:30 & 7:30pm
•         West: Moon Area High School, Friday, February 21, 7pm
•         South: Mt. Lebanon High School, Saturday, February 22, 11am & 2pm
•         City: Byham Theater, Sunday, February 23, 2pm

Cover Illustration by Denis Brunkus

Theatreworks USA: June B. Jones (Series Special), Ages 3-10
Junie B. Jones: Hooray, hooray! This musical (that is, a play all jumbled together with singing and dancing) is all about Junie B. Jones, who you know and love from her books written by Barbara Park!

Friday, March 14, 11am & 7pm
Saturday, March 15, 11am & 2pm
•          City: Byham Theater only.


Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia (Canada): Swimmy, Frederick & Inch by Inch, Ages 3-10
These exquisitely crafted Caldecott Honor Books by Leo Lionni come to life in a colorful way! Learn all about Swimmy, a tiny fish, Frederick, a poetic mouse, and a loveable inchworm through puppetry and gentle storytelling which has earned national acclaim!

Friday, April 11, 11am & 7pm
Saturday, April 12, 11am & 2pm
•         City: Byham Theater only

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Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh

Theatreworks USA' Award Winning Junie B Jones

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Media Contact:

Diana Roth
(412) 471-8717
roth@pgharts.org

Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater

presents

Theatreworks USA

in

Junie B. Jones

The Lucelle Lortel Award winning show for best

musical and choreography is back by popular demand!

February 13-20, 2011

Six performance locations throughout the Pittsburgh area.

Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, presents award-winning Theatreworks USA in June B. Jones, from February 13-20, 2011, at six performance locations throughout the Pittsburgh area. Performance locations include: City: Byham Theater, February 13, at 2:00 p.m & Student Matinee: February 14, at 10:15 a.m.; East: Gateway High School, February 16, at 7:00 p.m.; North: Pine-Richland Middle School, February 17, at 5:30 & 7:30 p.m.; West: Hopewell High School, February 18, at 7:00 p.m.; South: Mt. Lebanon High School, February 19, at 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.; and Butler: Seneca Valley Senior High School, February 20, at 2:00 p.m. Citizens Bank is the season sponsor of Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater.

Theatreworks USA’s performances of Junie B. Jones return to the Pittsburgh area by popular demand. The musical is based on several books from the award winning series written by Barbara Park and illustrated by Denise Brunkus about Junie B’s first grade experiences. The production will feature four mini-musicals: Top-Secret Personal Beeswax: A Journal by Junie B (and Me!), which features diary entries by Junie, which are designed to give children ideas for their own writings; followed by Junie B, First Grader (at last!); Junie B, Boss of Lunch; and Junie B, One-Man Band. The show closes with the entire company asking the audience to keep journals and to write down the story of their lives.

Theatreworks USA’s Junie B. Jones production is based on the best-selling books by Barbara Park, and adapted for the stage by Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich. The production is directed by Peter Flynn, choreography by Devanand Janki, scenic design by Luke Hegel-Cantarella, and costumes by Lora LaVon. This 60-minute musical is recommended for audiences age 5 and up. The show was nominated in 2006 for the Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Choreography.

“Brilliant, bouncy, and beautiful (The Journal News).”

“A splendid hour of music, laughter, life lessons and the art of putting on a show (New York One).”

Theatreworks USA is America's largest professional non-profit theatre for young audiences and families. Since 1961, they have enlightened, entertained, and instructed over 78 million people in 49 states and Canada. Under the direction of Artistic Director Barbara Pasternack and Managing Director Ken Arthur, Theatreworks USA is the recipient of a Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Award. Additionally, the company was awarded the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Award in 2001. Theatreworks USA has a distinguished history of not only providing young audiences with their first taste of the performing arts, but also giving young actors, writers, directors, and designers an early opportunity to work in this field. A list of the company’s alumni reads like a veritable "who's who" of theatre.

Individual tickets ($11 at the door, $9.50 in advance) can be ordered online at www.pgharts.org, 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.

Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, opens the door for children to experience professional performing arts programming for children 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.pgharts.org
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