Monday, December 12, 2011

Charlotte's Web Weaves a Tale of Bravery, Love and Friendship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Today's date:
December 12, 2011

Contact:
Diana Roth
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
(412) 471-8717
roth@trustarts.org

Veronica Corpuz
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
(412) 471-6082
corpuz@trustarts.org



Charlotte’s Web, Pittsburgh premiere performed by Theatreworks USA, and presented by Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater

January 8-15, 2012
Six performance locations throughout Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, presents Theatreworks USA in the Pittsburgh premiere of the stage adaption of Charlotte’s Web from January 8-15, 2012 at six performance locations throughout the area. Performance locations include: City: Byham Theater, January 8 at 2:00 p.m.  Student Matinee: January 9 at 10:15 a.m.; East: Gateway High School, January 11 at 7:00 p.m.; North: Our North location has changed to Carson Middle School, January 12 at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. ; West: Moon Area High School, January 13 at 7:00 p.m.; South: Upper St. Clair High School, January 14 at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.; and Butler: Seneca Valley Senior High School, January 15 at 2:00 p.m. Citizens Bank is the season sponsor of Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater.

Theatreworks USA’s live stage performance of Charlotte’s Web, by Joseph Robinette, has toured across the country since fall 1993, and is based upon the Newbery Medal-winning book by E. B. White. The stage performance follows White’s classic story of a pig named Wilbur who is saved from the slaughterhouse by a gifted little barn spider named Charlotte. This treasured tale, featuring mad-cap and endearing farm animals, explores bravery, selfless love, and the true meaning of friendship. A cast of six actors, directed by Rob Barron, portrays the familiar and loveable characters that include Fern, Homer, and Templeton the rat, with incidental music by Jeffrey Lunden. The scenic design by James D. Sandefur and costumes by Anne-Marie Wright also help to enhance this courageous tale of friendship. This 60-minute play is recommended for children ages 5 and up.

Since 1961, Theatreworks USA has enlightened, entertained, and instructed more than 68 million people in 49 states and Canada and is America's largest and most prolific professional not-for-profit theatre for young and family audiences. 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.

Joseph Robinette is the author of 51 published plays and musicals, including The Fabulous Fable Factory, written with composer Thomas Tierney, and Charlotte's Web, two of the most widely produced children's plays in the United States. He has also dramatized the authorized stage versions of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Paper Chase, and A Rose for Emily. In 2004, he received the American Association for Theatre and Education's best play award for his adaptation of Sarah, Plain and Tall, and in 2006, he was awarded the Children's Theatre Foundation of America Medallion "...for his body of dramatic works for children and young people in the United States and beyond." -Dramaticpublishing.com

Elwyn Brooks White, or E.B. White, is known both for his work in children’s classics and in modern American essays, largely through his contributions to The New Yorker magazine. White remained a contributing editor for The New Yorker magazine from the year 1927 until his death in 1985, and is still remembered for his long-lasting column, One Man’s Meat. White is also famous for a collection of poetry, The Fox of Peapack, and his editing of The Subtreasury of American Humor. In the world of children’s literature, White is known for such classics as Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little and Trumpet of the Swan.

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, downtown Pittsburgh. Group tickets can be ordered by calling (412) 471-6930; for season subscription call (412) 456-1390.



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