Saturday, October 13, 2012

The Ugly Duckling & The Tortoise and The Hare


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today's date: October 11, 2012
Contact: Diana Roth, (412) 471-8717, roth@trustarts.org



The Ugly Duckling & The Tortoise and The Hare

November 11-19, 2012, six performance locations, Pittsburgh International Children's Theater series.

Pittsburgh, PA:  Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater, a division of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, presents CORBiAN Visual Arts and Dance in the Pittsburgh premiere of The Ugly Duckling & The Tortoise and The Hare from November 11-19, 2012, at six performance locations throughout the area.  Performance locations include: Butler: Seneca Valley Senior High School, Sunday, November 11 at 2:00 p.m.; East: Gateway High School, Wednesday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m.; North: Marshall Middle School, Thursday, November 15 at 5:30 & 7:30 p.m.; West: Moon Area High School, Friday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m.; South: Upper St. Clair High School, Saturday, November 17 at 11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.;City: Byham Theater, Sunday, November 18 at 2:00 p.m. & Student Matinee: Monday, November 19 at 10:15 a.m.  Citizens Bank is the season sponsor of Pittsburgh International Children’s Theater.

In an age when television, computers and video games reign supreme, Lightwire Theater (in conjunction with Corbian Visual Arts and Dance) brings the use of cutting edge technology, moving sculpture, and dance to another unforgettable theatrical experience. Using electroluminescent (EL) wire attached to puppets, the show acts out the classic tales of The Ugly Duckling written by Hans Christian Anderson and The Tortoise and the Hare an Aesop’s Fable.  The Ugly Duckling offers hope and inspiration as the audience roots for the rejected, ugly duckling while he exemplifies resilience and heroism on his way to becoming a beautiful swan.  The Tortoise and the Hare continues to illustrate the age old adage, “slow and steady wins the race.”  Lightwire Theater, with its dazzling visuals, poignant choreography and creative use of music ranging from classical to jazz to pop, literally brings these beloved tales into a new and brilliant light.  The production is 55 minutes and recommended for ages 3-adult.

The use of EL wire to create the puppetry-based creatures makes the production truly unique.  EL wire, powered by batteries, illuminates walkways and signs, and creatively forms the outline for the glow in the dark puppet frames.  The show is performed in almost total darkness onstage with only the colorful, glowing puppets for light as actors and dancers handle the human-sized puppets, making them come to life for the audience.


The show’s creators, Corbin Popp and Ian Carney, met during Twyla Tharpe’s Broadway show Movin’ Out and bonded over their love of art, theater, and technology.  When Corbin showed Ian electroluminescent wire (EL wire), their creative partnership was born.  They relocated from New York to New Orleans to develop and perform their first show, Darwin, which was a huge success and recipient of the Jim Henson Foundation grant.    Ian and Eleanor Carney went on to form Lightwire Theater and, in conjunction with CORiBAN Visual Arts and Dance, began working on The Ugly Duckling and The Tortoise and The Hare.  They continue to use their signature electroluminescent puppetry to create innovative performances using technology, puppets and dance.

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.

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.   www.Trustarts.org

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