WINNIPEG December 10, 2007 – Prairie Theatre Exchange switches into kid-friendly entertainment mode once again with its latest adaptation of stories by perennial favourite children’s author, Robert Munsch. The artistic duo of Debbie Patterson and Arne MacPherson have had exceptional success with Mmm, Munsch; Munschapalooza and Love You Forever and Other Stories and are back to put their Shakespearean stamp to five well-loved stories. The appropriately named, Munsch Ado About Nothing, runs from December 22 to January 6 at the PTE Mainstage.
Debbie Patterson has created the show around a traveling troupe of entertainers modeled on Lord Chamberlain’s Men which included William Shakespeare as well as Burbage and Kempe – other famous actors of the day. Thus the three actors in the show will be donning some period costumes and speak in rhyming couplets in the transition pieces between the five stories.
“It’s going to be great fun to do a ‘Shakespearean’ version of Munsch. Deb and Arne have a very keen sense of what will appeal to the kids. No one should feel scared off by the Shakespearean tone. Everything in the show is understandable and the kids will really get into the rhyming language. The traveling troupe is an ingenious way to present the five different stories that we have in the show,” says Artistic Director, Robert Metcalfe.
The three young actors taking on the multiple roles in the show are: Eric Blais, Andrea del Campo and Andrea Ramsden. Debbie Patterson adapted the five Munsch stories – Class Clown, Good Families Don’t; More Pies; Murmel, Murmel, Murmel; and No Clean Clothes – and created the soundscape for the production. Arne MacPherson once again takes up the role of director and is joined by set and costume designer Lisa Hancharek who conceived last year’s sets and costumes. Eric Bossé returns as lighting designer. New to the team is stage manager Natascha Hainsworth.
In addition to the 22 shows on the Mainstage at PTE, there will be approximately 70 performances on the Manitoba tour – with a step outside the province to bring Munsch to Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
The Family Holiday Show is reasonably priced to allow parents to introduce their children to the wonders of theatre. Half the performances are rush seating and single tickets are $9 each and a family-pack of four tickets is $29. Selected performances feature assigned seating and are sold at a slightly higher price of $10 for single tickets and $36 for 4-ticket packages. Another feature back this year is the PTE Pajama Party. For two evening performances children and adults are encouraged to dress up in their PJs and stay and enjoy complimentary milk and cookies following the 7pm performances.
ATTENTION:
The media/photo shoot for Munsch Ado About Nothing is scheduled for Thursday, December 20 at 1:30 p.m. All media please call 925-5257 to confirm your attendance. Photos of the production will be available Friday, December 14.
MUNSCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
The production runs from December 22 – January 6
No shows December 24, 25, 26, 31 or January 1.
11 shows have assigned seating and those prices are slightly higher.
Assigned seating show single tickets are $10 and 4-ticket packs are $36.
Rush seating show single tickets are $9 and 4-ticket packs are $29.
All tickets can be purchased by calling our box office at 942-5483.
December 22 – 1pm – rush seating
December 22 – 3pm – assigned seating
December 23 – 1pm – assigned seating
December 23 – 3pm – rush seating
December 27 – 3pm – assigned seating
December 27 – 7pm – rush seating – Pajama Party
December 28 – 1 pm – assigned seating
December 28 – 3 pm – rush seating
December 29 – 1pm – rush seating
December 29 – 3pm – assigned seating
December 30 – 1pm – assigned seating
December 30 – 3pm – rush seating
January 2 – 3pm – rush seating
January 2 – 7pm – assigned seating – Pajama Party
January 3 – 1pm – rush seating
January 3 – 3pm – assigned seating
January 4 – 1pm – assigned seating
January 4 – 3pm – rush seating
January 5 – 1pm – rush seating
January 5 – 3pm – assigned seating
January 6 – 1pm – assigned seating
January 6 – 3pm – rush seating
Pajama party performances are no extra charge but kids (and parents) are encouraged to dress up in their PJs and after the show there will be complimentary cookies and milk.
Production Sponsor: The Great-West Life Assurance Company
Tour Sponsor: Manitoba Hydro and Manitoba Teachers’ Society
Supported by: Canada Council for the Arts, The Manitoba Arts Council,
Winnipeg Arts Council, The Winnipeg Foundation and The Prairie Theatre Exchange Foundation Trust
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For more information contact : Mr. Carman Johnston, Marketing and Development Manager, at 925-5257;
Fax 942-1774; e-mail publicity@pte.mb.ca
