Oddfellows Playhouse Announces 2013-14 Season

Oddfellows Playhouse is pleased to announce its 2013-14 Season for its Junior and Teen Repertory Company.  The first season under the guidance and direction of Artistic Director Kristen Palmer is filled with classics, family musicals and some new endeavors.

The season will begin with the Junior Repertory Company’s of The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet onstage November 14-16, 2013.



Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Romeo & Juliet meets the whimsical rhythms of Dr. Seuss in this fast paced tongue-twister of a comedy by Peter Bloedel.  Young actors will get to sink their teeth into broadly comic characters, deliciously fun word play and be part of an exciting main-stage production.  Rehearsals begin the week of September 16, 2013 for students in grades 6-8.

The Teen Repertory Company follows with the Tony-Award winning musical OLIVER! By Lionel Bart.  Victorian London comes alive in this musical adaptation of Dicken’s classic.  Orphaned Oliver, abandoned to the workhouse, is sold into servitude, escapes to a den of thieves, is momentarily rescued by a wealthy benefactor and must navigate a hostile world with wits and courage.  Classic songs, indelible characters and a rich world will offer a entertaining and engaging show this holiday season, with performances December 5-17, 2013.   The production is a multi-generational show involving Oddfellows’ Teen Repertory Company and adult actors, in partnership with CT Heritage Productions.   Auditions for students in grades 9-12 and adults are September 16 and 18 from 7-9pm.

“This fall we are excited to offer two such diverse projects, a classic musical based on Dicken’s Oliver Twist and a twisted take on Romeo and Juliet.  In the spring we will be echoing the whimsical adaption of the Fall with the Teen Rep’s performance of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet – with their own original approach to the classic.  Jr. Rep will perform its first ever musical, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, and we are proud to announce that for the first time our Elementary students in grades 3-5 will be performing on the main-stage in a lively, contemporary adaptation of Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, written by Krista Knight.” Said Kristen Palmer, Artistic Director.

Auditions will be Monday September 16 and Wednesday September 18 for OLIVER!  Interested Junior Repertory Company students should sign up before Tuesday September 17, 2013. 

Elementary actors (3-5th grade) should sign up for classes or a mini-production this Fall and Winter to be eligible for inclusion in the Spring Production.

For more information about the 2013-14 season, or to purchase tickets, visit www.oddfellows.org

ODDFELLOWS PLAYHOUSE 2013-14

OLIVER!
Book, Music and Lyrics by Lionel Bart
Directed by Peter Loffredo
Musical Direction by Joni Gage
December 5-17, 2013

This multi-generational musical is being produced in collaboration with CT Heritage Productions.

Victorian London comes alive in this musical adaptation of Dicken’s classic.  Orphaned Oliver, abandoned to the workhouse, is sold into servitude, escapes to a den of thieves, is momentarily rescued by a wealthy benefactor and must navigate a hostile world with wits and courage.  Classic songs, indelible characters and a rich world will offer all participants juicy performance opportunities and a lively holiday show for Middletown.

The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet
By Peter Bloedel
Adapted from William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet
Directed by Lorra Webb
November 14, 15, 16th.  7:30pm

Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Romeo & Juliet meets the whimsical rhythms of Dr. Seuss in this fast paced tongue-twister of a comedy.  Young actors will get to sink their teeth into broadly comic characters, deliciously fun word play and be part of an exciting main-stage production.

You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown
based on The Comic Strip “Peanuts®” by Charles M. Schultz
Book, Music and Lyrics by Clark M. Gesner
March 10, 11, 12

Schultz’s beloved characters share their hopes, hearts and dreams while they navigate childhood in this delightful, sweet-hearted musical for all audiences.

Romeo & Juliet
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Kristen Palmer
May 8 – 17th

The star-crossed lovers seek their paradise in a world of warring parents, street violence, prejudice, economic inequity, and an uncertain future.  Renaissance Verona or contemporary Connecticut?  This production of the classic will be a fast-paced, exciting take on Shakespeare’s classic romance.

For Feet’s Sake (The Wild Tail of a Little Mermaid)
by Krista Knight
Directed by Kristen Palmer
June 6, 7th

A wildly theatrical, craftily contemporary adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s classic story.  This inaugural Elementary Rep production will make this story live anew for audiences with fanciful staging, engaging story and its main character who faces what it means to grow up and make choices that can’t be unmade.

For more information on programs, to register for classes or to purchase tickets to performances, call Oddfellows at (860) 347-6143 or log onto www.oddfellows.org.