Oregon
Children’s Theatre presents
Tales
of a Fourth Grade Nothing
Portland, OR – Drammy Award
winning Oregon Children’s Theatre presents one of Judy Blume’s most popular
stories, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing,
October 21-November 3, 2007 (Sundays at 2:00 pm, Saturdays at 11:00 am &
2:00 pm) at the Newmark Theatre in the Portland Center for the Performing Arts,
1111 SW Broadway. Tickets are
$16-$24 for adults and $13-$20 for children and seniors.
Box Office: 503-228-9571 or through TicketMaster (503-790-ARTS or
www.ticketmaster.com). General
information: www.octc.org.
Recommended for ages 4 & up. Sign
interpreted performance: Sat., Oct. 7 at 2:00 pm.
Peter
Hatcher’s biggest beef? His
always-interfering, turtle-swallowing baby brother Fudge!
As for himself, Peter is simply the funniest fourth grader you’ll ever
meet. Whether Fudge is trying to
fly off the jungle gym, stealing the spotlight, or just plain messing with
Peter’s plans, this side-splitting story of sibling rivalry is the best of
Judy Blume.
OCT is excited to present one of
Judy Blume’s most popular books. This
wacky story is what OCT Artistic Director, Stan Foote, calls “Seinfeld for
kids—it’s a show about nothing…a fourth grade nothing.”
With positive, sitcom-like pacing, memorable moments, and one-liners at
every turn, Tales of a Fourth Grade
Nothing brings an unusual New York family to life through riotous scenes
with which nearly every child can relate.
“Fourth grade is
fun unless you have little brother to deal with,” says Tales director and OCT Artistic Director, Stan Foote.
“You’re not at the top, you’re not at the bottom.
Anyone who has ever had a younger brother will definitely be able to
relate to the fun and frustration that Peter Hatcher experiences.”
Based on the book by Judy
Blume and adapted by Bruce
Mason, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is directed by Stan
Foote. The play stars Eli
Hirsch as Peter Hatcher and
introduces 6-year-old Peyton Symes as Fudge (a first grader in his
professional theatre debut). Set
Design and Props by Jeff Seats, Lighting Design by Mark LaPierre,
Costume Design by Margaret Louise Chapman,
Sound Design by Rodolfo Ortega.
Stan Foote, Artistic Director, Oregon Children’s Theatre
Stan Foote has
been the Artistic Director since the 2001-2002 Season but has directed for
Oregon Children’s Theatre for 18 years. Stan received his BA in Theater from
Sacramento State University and has been directing, teaching and acting for 28
years. In that time, Stan spent three years serving on the Artistic Committee
for Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland and has received Drammy Awards for
Outstanding Direction for OCT’s Stuart Little and The Gondoliers at
Mock’s Crest. His production of Kiss of the Spider Woman, originally
produced by Miracle Theatre Group and remounted for Borderlands Theater in
Tucson was named the Outstanding Drama of the 2002-2003 Season in Tucson.
Stan has orchestrated and directed
five original adaptations of children’s literature in his tenure at OCT,
including Eric Coble’s critically acclaimed adaptation of Lois Lowry’s book The
Giver. Stan also collaborated with Coble on Sacagawea, presented at the Kennedy Center’s New Visions/New
Voices 2002. The production featured seven Native American actors and dancers.
Stan directed and toured Professor
Bodywise’s Traveling Menagerie for Kaiser Permanente’s Educational
Theatre Program. OCT has recently partnered with Kaiser Permanente to
reintroduce ETP to the Northwest Region. Other directing projects include Cyrano,
Ferdinand the Bull, Jesus Christ
Superstar, Into the Woods, Blue Plate Special, Psycho Beach Party,
Strange Snow and Pump Boys and Dinettes. Stan co-authored
one play, Karaoke at the Casa De Chin, which has been produced twice and
continues to collect dust in hopes of being rediscovered.
Founded in 1989, Oregon
Children’s Theatre is Oregon’s largest non-profit professional children’s
theatre company and a resident company of the Portland Center for the Performing
Arts. Performances
are held weekdays for school audiences and on weekends for family audiences.
OCT serves more than 111,000 children of all ages each year.
OCT offers numerous school services including in-school workshops
and an extensive outreach program. OCT’s
year round Acting Academy offers theatre classes for children ages 4-17.
Tickets are now
on sale and can be ordered by calling
Oregon
Children's Theatre at 503-228-9571.
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