DISNEY’S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
Kicks Off Seattle Children’s Theatre’s
2007-2008 Season  

(Seattle, WA) - Seattle Children’s Theatre (SCT) announces its 2007-2008 season of plays and musicals, which run September through June. An exciting seven show line-up begins with the highly popular Disney’s High School Musical which opens SCT’s 2007-2008 season in September. SCT is one of only four professional theaters granted rights to stage this show, making it an exclusive engagement for Seattle audiences.

The season continues with David Wood’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s ever-popular The Big Friendly Giant; the world premiere of The Neverending Story, based on the novel by Michael Ende; Rita Giomi’s unique four actor adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet; The Hundred Dresses by Mary Hall Surface and John Kauffman’s According to Coyote. SCT will also present the world premiere of Busytown by Kevin Kling with music by Michael Koerner and lyrics by Kling and Koerner, based on the beloved book, What Do People Do All Day?, by Richard Scarry.

SCT Artistic Director Linda Hartzell said, “There is something special and magical about a great story. From the contemporary Disney’s High School Musical to Shakespeare’s classic, Hamlet, to Native American legends and Richard Scarry’s picture books brought to life, we have tales of friendship, adventure, and finding your way in the world. You will be amazed and thrilled and touched by the characters you meet here. We can’t wait to share our stories with you.”

Anticipating high ticket demand for tickets to Disney’s High School Musical, Seattle Children’s Theatre is initiating a special program. Current 06-07 subscribers and flex pass holders can make a subscription down-payment of $25.00 that will guarantee a ticket to Disney’s High School Musical, as well as the other SCT productions. This non-refundable down-payment will be credited toward their 2007-2008 season subscription and is being offered to current season subscribers and flex pass holders only. Subscription packages are available in April 2007 through SCT’s ticket office by visiting www.sct.org or by calling (206) 441-3322. Single tickets for SCT’s first show of the season, Disney’s High School Musical, will go on sale to the public July 1, 2007.

Following is information about Seattle Children’s Theatre’s 2007-2008 productions:
DISNEY’S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL
Book by David Simpatico
Songs by Matthew Gerrard and Robbie Nevil; Ray Cham, Greg Cham and Andrew Seeley; Randy Petersen and Kevin Quinn; Andy Dodd and Adam Watts; Bryan Louiselle; David N. Lawrence and Faye Greenberg; Jamie Houston
Music adapted, arranged and produced by Bryan Louiselle
Based on the Disney Channel Original Movie written by Peter Barsocchini
September 14 – November 24, 2007
Seattle Children’s Theatre launches its 2007-2008 season with the highly popular Disney’s High School Musical. With all the fantastic songs you love, now you can experience the story of East High live onstage! Troy and Gabriella run in different circles, he’s a jock and she’s a brain. But they have something in common – they both love to sing. If their friends would let them break from the status quo, everyone would be happy. The Emmy Award-winning television film was one of the most successful Disney Channel Original Movies produced, a soundtrack that was the most commercially successful album of 2006 and a sequel confirmed for release on July 2007. The stage musical includes two new songs: "Counting On You" and "Cellular Fusion." Disney’s High School Musical is recommended for ages 8 and older and will be performed in the Charlotte Martin Theatre.

THE BIG FRIENDLY GIANT
Adapted by David Wood
Based on the book by Roald Dahl
October 19 – December 16, 2007
Author Roald Dahl’s (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach) beloved story of Sophie and her newfound friend, the gentle BFG, is a funny, thrilling, adventurous romp around the world and into dreamland. One of Dahl’s best-selling books, The Big Friendly Giant was published in 1982 and had its theatrical premiere in 1990, with a successful tour throughout the United Kingdom. 

The play is an adaptation by David Wood, who has written approximately 50 plays for children and is acclaimed by The Times as being the UK’s “National children’s dramatist.” The Big Friendly Giant, recommended for ages 5 and older, will be performed in the Eve Alvord Theatre.

THE NEVERENDING STORY
Adapted by David S. Craig
Based on the novel by Michael Ende
December 7, 2007 – January 27, 2008
In a land devoured by The Nothing, only one boy can save everything. All he must do is believe in Fantastica, believe in imagination, and believe in himself. Originally written as a children’s book by Michael Ende and published in Germany in 1979, the story was later made into a well-known hit movie of the same title in 1984 with several subsequent sequels. Now this wonderful tale of fantasy and imagination comes to life on SCT’s own Charlotte Martin stage in this world premiere production. Take this amazing journey and see the adventure unfold. The Neverending Story is recommended for ages 8 and older.

HAMLET
By William Shakespeare
Adapted by Rita Giomi
January 25 – February 24, 2008
Treachery, murder and revenge, Shakespeare’s stunning tragedy of a son desperate to avenge his father’s murder is a must-see classic. Our adaptation for four actors brings you a bold, lucid exploration of rich emotional complexity in the beauty of Shakespearean language. A magnificent introduction to the Bard’s brilliant works. Hamlet, recommended for ages 10 and older, will be performed in the Eve Alvord Theatre.

THE HUNDRED DRESSES
By Mary Hall Surface
Based on the book by Eleanor Estes
February 22 – April 12, 2008
A young girl, new to the country and unable to fit in, uses her talent to find common ground with the students in her class. Wanda Petronski wore the same faded, blue dress to school every day. One day when a classmate showed up wearing a bright new dress that was much admired, Wanda said suddenly, "I have a hundred dresses at home." That starts the teasing “game” which Peggy and Maddie play with Wanda. Set in the 1930s, this classic story celebrates creativity and perseverance as Wanda’s classmates learn about tolerance and acceptance. The Hundred Dresses is recommended for
ages 8 and older and will be performed in the Charlotte Martin Theatre.

ACCORDING TO COYOTE
By John Kauffman
March 14 – May 4, 2008
In Native American lore, Coyote, the trickster, is a character full of fun and rich with meaning. In the tradition of great legends that have been passed from people to people and generation to generation, we bring you the tales that helped shape the world around us. The late playwright John Kauffman, born to a full-blooded Nez Perce Indian mother and German father, created this powerful, one-man show from his collection of Coyote stories in hopes of sharing with young people what it means to be a Native American today. According to Coyote, recommended for ages 8 and older, will be performed
in the Eve Alvord Theatre.

BUSYTOWN
By Kevin Kling
Music by Michael Koerner
Lyrics by Kevin Kling and Michael Koerner
Based on the book, What Do People Do All Day?, by Richard Scarry
April 25 – June 15, 2008
“What do people do all day? That’s the question, the question that we’re askin’ What do people do all day? What do people do?” So begins the wonderful journey into Richard Scarry’s beautifully creative, colorful world. Always abuzz favorite, lovable Richard Scarry characters—Huckleberry Cat, Farmer Pig, Train the Dog, and of course, Lowly Worm—come out to play, sing, and dance a busy day away. Busytown is recommended for ages 5 and older and will be performed in the Charlotte Martin Theatre.

SUBSCRIPTION AND SINGLE TICKET INFORMATION
Seattle Children’s Theatre has over 14,000 subscribers each year who enjoy benefits such as special rates on tickets, guaranteed seats, free ticket exchanges, the first chance to purchase additional tickets and discounted merchandise and Drama School classes. SCT offers various subscription packages, including a six-admission “Flex Pass” that allows families the flexibility to choose the shows, dates and times of their choice, while still getting the benefits of a subscription. SCT’s ticket office will begin taking subscriptions, which range in price from $72 to $189, in April. Single tickets range in price from $17 to $34; tickets for Disney’s High School Musical range from $20 to $40 and go on sale to the public on July 1, 2007. For more information about subscriptions or single tickets, visit www.sct.org or call the SCT ticket office at (206) 441-3322.

Seattle Children’s Theatre, which will celebrate its 33nd season in 2007-2008, performs September through June in the Charlotte Martin and Eve Alvord Theatres at Seattle Center. Since its inception, SCT has gained acclaim as a leading producer of theatre, educational programs and new scripts for young people. By the end of its 2006-2007 season, SCT will have presented 188 plays, 101 of which were world premieres, and entertained over 4 million children.

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