Wheelock Family Theatre, 2007-2008 Season

SAINT JOAN

George Bernard Shaw's masterpiece about the life and trial of Joan of Arc.

October 31 - November 30
Friday nights at 7:30pm; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3pm (American Sign Language interpreted & Audio-Described performances Friday Nov.28 at 7:30pm & Sunday Nov. 30 at 3pm)
10am School matinees & partnerships: Call for schedule and information: 617-879-2252
Directed by Susan Kosoff
Scenic Design by Anita Fuchs
Costume Design by Matthew Lazure
Andrea C. Ross as Joan of Arc

“There were only two opinions about her. One was that she was miraculous: the other that she was unbearable.”

Born nearly 500 years ago, Joan of Arc was, perhaps, the world’s first feminist teen rebel. She bucked against all the conventions of the Middle Ages, didn’t hesitate to speak her mind, wore men’s clothes, led the fight to drive the English out of France—and was burned at the stake before she reached the age of 20. Writing shortly after her canonization in 1920, Shaw set out to dispel the swirling mists of legend, romance, and melodrama with which he felt Joan’s extraordinary story was obscured. His attempt to present the events and personages of her life—as he both understood and imagined them to be—in a more realistic fashion did not find universal favor among historians, but produced what many consider to be his greatest play. In Saint Joan, Shaw claimed, there are no villains—only individuals, like himself, engaged in impassioned pursuit of their own partial perceptions of the truth.

Andrea Ross is 16-years-old and from Franklin, Massachusetts. She was Swallow in the National Tour of Andrew Llyod Webber’s WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND as part of the 2007-08 Theatre Under the Stars season. Andrea has also recorded the album, “Moon River”, produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and released by Universal Classics and Jazz in March 2007. She won her first professional lead role in Tuck Everlasting at the Wheelock Family Theatre at aged 10. She followed that up playing Annie, Young Lizzie in Lizzie Borden, Sara in A Little Princess, Fredrika in A Little Night Music (her personal favourite), Liesl in The Sound of Music, and the title role in the drama Ramona Quimby. Those last three performances saw her become the youngest person to win best actress in the local Elliot Norton Awards.

Recommended for ages 13 and up.

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SEUSSICAL

A whimsical musical celebrating the imaginative stories of Dr. Seuss!

January 30 - March 1
A WFT Premiere!
Friday at 7:30, Saturday and Sunday at 3:00. School vacation week matinees at 1:00pm.(please note there is no evening performance on Friday 2/20). Friday 2/27 and Sunday 3/1 performances are interpreted in American Sign Language and Audio-described.
“If you open your mind, Oh, the Thinks you will find Lining up to get loose!”

Seussical the Musical
Lyrics: Stephen Flaherty
Music: Lynn Ahrens
Directed by Grace Napier
Musical Direction by Jon Goldberg
Choreography by Laurel Stachowicz
Scenic Design by James Williston
Costume Design by Melissa Miller

Seussical unites many of the beloved Doctor’s best-known characters (and some entirely new ones) in a colorful celebration of the powers of imagination and the rewards of daring to dream. Everyone’s favorite hat-wearing cat is our mischievous master of ceremonies, helping weave together the adventures of two original thinkers upon whose misunderstood and resented creativity much depends. Horton the gentle elephant and Jojo, youngest inhabitant of the tiniest planet in the universe—Who—must endure unpopularity and ridicule, yet their ultimate triumphs hinge on staying true to what they believe. The strength of Seuss’s message, the fun of his wordplay, and the delightful collision of a myriad of musical styles—from Latin to pop, swing to gospel, and R & B to funk—make for a rollicking romp with a subtext of substance.

Andrew Barbato returns to WFT as The Cat in the Hat. Andrew played Peter in last season’s triumphant Peter Pan. Other roles at WFT include Jack in Lord of the Flies and Mike Teevee in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. A graduate of Stoneham High School, Andrew studies Musical Theatre at Carnegie Mellon and has done considerable work at the Stoneham Theatre.

Recommended for ages 6 and up. The production, with intermission, will run approximately 2 hours. For additional information please call the Box Office: 617-879-2300

10am School matinees with partnerships are available. Call 617-879-2252 for more information!

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CHARLOTTE'S WEB

Based on the classic story by E. B. White, and adapted for the stage by Joseph Robinette. The timeless tale for all ages!

April 10 - May 10
Performances are Friday nights at 7:30, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3:00
School vacation week matinees at 1:00pm on Tuesday April 21 through Friday April 24 (please note there is no evening performance on Friday 4/24). Friday 5/8 and Sunday 5/10 performances are interpreted in American Sign Language and Audio-described.
Directed by Jane Staab
Scenic Design by Matthew Lazure
Lighting Design by John Malinowski
Costume Design by Lisa Simpson

“You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing.”

Funny, touching, and true, Charlotte’s Web is a story of beginnings, endings, and beginnings again. It follows Wilbur from his perilous runthood all the way to the bright lights of the County Fair. Idealistic Fern Arable; Templeton the rascally rodent; and that wise weaver of words Charlotte A. Cavatica each has animportant role to play in his success. Friends can emerge in the most unlikely places—and the power of friendship can work miracles. In his writing for young people, E.B. White neither talks down to them nor alters his style. He remembers vividly his own youth and knows that children are deeply curious about some of life’s most profound questions. White’s animal characters, drawn carefully from his own keen observations of the natural world, also grapple with profound questions. As one reviewer wrote, “There’s not much in the book Charlotte’s Web. Only love, death, courage, hate, beauty, friendship, fear, revenge—just everything in life.”

Recommended for all ages. This production with intermission will run approximately 2 hours. For additional information please call the Box Office: 617-879-2300
For information about 10am school performances or partnerships, please call: 617-879-2252

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