Theatreworks USA (Barbara Pasternack, Artistic Dir.; Ken Arthur, Producing Dir.), the nation's leading not-for-profit professional theatre for family audiences, is pleased to announce complete casting for the 21st Annual Free Summer Theatre Program.
This summer's featured production is CLICK, CLACK, MOO, a new musical based on the Caldecott Honor children's book by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin.
CLICK, CLACK, MOO features Gretchen Bieber as Darlene (a cow), Kristy Cates as Maddie (another cow), Michael Thomas Holmes as Loretta (another cow), Drew McVety as Farmer Brown, DeMond B. Nason as Duck and Kirsten Wyatt as Jenny/Chicken.
Ms. Cates (pictured) most notably starred as Elphaba in the Chicago production of Wicked at the Ford's Theatre, a role she also understudied on Broadway. Her other New York credits include Jerry Springer: The Opera at Carnegie Hall and Boobs! The Music of Ruth Wallis at The Triad.
Ms. Bieber understudied Amber Von Tussle in both the Broadway and first national touring companies of Hairspray. Mr. Holmes appeared on Broadway in Oklahoma! and in the first national tour of The Producers. Mr. McVety's Broadway credits include Sunday in the Park with George, Frozen, Big River and Titanic.
Mr. Nason appeared Off-Broadway in Walmartopia and as Lionel in the national tour of Cinderella, directed by Gabriel Barre. Ms. Wyatt's Broadway credits include Grease (Frenchy), High Fidelity, The Pajama Game and Urinetown.
Directed by Tony Award winner John Rando (Urinetown) and choreographed by Wendy Seyb (Toxic Avenger), CLICK, CLACK, MOO features a book by Billy Aronson (TV's "Wonder Pets," "Postcards from Buster"), lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila (Altar Boyz) and music by Rodgers Award-winning composer Brad Alexander (See Rock City and Other Destinations).
CLICK, CLACK, MOO begins performances on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at Off-Broadway's Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher St.) and continues through Friday, August 28. The Opening Night benefit performance is Tuesday, July 28 at 6:30 p.m.
All day long Farmer Brown hears "click clack moo, clickety clackety moo..." The cows are typing and protesting their working conditions! Recommended for children ages four and up, CLICK, CLACK, MOO is hilariously "moo-ving" new musical about compromise, based on the acclaimed 2005 children's book Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type.
CLICK, CLACK, MOO features scenic design by Beowulf Boritt (Broadway's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Rock of Ages), costume design by Lora LaVon (Theatreworks USA's Junie B. Jones, The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere), lighting design by Matthew Richards (Port Authority, Theatreworks USA's Seussical) and sound design by Jeremy Wilson.
Launched in 1989, the mission of Theatreworks USA's Free Summer Theatre Program is to provide New York City youth with their own free theatre tradition that not only entertains, but also educates and fosters positive values and an appreciation for theatre. More than 20,000 FREE tickets will be distributed to CLICK, CLACK, MOO this summer.
Tickets for CLICK, CLACK, MOO are FREE and available on a first come, first served basis in-person at the Lucille Lortel Theatre Box Office (121 Christopher St.) on the day of the performance, one hour prior to curtain time. Individual reservations cannot be made in advance.
CLICK, CLACK, MOO is a 60-minute, one-act musical, recommended for children ages four (4)and up. The performance schedule is as follows:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday - 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Thursday - 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Sunday - 2 p.m.
SCHEDULE EXCEPTIONS: There are no 1 p.m. performances on Tuesday, July 21 or Wednesday, July 22, and there is no 1 p.m. or 6 p.m. performance on Thursday, July 23. Additionally, there is no 10:30 a.m. performances on Tuesday, July 28.
(There are no free tickets available for the Opening Night benefit performance on Tuesday, July 28, although tickets for this performance can be purchased by calling 212-647-1100 ext 126.)
Summer camps, youth programs and social service organizations can make reservations for groups of ten (10) or more by calling 212-627-7373.
Each day, a limited number of free tickets will be made available to individuals at the Lucille Lortel Theatre on a first-come, first-served basis. Distribution will begin one hour prior to each performance, with a limit of four (4) tickets per person.
Because Theatreworks USA accepts reservations from summer camps, public distribution tickets are extremely limited for the weekday daytime performances. Availability is usually better for evening and weekend performances. Once all tickets are distributed, any remaining patrons will be admitted at curtain time on a space-available basis.
For more information, please visit www.twusa.org.
Photo credit: Joan Marcus
