The kindergartner who can't part with his fuzzy blanket, the little girl who wakes up with antlers on her head and other endearing characters leap from the pages of beloved children's books in a musical revue based on the PBS favorite "Rading Rainbow," Sunday, March 10 at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Fairfield University's Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. The Theatreworks/USA-staged show, appropriate for children in grades 2-7, will be repeated Monday, March 11 at 10 a.m. as part of the Quick Center's Arts Bound Schoolday Series.

"Reading Rainbow," a 13-time Emmy Award-winning show designed to get kids excited about reading, is broadcast daily on more than 300 stations across the country. The musical revue, alternately funny, poignant and fantastical, features the "Reading Rainbow" theme song by Steve Horelick, Janet Weir and Dennis Kleinman. A multi-racial cast performs adaptations of seven different children's books, each dealing with different issues and themes relevant to a broad and diverse young audience.

In Mary Hoffman's "Amazing Grace," Grace wants to break stereotypes to play Peter Pan in a school production. "Martha Speaks," by Susan Meddaugh, is about a family dog who literally becomes outspoken after dining on alphabet soup, and "Borreguita and the Coyote," by Verna Aardema, is based on the classic Mexican tale of a little lamb (borreguita), who uses her wits to escape a hungry coyote. Other titles adapted into songs or dramatizations are: "Imogene's Antlers," by David Small; "Applemando's Dreams," by Patricia Polacco; "Math Curse," by Jon Scieszka; and "Owen," by Kevin Henkes.

Founded in 1961, Theatreworks/USA is America's foremost professional theatre for young and family audiences. The company creates imaginative, sophisticated shows that are educational, entertaining and thought-provoking. Theatreworks has received the Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel awards, as well as the William M. Dawson Award from the Association of Performing Arts Presenters.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children for Sunday's performance and $5 for Monday's performance. Discounts are available for groups and birthday parties. The Arts Bound outreach program is funded in part by the Kiwanis Club of Fairfield and Unilever H & PC USA Schools in Partnership Program. For information or tickets, call the box office at (203) 254-4010 or toll free at 1-877-ARTS-396, or visit the web site, www.quickcenter.com.

Posted On: 02-04-2002 09:02 AM

Volume: 34 Number: 156