CORAL GABLES - A
rib-tickling, bilingual musical entitled
Ferdinand the Bull will kick off Actors'
Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre's 9th Annual
National Children's Festival (NCTF) April 22
– 25 and run through June 5.
Written by Karen Zacarias with music by Debra
Wicks LaPuma, the play is based on the popular
story by Munro Leaf. The children's musical won
Actors' Playhouse 2003 nationwide competition to
obtain the scores of musicals from which they
chose one for a festival presentation. Ferdinand the Bull
will run during the entire festival weekend and
continue through June 5 as part of the 2003-2004
Children's Season.
The popular National Children's Theatre Festival
is the ninth annual event presented by Actors'
Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle
Mile. An extension of the popular, award-winning
Musical Theatre for Young Audiences program, the
national festival produces new musical works for
children.
"The NCTF is one of the most important
events we present at the Miracle Theatre,"
said Barbara Stein, executive producing director
of Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle
Theatre. "It's a wonderful opportunity
to integrate young people into creative,
imaginative activities as well as to foster
opportunities for playwrights and
composers."
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The dialogue in the musical
Ferdinand the Bull is in both English and
Spanish, serving the diverse South Florida
community.
Set in Spain, the winning musical follows
Ferdinand, a bull who prefers to peacefully smell
flowers all day instead of becoming a famous Toro
of the bullfighting ring in Madrid, and Duquito
Danilo, a young man who would rather become a
dancer than follow in his father's footsteps as a
famous bullfighter. Aided by their friend
Cochina the Ham, Ferdinand and Danilo will have
to decide if they should follow their own dreams
or live out the expectations of their
families.
Adapted from the book The Story of Ferdinand,
this musical will have children pretending to be
matadors and toros and parents longing for a
vacation in Spain.
Also featured during the festival week will be
the musical, Into the Woods, Jr., by
Stephen Sondheim, a cockeyed musical fairy tale
where Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack
and his Beanstalk, and The Witch meet and
interact on their journeys. Giving a new
twist to the classic Brothers Grimm stories,
Into the Woods, Jr. provides young audiences
with the familiarity of the stories with which
they've grown up, while at the same time teaching
timeless lessons in a new way. Performed by
Actors' Playhouse Musical Miracles and directed
by Earl Maulding, the musical will be presented
April 23 at 7 p.m. and April 24 and 25 at 4:15
p.m.
The family festival weekend begins Friday, April
23, with performances of Ferdinand the Bull
and Into the Woods, Jr., and continues on
Saturday, April 24, in all day event for children
featuring Ferdinand the Bull, Into the Woods,
Jr. plus multiple cultural performances, and
interactive activities for kids. Audience
members will have the chance to interact with
cast members of both productions in complimentary
acting and makeup workshops Saturday.
Special guests Billy the Marlin, Sleeping Beauty,
and Rapunzel will make an appearance at the
complimentary breakfast Saturday morning, and a
regal lunch will feature the Junior Orange Bowl
Royal Court, the Orange Bowl's Obie, and
Sebastian, the University of Miami Hurricanes'
Ibis mascot. Other interactive activities
include face painting, balloon art, arts and
craft tables, and autograph signings with the
casts and story telling by J'miah and Madafo.
A Mainstage
Flamenco dance performance will give audiences a
further glimpse into the world of Ferdinand and
Duquito's Spain. Additional performances, such as
South Florida's Hip Hop Kidz and the Gemz, girl
pop singing sensations, will take place
throughout the day. Authors Zacarias and
LaPuma will be on hand during the weekend
festivities to mingle with the audience and
encourage children to hone in on their writing
skills.
The festival weekend continues on Sunday, April
25, with performances of Ferdinand the Bull,
Maximum Dance Company's Little Red Riding Hood,
and Into the Woods, Jr.
Encompassing all aspects of the performing arts
-- theatre, dance, and music -- the festival is
part the Actors' Playhouse's goal to foster an
appreciation for the arts in young audiences.
"Our children's theatre festival is the only
event of this kind in the region, and through
this festival and our ongoing Theatre for Young
Audiences and conservatory classes we are
committed to bringing theatre into the lives of
the children of South Florida," said Stein.
"Our program has for 16 years enhanced the
cultural knowledge and the lives of the hundreds
of thousands of children who have
participated."
Matinee performances of Ferdinand the Bull
and a Playwriting/Composition Symposium with the
author and composer are available to pre-arranged
school groups Thursday and Friday morning.
All other performances and activities are open to
the public. Friday's shows of Ferdinand
the Bull and Into the Woods, Jr. are
each $10 for children, $15 for adults.
All-day prices for the festival are $10 for
children and $15 for adults; individual tickets
to Into the Woods, Jr. are $10.
Lunch packages are available at affordable
prices.
Actors' Playhouse Musical Theatre for Young
Audiences has been named South Florida's Best
Children's Theatre by South Florida
Parenting magazine, KIDS CROWN AWARD, and
The New Times. The closing children's musical
of the season, Hansel & Gretel, will
be presented at the Miracle Theatre June
29-August 7. Ferdinand the Bull will play
at the Miracle Theatre through June 5.
Performances are Saturdays at 2 p.m. with
admission $9. Birthday parties are welcome.
Weekday performances for pre-arranged school
groups can be arranged through the Educational
Department.
For more information on Ferdinand the Bull
and the NCTF, contact Actors' Playhouse at
305-444-9293, ext. 604 |
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