FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE
August 17,
2004
THE STRIKING
VIKING STORY PIRATES, an award-winning children’s theater group that creates
musicals based on stories written by elementary school children, will begin an
open-ended engagement at the Arthur Seelen Theater in the Drama Bookshop (at
250 W. 40th Street between 7th and 8th
Avenues). Performances will begin on Friday,
September 7th. The company
performed last season at the Vital Theater Company to great acclaim.
THE STRIKING
VIKING STORY PIRATES don't write their material -- kids do. THE STORY PIRATES
were founded last year with the goal of creating theater by children, for
children. They solicit original material from schoolteachers all over the
United States: from Chicago to Boston to Houston all the way to New York
itself. Adapting the stories written by
elementary schoolers (grades K through 6), the Story Pirates use music, puppets
and a high energy vaudeville style to bring kids’ stories to life.
Their current
offering will include the following stories:
v
“Abbey Is Sile”, a tuneful homage to a young girl who's
simply too "sile" (“silly”) to have sleepovers at her friend's house!
v
“The Last Tooth”, a spooktacular tale of a trip to the
dentist gone shockingly awry!
v
“It's Raining Fish”, a musical thriller about what happens
when the skies open and an endless rain of 'fishes' pours down upon an
unsuspecting schoolteacher and her students!
v
“The Day My Head Got Stuck In A Barstool”, which asks the
eternal musical question: "Why Would You Do What A Dog Does?"
v
“Jack's Fun In Special Things”, a funky song-and-dance paean
to the most amazing monkey of all time, who can dance, sing, rap... even fly!
v
“Giant Bugs 2”, an explosive musical extravaganza detailing
the intricate science-fiction plot of this never-to-be-seen blockbuster movie!
v
And, of course, “Cookie To All Of Us”, a hymn-like ode to
Miss Ginsburg, the kindergarten teacher who bakes the most delicious treats and
plans the coolest field trips!
THE STRIKING VIKING
STORY PIRATES show will be directed by Lee Overtree, and will feature original
music by Eli Bolin (composer of the off-Broadway musical I SING!), who
also serves as Music Director. The
ensemble of performers includes Liz Bangs, Eli Bolin, Drew Callander, Laura
Hernandez, Megan O’Meara, Lee Overtree, Sam Reiff-Pasarew, Jacob Rossmer, Dylan
Ris, Kristen Schaal, Chris Tuttle, and Angelina Villapiano. Handling Set Design will be Drew Callander
and Kristin Slaysman, the puppets are being designed by Drew Callander, and
David Sabel.
THE STRIKING
VIKING STORY PIRATES will also be a part of the first annual The New York
Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), as the only children’s musical. The festival
runs from September 13th to October 3rd and is predicted
to be the largest musical theater event in New York City’s history. The Story Pirates are proud to be a part of
the Festival’s inaugural season.
THE STRIKING VIKING STORY
PIRATES will begin their open-ended engagement on Tuesday, September 7th.
Performances will be Saturdays at 12pm and 3pm, and Tuesdays at 7pm. Tickets will be $20 for adults and $15 for
children under 12; group discounts are available. Tickets may be purchased by calling Smarttix at (212) 868-4444,
or online at www.storypirates.com. Also
on the website are songs and videos from previous performances. Photos will be
available for download at www.brettsinger.com/clients/strorypirates.html.
THE STRIKING VIKING STORY PIRATES: Cookie To All Of
Us and Other Stories
The Arthur Seelen Theater at
the Drama Bookshop (250 W. 40th St. btwn. 7th and 8th
Ave.)
SCHEDULE: Saturdays at 12pm
and 3pm, Tuesdays at 7pm
Open-ended Engagement Begins
Friday, September 7th
TICKETS: $15.00-$20.00; Call (212) 868-4444 or visit www.storypirates.com
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