The Summer Theatre of New Canaan is presenting two new, original productions for its 13th season, James and the Giant Peach, and Cinderella, A Fairy’s Tale. The professional theater company produces Broadway-style shows in its large open-aired tent venue, which seats about 300 people. The 40-foot stage is the size of Lincoln Center’s, offering Connecticut’s families the chance to experience theater arts.
For the first time this year, STONC is producing its own adaptations of shows. This year’s Cinderella, A Fairy’s Tale is an original adaptation with an original script and score, and offers a fresh take on the familiar princess fairytale. She confronts her stepsisters’ bullying, and she creates her own happy ending. She is not just a helpless princess. This new show will be on the road in schools throughout Connecticut and tri-state area performing arts centers beginning in the fall. “It’s an empowering story with dimensional characters, and a positive message,” Ed Libonati, the theater’s executive director, says. “The themes and storyline resonates, and it’s full of relevant lessons for the youth in today’s culture.”
The company has three summer programs for kids: the high school/pre-college program for teens, the Junior Company for middle school students, and DramaRamas, a nationally recognized program for children with special needs. While enrollment is full for summer 2016, there are plenty of chances to experience the theater this summer.
Tickets are still available for the summer productions. James and the Giant Peach is showing every weekend through July 31, Cinderalla beings July 16, and they run in rotation. “We encourage young families to come because it’s a great introduction to theater and theater arts,” Libonati says, “it’s imaginative, it’s interactive, it’s engaging.” Prices for young audience shows are $22 per person, or $120 for a table of six.
STONC is located at 11 Farm Road in New Canaan. For more information visit stonc.org or call 203-966-4634.
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