LKTYP announces 2008|09 Season 

Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People is thrilled to announce its line-up for the 2008|09 Season and the details of a generous private gift! This year, LKTYP will feature eight outstanding productions, each designed to have a positive and lasting impact on the emotional, social, and intellectual development of young people. Additionally, LKTYP gratefully acknowledges the generous contribution of patron Ada Slaight, who has committed a $240,000 donation to help fund the Education & Participation programmes that stand alongside LKTYP’s professional theatre productions.

“The theme for our 2008/09 season is looking and leaping. Risk is part of the learning experience. Yet, we don’t want kids to dive headlong into a situation they haven’t fully assessed. And sometimes, what seems like a mountain is really a molehill. So, this year at LKTYP, we are exploring both looking at challenges and taking a leap into adventure.

Ada Slaight has taken a leap with us, to ensure more young people experience theatre. Her generosity means that we can deepen the level of engagement in our shows -- through workshops, seminars and school programming – and encourage wide participation in our Drama School.” – Allen MacInnis, Artistic Director.

“It’s important to me that arts education be accessible for all young people, which is why I have committed 50% of my gift to Drama School scholarships at LKTYP.” – Ada Slaight, arts patron.

The season opens with DynamO Théâtre’s wonderfully acrobatic, Ghosts and Ladders, in coproduction with LKTYP. This show will have audiences taking a leap of faith and believing in miracles. Immediately following that, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown will jump from comic strip to stage in an inspiring musical that celebrates the ups and downs of childhood. This year’s varied playbill will continue to explore the central theme of looking and leaping when Bird Brain takes over the Studio in late November. A delightful show for little ones, Bird Brain examines whether an act of kindness is worth the risk of challenging authority. Other season highlights include the world premiere of Pobby and Dingan. Paula Wing’s beautiful adaptation of the Ben Rice book explores the complicated relationship between siblings – and the length one boy is prepared to go for the sake of his sister. Pobby and Dingan was selected to participate in the prestigious Kennedy Center’s New Visions/New Voices festival, held in Washington, DC April 25th to 27th, 2008.

The latter part of the season will focus on our teen audience: Judith Marcuse Projects’ EARTH=home is a lush, multi-media dance piece examining our impact on the environment from the perspective of youth trapped by a cataclysmic storm; and once again, our Drama School Ensemble will close our 2008|09 Season with another dynamic public performance in the Studio. These plays, along with Axis Theatre Company’s whimsical The Emperor’s New Threads, and the martial arts/Peking-opera inspired drama, The Forbidden Phoenix – produced in partnership with The
Citadel Theatre, Edmonton – round-out a bold and diverse playbill offering an adventurous theatrical experience for audiences of all ages.

2008|09 SEASON PLAYBILL

GHOSTS AND LADDERS
By Kim Selody in collaboration with Jacqueline Gosselin
Produced by DynamO Théâtre
In Co-Production with LKTYP
Directed by Jacqueline Gosselin
English Language Premiere |Performances also offered in French
MAINSTAGE | Sept. 29 to Oct. 11, 2008 | Recommended for Grades 2-7, ages 7 & up
Thrill to the acrobatic movement of the company that brought you me me me and Lili as they weave a tale of daring, risk, and mystery. Follow three brothers as they play near the forbidden railway tracks and witness Gabriel as he conquers his fear of heights through the help of a mysterious little girl…

YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN
Based on the Comic Strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz
Book, Music and Lyrics by Clark Gesner
Additional Dialogue by Michael Mayer
Additional Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa
Original Direction for this version of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” by Michael Mayer
Originally Produced in New York by Arthur Whitelaw and Gene Persson
Directed by Allen MacInnis
MAINSTAGE | Nov. 9 to Dec. 30, 2008 | Recommended for Grades 1 to 7, ages 6 & up
From comic strip to stage, Charles Schulz's beloved Peanuts© characters come to life in an inspiring musical that celebrates the ups and downs of childhood. Charlie Brown – perhaps the most endearing “everyman” of our time – leads us through life's lessons with spark, openness, and candour.
PEANUTS © United Feature Syndicate, Inc.

BIRD BRAIN
By Vern Thiessen
Based on a story by Albert Wendt
Directed by Ruth Madoc-Jones
Ontario Premiere
STUDIO | Nov. 30 to Dec. 30, 2008 | Recommended for Grades JK-3, ages 3-8
What if you promised to protect a nest of singing birds by hiding them under your hat? What if the Queen came along and you couldn’t doff your hat to her? Do you follow the rules … or follow your heart? Each performance of Bird Brain will be performed in both American Sign Language and spoken English.

THE FORBIDDEN PHOENIX
Book and lyrics by Marty Chan
Lyrics and music by Robert Walsh
In partnership with The Citadel Theatre
Directed by Ron Jenkins
World Premiere
MAINSTAGE | Feb. 2 to Mar. 11, 2009 | Recommended for Grades 3-12; ages 8 & up
Martial arts! Peking opera! Musical drama and an iron dragon! Sun Wukong, the quick-witted but poor Monkey King, is torn from his son Laosan and exiled to the West after displeasing the almighty Empress Dowager. Our hero must conquer Gold Mountain and capture the Iron Dragon at the risk of destroying his homeland!

THE EMPEROR'S NEW THREADS
By Melody Anderson and Peter Anderson
Produced by Axis Theatre Company
MAINSTAGE | Mar. 15 to 27, 2009 | Recommended for Grades JK-3, ages 3-8
A vain and shallow ruler searches for the ultimate outfit! A new twist on an old favourite, this lively puppet and mask production is based on the Hans Christian Andersen classic, “The Emperor's New Clothes”. Only one little boy has the courage to risk revealing the truth!

EARTH=HOME
By Kendra Fanconi and Judith Marcuse
Produced by Judith Marcuse Projects
MAINSTAGE | Mar. 31 to Apr. 9, 2009 | Recommended for Grades 7-12, ages 12 & up
A group of young people trapped by a cataclysmic storm are forced to confront their very survival in this lush, multi-media, multi-lingual, dance and movement piece. This story looks at global warming, diminishing resources, environmental sustainability, and social justice through the eyes of our youth.

POBBY AND DINGAN
Written by Ben Rice
Adapted for the stage by Paula Wing
Directed by Stewart Arnott
World Premiere
MAINSTAGE | Apr. 20 to May 14, 2009 | Recommended for Grades 4–11, ages 9-16
A young girl named Kellyanne has two invisible friends whom everyone in town loves – except her older brother Ashmol. He hates them because they’re not real and no one will admit it! When the imaginary friends Pobby and Dingan go missing and Kellyanne becomes ill, Ashmol must find them in order to save his sister.

LKTYP’s Education & Participation Department – now funded in part by a gracious donation from Ada Slaight – is at the center of all the theatre’s activities. LKTYP is committed to attracting a deeper level of engagement from young audiences and parents/caregivers, from the school system, and from our local, geographic community. Thus, our Education & Participation Department includes: a Drama School for children aged 4-18; a community volunteer programme for young and old featuring internships, apprenticeships, and diverse volunteer opportunities throughout the company; an educational services programme to provide value-added programming for schools (study guides, tours, workshops and professional development for educators); and a community participation programme wherein LKTYP partners with various agencies and community groups to encourage the general public
to participate in theatrical projects.

Single ticket prices for weekend family shows remain just $20 for adults, $15 for children (under 18) and grandparents (age 65+). Save on already low ticket prices with LKTYP’s Show Combos, offering discounts of up to 25% off regular prices. Weekday performances for schools are $15 ea. for students and teachers, with one complimentary teacher/escort ticket provided for every 20 student tickets purchased. Early bird savings of almost 15% (all tickets only $13) are available to teachers booking by June 30th. Preview tickets for all performances are just $10.

With the generous assistance of Sun Life Financial, LKTYP is offering Pay-What-You-Can (PWYC) performances for ALL productions again this season. PWYC tickets are available at the Box Office for weekend family shows on the day of performance only, with a suggested minimum contribution of $5 per ticket.

Tickets ON SALE NOW to schools and LKTYP subscribers/supporters (Show Combos only). Single tickets and Show Combos go on sale to the general public July 2nd.

For more information please call the Box Office at 416 862-2222 or visit www.lktyp.ca.