Busytown is buzzing with activity. But what do people do all day?
Huckle Cat (Henry Martin in his third NWCT Mainstage performance) is on a mission to help his friend Betsy Bear (Kate Thresher in her first leading role) plan the perfect birthday for her Grandma. Together, with best friend Lowly Worm (a delightful, flexible puppet created and operated by John Ellingson) they set about exploring their Busytown in search of experts who can help them on their way. Birthday cake? That would be Able-Baker Charlie. Writing a letter to Grandma? Time to meet Postman! Favorite automobile? A pickle-car of course!
Richard Scarry’s Busytown picture books have been delighting children the world round for over three decades. This exciting, upbeat script, adapted by Kevin Kling, draws heavily on the book, What Do People Do All Day? Pulling characters and locations from multiple Busytown stories, and adding a sunny set of 50s doo-wop songs (by Michael Koerner with lyrics by Kling), Busytown creates a birthday adventure that takes us from Farmer Alfalfa’s farm to the deck of Captain Salty’s pirate ship!
Echoing the themes of community in the book, NWCTS’s Busytown incorporates the distinct abilities of each of its three directors. Elizabeth Gibbs, Lucas Welsh, and Resident Artist John Ellingson (who also co-directed last year’s hit remount Go, Dog. Go!) split the directing duties (choreography, musical performance and physical comedy) evenly. All three are long-time NWCT collaborators, who began their theatrical journeys as NWCT students over fifteen years ago. Having gone off to study and develop their professional careers, they each found their way back to NWCT where they teach, direct, create and perform.
Busytown is presented through special arrangement with Plays for Young Audiences. It is produced in part through the support of the Collins Foundation, Regional Arts and Culture Council and Work for Art, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, The Nob Hill Business Association and NWCT Donor Circle Members. Over 5,000 school children will join Huckle on his adventure through Busytown during 12 student matinee performances.
Busytown is playing at NW Neighborhood Cultural Center – 1819 NW Everett Street in Portland
March 17 – April 1, 2012.
For tickets call 503-222-4480 or NWCTS.ORG
$18-22 adults, $13-18 youth (14 & under).
Most enjoyed by ages 4 and up
We are so excited to be giving one lucky reader FOUR tickets to see Northwest Children’s Theater’s production of Busytown!!
