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by Linda Sullivan Baity
It’s the first day of school in Miss Kincaid’s second grade class. She’s calling the roll — the same names and the same faces as last year and the year before — until, that is, she comes to Lazlo S. Gasky. What kind of a weirdo name is that? Plus he looks weird, he acts weird, and he talks weird, too. Poor Lazlo. Being the brand new kid at school really stinks!
To be honest, Lazlo is different from the other students at Brookhaven Elementary. For one thing, he was born in Hungary, which accounts for his thick accent and somewhat intimidating grasp of European geography. His appearance also sets him apart — especially in the hair department. Lazlo’s hair is … unique (to say the least) and everyone agrees that he is simply too strange to hang out with.
Only Ellie McSnelly is smart enough to realize that tormenting Lazlo because he doesn’t appear to fit in is wrong. She bravely decides to ask him if he’d like to play with her after school. Thrilled to finally be treated with kindness, Lazlo invites Ellie to come over to his house, where she meets his mother and his loquacious poodle, Doodle, and is transported by her first taste of heavenly Hungarian strudel.
Over the course of a fun-filled afternoon, Ellie and Lazlo become friends, but she still has a hard time convincing the others that just because Lazlo is different from them doesn’t mean they can’t all get along. Once the kids decide to give Lazlo a chance, they quickly discover that he’s really no weirder than any of them, and that being different can be cool!
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(l. to r.) Jennifer Chang, Justin Figueroa and Justin Michael Duval in Katie Couric's The Brand New Kid. Photo courtesy of South Coast Repertory.
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Transposing the characters and situations from Katie Couric’s simple story book into a full-scale family musical, The Brand New Kid
features a book and lyrics by Melanie Marnich, and music and lyrics by
Michael Friedman. The project was commissioned by The Kennedy Center,
which produced the World Premiere in 2006, followed by a national tour.
Shelley Butler returns to direct The Brand New Kid — her third Theatre
for Young Audiences production, having previously helmed James and the
Giant Peach (2006-07) and Charlotte’s Web (2007-08). Butler’s cast for
The Brand New Kid includes Erika Whalen (Ellie McSnelly), Brian
Hostenske (Lazlo S. Gasky); Jennifer Chang (Carrie O’Toole, The Bird);
Justin Figueroa (Ricky Jensen, The Tree); Jennifer Parsons (Miss
Kincaid, Mrs. Gasky, Cafeteria Lady); and Justin Michael Duval (Peter
Barinsky, Doodle the Poodle).
Previews of The Brand New Kid begin May 29 on the Julianne Argyros
Stage and performances continue through June14. The Target Family
Performance on Saturday, May 30 at 11:00am features an early curtain
time and the lowest ticket prices. Ten free weekday matinees are
reserved for student groups from Orange County public elementary
schools. Please contact Linda Sullivan Baity, SCR’s School and
Community Programs Director, at 714-708-5063 for more information.
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