SCR Gets Ready to ‘Monkey’ Around
Theatre for Young Audiences Series Tackles Junie B. Jones Tale
COSTA MESA, Calif. (Oct. 15, 2009) — She’s sassy, she’s high-spirited, and she’s headed for the South Coast Rep stage. She’s Junie B. Jones, the kindergarten creation of author Barbara Park. South Coast Repertory will present Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business as part of its Theatre for Young Audience series Nov. 6 – 22 on the Julianne Argyros stage. Directed by Casey Stangl, with book, music and lyrics by Joan Cushing, the musical is based on the second in Park’s Junie B. Jones series. Low-priced previews are available from Nov. 6 -13. Opening day is Nov. 14.
In A Little Monkey Business, Junie has two problems: First, she has made some pretty big promises about a show-and-tell surprise, but she has nothing to bring. Second, she’s about to have a baby brother or sister, which threatens her position as Number One in her parents’ affections. Not to mention the fact that babies, as everyone knows, smell like P.U. The Washington Post called the musical, "A treat in Crayola colors ... Tuneful, funny, and bouncy like kids with ants in their pants ... A child’s play for all ages."
Stangl, in addition to her award-winning work in opera and film, has directed on many Southern California stages, including the Falcon Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, Pacific Resident Theatre and Ensemble Studio Theatre. She has directed nationally at the Guthrie Theater, Denver Center Theater Company and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. For 12 years, she served as Artistic Director of Eye of the Storm Theatre Company in Minneapolis, and was named “Artist of the Year” by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Star Tribune.
Jamey Hood, who was last seen on SCR’s stage as Shadow the Crayon in Imagine, plays the title role of Junie B. Jones. Dawn-Lyen Gardner portrays Junie B.’s best friend, That Grace. Four actors will create multiple characters: Brian Hostenske takes on the roles of Principal, Junie B.’s father and Crybaby William; Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper plays Grampa Miller and Meanie Jim; Jennifer Parsons is Grandma Miller and Junie B.’s kindergarten teacher, known simply as Mrs.; and Erika Whalen plays Junie B.’s mother and Lucille.
Rounding out the production’s creative ensemble are Deborah Wicks La Puma (musical director), Keith Mitchell (set design), Jaymi Smith (lighting design), Sara Ryung Clement (costume design) and Kimberly Egan (sound design), and Jennifer Ellen Butler (stage manager).
The Corporate Honorary Producer is Bank of America, and OC Family is SCR’s Theatre for Young Audiences Media Partner.
SCR’s Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) presents three professional productions each season designed especially for children and their families. In addition to the public performances, TYA hosts over 10,000 students from elementary schools annually in an effort to introduce the next generation to the magic of live theater.
TICKETS to Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business can be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or by visiting the box office at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. Performances begin on Nov. 6 and continue through Nov. 22. Ticket prices range from $17 to $29. Low-priced preview performances are available from Nov. 6-13.
LOCATION: South Coast Repertory is located at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa, at the Bristol Street/Avenue of the Arts exit off the San Diego (405) Freeway in the Folino Theater Center, part of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Parking is available off Anton Blvd. on Park Center Drive.
COMING UP: A Christmas Carol (Nov. 28 – Dec. 26); Ordinary Days (Jan. 3-24, 2010) and Fences (Jan. 22- Feb. 21, 2010).
ABOUT SCR: Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory, under the artistic direction of David Emmes and Martin Benson, is widely recognized as one of the leading professional theaters in the United States. Founded in 1964, SCR is committed to theater that illuminates the compelling personal and social issues of our time, not only on its stages but through its education and outreach programs. While its productions represent a balance of classic and modern theater, SCR is renowned for its extensive new play development program, including the Pacific Playwrights Festival. Of SCR’s more than 430 productions, 112 have been world premieres with subsequent stagings achieving enormous success across America and around the world. SCR-developed works have garnered eight Pulitzer Prize nominations with Margaret Edson’s Wit winning the prize in 1999 and David Lindsay-Abaire’s Rabbit Hole in 2007. Located in Costa Mesa, California, in 2002 SCR opened the Folino Theater Center, an expanded three-theater complex that includes the 507-seat Segerstrom Stage, the 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage and the 94-seat Nicholas Studio.
Fact Sheet
Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business Music, book and lyrics by Joan Cushing Based on the book by Barbara Park, illustrated by Denise Brunkus Directed by Casey Stangl
CREATIVE TEAM: Deborah Wicks La Puma (musical director), Keith Mitchell (set design), Jaymi Smith (lighting design), Sara Ryung Clement (costume design), Kimberly Egan (sound design) and Jennifer Ellen Butler (stage manager).
CAST: Jamey Hood (Junie B. Jones), Dawn-Lyen Gardner (That Grace), Brian Hostenske (Principal, Junie B.’s father and Crybaby William) Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper (Grampa Miller, Meanie Jim); Jennifer Parsons (Grandma Miller, Mrs.); Erika Whalen (Junie B.’s mother, Lucille).
CORPORATE HONORARY PRODUCER: Bank of America
MEDIA PARTNER: OC Family
SYNOPSIS: The world’s funniest kindergartener steals the show and your heart in this musical treat!
TICKETS: $17-$25 previews; $22-$29 regular performances.
BOX OFFICE WINDOW HOURS: 10 a.m. to showtime Tuesdays through Saturdays; noon to showtime Sundays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays and non-performance days. American Express, VISA and MasterCard accepted. (714) 708-5555
LOCATION: Folino Theatre Center, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa CA 92626. One block east of South Coast Plaza at the Bristol Street/Avenue of the Arts exit off the San Diego (405) Freeway.
PHOTOS: Digital images of South Coast Repertory productions are available at www.scr.org/press.
PRESS CONTACTS: Soyia Ellison 714-708-5561 soyia@scr.org Madeline Porter 714-708-5562 mad@scr.org
RUNS: Nov. 6-22, 2009
PREVIEWS: Nov. 6 FRI at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 SAT at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 8 SUN at 2 p.m. Nov. 8 SUN at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 13 FRI at 7 p.m. REGULAR PERFORMANCES: Nov. 14 SAT at 11 a.m. Nov. 14 SAT at 2 p.m. Nov. 14 SAT at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 15 SUN at 2 p.m. Nov. 15 SUN at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 20 FRI at 7 p.m. Nov. 21 SAT at 11 a.m. Nov. 21 SAT at 2 p.m. Nov. 21 SAT at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 22 SUN at 2 p.m. Nov. 22 SUN at 4:30 p.m.
