Skip Navigation

Press - Junie B in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!

JUNIE B. IN JINGLE BELLS, BATMAN SMELLS!
by Allison Gregory
adapted from the books by Barbara Park
directed by Casey Stangl
November 40-20, 2011
Theatre for Young Audiences
Julianne Argyros Stage

Junie B. Jones is back! We couldn't let another season pass without a return visit from the world's funniest first grader—yes, she's in first grade now, but so is her nemesis Tattletale May. And, with the holidays coming, Santa is watching Junie B. like a hawk. (She sure hopes he didn't see her throw grass in May's hair.) To make things worse, when she draws a name for the Secret Santa gift party, it's May! Even though Junie B. and her stuffed elephant Philip Johnny Bob talk it over and decide a lump of coal is the perfect gift for May, Junie B. will steal your heart—and brighten your spirits—with her last-minute choice.

Click on photos for 300 dpi versions.

   
Melody Butiu in South Coast Repertory's Theatre for Young Audiences production of Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! by Allison Gregory, based on the books by Barbara Park. Photo by Henry DiRocco/SCR.
  
Melody Butiu and Emily Eiden in South Coast Repertory's Theatre for Young Audiences production of Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! by Allison Gregory, based on the books by Barbara Park. Photo by Henry DiRocco/SCR.

   
(l. to r.) Tony Sancho, Erika Whalen, Tobie Windham, Melody Butiu, Brian Hostenske and Rudy Martinez in South Coast Repertory's Theatre for Young Audiences production of Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! by Allison Gregory, based on the books by Barbara Park. Photo by Henry DiRocco/SCR.
  
Tobie Windham, Emily Eiden and Melody Butiu in South Coast Repertory's Theatre for Young Audiences production of Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! by Allison Gregory, based on the books by Barbara Park. Photo by Henry DiRocco/SCR.

(l. to r.) Emily Eiden, Tobie Windham, Erika Whalen, Rudy Martinez, Tony Sancho and Melody Butiu in South Coast Repertory's Theatre for Young Audiences production of Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! by Allison Gregory, based on the books by Barbara Park. Photo by Henry DiRocco/SCR.

       
Rudy Martinez and Melody Butiu in South Coast Repertory's Theatre for Young Audiences production of Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! by Allison Gregory, based on the books by Barbara Park. Photo by Henry DiRocco/SCR.
  
Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells logo courtesy of South Coast Repertory.
   
Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells artwork courtesy of South Coast Repertory.


Playwright Bio

Barbara Park is the author of the delightful Junie B. Jones chapter book series. She has received more than 40 awards for her books, including 25 Children's Choice awards.  While she is most likely best known for her Junie B. Jones books, she has also authored a number of other books, including a picture book and 13 middle grade novels. In fact, some of the characters that are most meaningful to her she created in some of these other books, such as Mick and Phoebe Hart from Mick Hart Was Here and Jake and Skelly Moon from The Graduation of Jake Moon. When asked how she learned how little kids' minds operate, Barbara Park responds, "Believe it or not, I've actually been a little kid myself." She grew up in Mount Holly, New Jersey, and spent much of her time in the summers on Long Beach Island. She now lives in Arizona with husband.

Allison Gregory's plays for young audiences have been seen at some of the country's leading theatres, and include Go, Dog. Go!, adapted from the P.D. Eastman book and co-written with Steven Dietz; Even Steven Goes to War ("Zoni" Best New Script Award, AATE and UPRP awards, Kennedy Center New Visions/New Voices series); Peter and the Wolf (Footlight Award, Best New Play; National Tour with Childsplay, Inc.), Brementown Musicians and Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!. Her plays for adults include Forcing Hyacinths (Julie Harris Playwrighting Award, South Coast Repertory's California Playwright's Award); Fall Of Night (Garland Award, L.A.); Cliffhouse; Burning Bridget Cleary (Footlight Award, Best New Play, Seattle). She has received commissions from South Coast Repertory, ACT in Seattle, The Skirball-Kenis Foundation, Seattle Children's Theatre and Childsplay, Inc. Along with her husband, playwright/director Steven Dietz, and her two children, she splits her time between Austin and Seattle.