Creative Arts Theatre & School's (CATS) 35th season is a reflection of the organization's long history and its exciting future. Producing Director Merri Brewer notes, "Finding just the right plays for CATS to produce is an exciting challenge. This season, I sought to present lively and intriguing works that will provide wonderful entertainment for our audience and educational opportunity for our young performers."
The Executive Director of CATS, Heather Simmons, states, "We're thrilled that all of our shows this season will be presented at Mosaic (817 W. Park Row), as we absolutely loved performing in the warm and inviting space for two of our shows last season. It's fabulous that we're able to offer that familiarity and consistency to our audience. This season is special, as it's our 35th anniversary, and we'll be celebrating that with an alumni revival of one of the first shows that CATS ever produced, Free to Be...You and Me. We're really looking forward to seeing the alumni return. Once you're a CATS kid, you're always a CATS kid."
The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood
By Mary Lynn Dobson
Directed by Joe Chapa
Oct. 11, 2013-Oct 19, 2013, Fridays at 7:30 and Saturdays at 2:30 and 7:30
Audition dates: Tuesday, September 3 and Wednesday, September 4
It sure is hard to be humble if one is a swashbuckling, egocentric super-hero. But this gallant guy-in-green tries his best as he swaggers through The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood, a frantically funny, Monty Pythonesque retelling of the classic. This time around, the legendary legend, in his never-ending quest to aid the needy, encounters a lovely damsel-in-distress; an ever-scheming sheriff who would rather bowl a strike than hit a bull's-eye; a gold-hoarding, bad-guy monarch wannabe; and a band of spoon-wielding Merry Men with a collective IQ of six. Audiences will love this irreverent jaunt through Sherwood Forest!
Aesop's Fable-ous Christmas Tree
By Michael Gravois
Dec. 3, 2013-Dec. 14, 2013, Fridays at 7:30 and Saturdays at 2:30 and 7:30
Audition dates: Tuesday, October 22 and Wednesday, October 23
When Aesop's fables are given a holiday spin, it becomes a mash-up of The Twelve Days of Christmas and The Tortoise and the Hare, where the six birds of Christmas compete in a comical race—with the turtle dove winning, of course; a tiny snow mouse teaches the abominable snowman that little friends may prove great friends; Ebenezer Scrooge realizes that wealth unused might as well not exist; Santa's elves dream of a life outside the workshop as they sing a "patter poem" about their ideal careers; and even though the eight reindeer panic when Rudolph gets a cold in the nose, they learn that necessity is the mother of invention. A dozen vignettes illuminate important life lessons by reinventing the classic fables, blending humor, rhythmic elements, rapping, puppetry, poetry, song and storytelling to create a fast-paced, fun-filled show that's filled with Christmas spirit.
ALUMNI SHOW: Free to Be...You and Me
From the Book "Free To Be...You And Me" Conceived By Marlo Thomas and Friends; Contributions by Judy Blume, Dan Greenberg, Carol Hall, Sheldon Harnick, Bruce Hart, Edward Kleban, Elain Laron, Stephen Lawrence, Betty Miles, Shelley Miller, Carl Reiner, Mary Rodgers, Shel Silverstein, Peter Stone and Charlotte Zolotow ; Adaptation Written for the Stage by Douglas Love and Regina Safran
Jan. 3, 2014 at 7:30pm & Sat., Jan. 4, 2014 at 2:30pm
This revival will be cast from CATS alumni by invitation
Marlo Thomas conceived a children's book that, instead of telling boys and girls who they should be, would open them to the possibilities of who they could be. She gathered many of her supremely talented friends from various worlds of the arts and the remarkable result is highly regarded as a modern classic of children's literature. Life-enhancing themes are imaginatively blended with music and humor to expand children's personal horizons, enabling them to invent their own futures without limitation, while dispelling some old constraints and worn-out conventions in the process. Parents, teachers and other grown-up friends will delight in sharing this extraordinary and memorable experience with the children in their lives. This show is presented by CATS alumni in celebration of CATS 35th anniversary season.
Robin Goodfellow
By Aurand Harris and William Shakespeare
Feb.18, 2014- Mar. 1, 2014 Fridays at 7:30 and Saturdays at 2:30 and 7:30
Auditions: Tuesday, December 17 and Wednesday December 18
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