DREAMS COME TRUE IN CHILDREN'S PLAYSHOP SUMMER '06 SEASON

From: Media Relations

Summer '05 Playshop production of 'Pinocchio'
April 20, 2006

HARRISONBURG — The JMU Children's Playshop, a summer tradition in the Shenandoah Valley, is again at work preparing three beloved tales certain to delight theatergoers of all ages.

Directors Bill Buck and Pam Johnson of the JMU School of Theatre and Dance have selected a company of actors to perform "The Velveteen Rabbit," "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp" and "The Mouse and the Motorcycle." Each story explores the excitement and wonder of a wish coming true.

The season begins May 25 with a revival of the Playshop's production of Margery Williams' "The Velveteen Rabbit," a classic story about the transformative power of love. The title character is a little boy's stuffed toy that dreams of becoming real. He learns that the boy's love has the magical power to make his dream a reality. "The Velveteen Rabbit" runs May 25-June 4.

"Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp" is the well-known tale of the boy who finds a genie hidden in a magic lamp and is granted three magic wishes. After enjoying this adventurous tale, children will no doubt be polishing the lamps in their own houses! "Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp" runs June 15-25.

The season closes in July with a stage adaptation of Beverly Cleary's famous children's book, "The Mouse and the Motorcycle," about a little mouse named Ralph who dreams of exploring the world outside his knothole. One day, when a little boy named Keith moves in, Ralph discovers a toy motorcycle that could take him on the voyage of discovery he's been longing for. "The Mouse and the Motorcycle" runs July 13-23.

The JMU Children's Playshop Box Office opens Wednesday, May 10. Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with weekend matinees Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. All performances are in JMU's Theatre II, located next to FedEx Kinko's on South Main Street in Harrisonburg. All seats are $5.

Reservations are strongly encouraged as shows often do sell out. Tickets can be ordered by mail or by calling the box office at (540) 568-7836. To download the ticket order form, visit the JMU Children's Playshop Web site at www.jmu.edu/theatre/child.

# # #

WRITER: Andi Arndt