CATCO Announces 2013-14 Season
Musicals – Forbidden Broadway Greatest Hits: Vol. 1, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Always…Patsy Cline, as well as familiar theatre favorites, such as Steel Magnolias and It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, will headline the 2013-14 CATCO season.
Highlights of CATCO is Kids, formerly known as The Phoenix Theatre for Children, 2013-14 season are a world premiere, The Wolf Tales, and memorable adaptations of children’s classics, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Cat in the Hat and Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz.
“In a recent survey and comments from our patrons this past season, musicals and well-known plays rate high,so we are responding to our customers’ wishes for what they want to see in our theatres,” said Steven C. Anderson, producing director at CATCO. “We also learned that CATCO fans wanted more summer programming, so we’re thrilled to be able to start our season this year in June with Forbidden Broadway, followed by 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in July.”
“Our mixture of classics with new spins and a world premiere represent the signature programming for which CATCO is Kids known. There is something for all of our young theatre fans and their families,” said Joe Bishara, CATCO associate producing director.
The Rude Mechanicals and Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz are co-presentations with the Davis Performing Arts Programs for Youth and made possible through funding from the Columbus Recreations and Parks. The two shows will be presented in the Shedd Theatre, Columbus Performing Arts Center, 549 Franklin Ave.
Other CATCO is Kids and CATCO productions will be performed in the Vern Riffe Center Studio Theatres, 77 S. High St.
New subscriptions for the 2013-14 season will be available for purchase June 3. At CATCO, subscriptions range from $57.50 to $180 per person for the five-show season (Forbidden Broadway Greatest Hits: Vol. 1 and It’s a Wonderful Life:A Live Radio Play are season add-ons and purchased separately). At CATCO for Kids, subscription prices are $58 for adults and $34 for children. Flex Ticket subscriptions are available for $175, a minimum of five tickets at $35 each.
Single tickets for Forbidden Broadway Greatest Hits: Vol. 1 will be available for purchase April 3 for $35. Single tickets 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee will go on sale June 3. Single tickets for all other performances will go on sale July 5.
Single ticket prices are $11.50 for $11@11 matinees; $33.50 for preview performances; $41 for Thursday and Sunday performances; and $45 for Friday and Saturday performances.
| Season Add-On Forbidden Broadway Greatest Hits: Vol. 1 Created and written by Gerard Alessandrini June 20-July 7, 2013 A satirical send up of Broadway musicals from Les Misérables to Mamma Mia; Wicked to the Wizard of Oz. Nothing is sacred in this hit musical review. |
| 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Music and Lyrics by William Finn Book by Rachel Sheinkin Conceived by Rebecca Feldman Additional Material by Jay Reiss July 31-Aug. 18, 2013 This hilarious musical highlights overachievers’ angst as six adolescent outsiders vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. |
| Fully Committed By Becky Mode Nov. 6-24, 2013 A play about a day in the life of Sam Peliczowski, an out-of-work actor who mans the red-hot reservation line at Manhattan’s No. 1 restaurant. |
| Season Add-On It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play By Joe Landry Dec. 4-22, 2013 CATCO’s holiday offering featuring members of the original cast from the 2010 production. This beloved American holiday classic will captivate you as an ensemble of actors brings dozens of characters to life in a 1940’s radio broadcast; created live before you on the stage. Experience the story of idealistic George Bailey as he struggles to cope with misfortune and considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. |
| Shipwrecked! An Entertainment –The Amazing Adventures of Louis de Rougemont (as Told by Himself) by Donald Margulies Feb. 5-23, 2014 A breathless story of a Victorian gentleman [and] seafaring wanderer who springs to life like a theatrical pop-up book. Is he an inspirational figure touched by imaginative genius or a mere con man? |
| Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling March 26-April 13, 2014 The tale of a group of gossipy Southern ladies in a small-town beauty parlor, who are tougher than they appear. |
| Always…Patsy Cline by Ted Swindley May 28-June 15, 2014 Based on a true story about her friendship with a fan named Louise Seger this musical features the singer’s favorites, such as Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Sweet Dreams and Walking After Midnight. |
| CATCO is Kids The Rude Mechanicals by Ed Graczyk Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 2013 In this hilarious adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with scant allegiance to the work of Shakespeare, this play takes many liberties with the Bard’s text, and, in doing so, achieves a comedy style of its own. |
| CATCO is Kids The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Based on the story by Mark Twain Adapted for the stage by Steven C. Anderson Oct. 4-13, 2013 A fun an engaging retelling of the classic tale about a young boy growing up along the Mississippi River. |
| CATCO is Kids The Cat in the Hat Adapted by Katie Mitchell Based on the book by Dr. Seuss Jan. 17-26, 2014 A lively, engaging "play with sound effects." Not a word has been touched or added to Dr. Seuss's classic, ensuring anyone who's read the story will find themselves transported into the world they've always imagined. |
| CATCO is Kids The Wolf Tales By Steven C. Anderson March 7-16, 2014 A world premiere, the play revolves around fairy tales with wolves, such as Little Red Riding Hood, The Three Little Pigs and The Boy Who Cried Wolf, and the wolves’ perspective. |
| CATCO is Kids Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz By Steve and Kathy Hotchner April 25-May 4, 2014 In this participation version, children oil the Tin Man, stuff the Scarecrow and hide Dorothy from the Wicked Witch of the West. |
CATCO’s 30th season is sponsored by support from The Ohio Arts Council, which helps fund the theatre with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, education excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. CATCO also appreciates the support of the Janet Leonard Reading, Lewis K. Osborne and Nina B. Pohlman Funds of the Columbus Foundation, assisting donors and others in strengthening our community for the benefit of all of its citizens, and the Greater Columbus Arts Council, supporting the city’s artists and arts organizations since 1973.