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Show Young People's Theatre honors storyteller Andersen The Young People's Theatre at Pioneer Memorial Theater will present "A Tribute to Hans Christian Andersen" on Lees Main Stage and "other stories to bring smiles and tears" at Theatre 138 as 'part of the children theater's 40th ! season. ; A troupe of actors from the University of Utah is currently visiting area elementary schools y, with a 15-minute skit on the life of the great Danish storyteller, Hans Christian Andersen. A few Tuesday and Thursday afternoon time slots are still available. Interested principals or . any PTA president wishing to use Young People's Theatre ticket sales as a fundraising project should contact the PMT publicity office (581-7222). The magical childhood classic, "The Little Match Girl" opens the season Dec. 5. Adapted and directed by Xan S. Johnson, the simple, eloquent tale of the poor match girl runs through Dec. 8 on Lees Main Stage as an appropriate salute to the holiday season. Andersen's most extraordinary storybook characters will come to life on stage in a rousing new .musical "Tales From Hans Christian, Andersen,". March 20-23 on Lees Main Stage. Based on Andersen's best loved fables --"What --"What The Old Man Does is Always Right," "The Princess and the Pea," "The Ugly Duckling" and "Numbskull Jack - Tales from Hans Christian Andersen" is a delightful montage of wonderful, lighthearted fairy tales the whole family will enjoy. It will be directed arid choreographed by Karen Alston. Johnson, now in his third year as artistic director, described "The Little Match Girl" and "Tales from Hans Christian Andersen" as shows with universal appeal and spectacle targeted for families ages 6 through 106." Johnson has targeted the two shows at Theatre 138, 138 S. 200 E., at a narrow audience. Paul Zindel's highly acclaimed "The Pigman," which centers on the unexpected friendship that blossoms between two high-spirited, bored teenagers and a lonely widower, is geared for ages 10 through teens. Jean Merrill's "The Pushcart War," a humorous, action-packed tale based on the belief that there can be no peace in the world until we understand how wars - no matter how small - start, is also targeted for the older youth although children under 10 should be able to easily understand the stage adaptation. Both plays are filled with contemporary con-temporary social themes that "play better in a smaller theatre," according ac-cording to Johnson. "Our goal this year is not only to provide high-quality spectacle and entertainment for the large audience at PMT but also to provide an intimate theatre experience at Theatre 138 that will allow older youth to confront and contemplate a 'wide "..variety of .social feelings, strategies 'and' 'philosophies," he said. "The Pigman," adapted by F. Andrew Leslie and directed by Johnson, runs at Theatre 138 Feb. 20-March 2, while "The Pushcart War," adapted by Gregory A. Falls and directed by Peterson, is scheduled for May 8-18. Season tickets are on sale now. Call the PMT box office, 581-6961, for tickets or a season brochure. |
