For Immediate Release: November 22, 2005
Media Contact: Marc S. Goldberg, Storybook Musical Theatre, 215.659.8550

Storybook Musical Theatre, the Abington-based professional, Equity, children's theater company, will present an original adaptation of the classic Old English tale "Jack and the Beanstalk.," about an adventurous boy who trades the family cow for a handful of beans and ends up in the clouds fighting off a mean ogre. It first plays at the Mitchell Performing Arts Center, 800 Tomlinson Rd., Bryn Athyn, PA. from December 20 to December 30 and then from January 10 to 14, 2006 at the Bluett Theater, St. Joseph's University, 56th & Overbrook Av, Philadelphia. Tickets are $10.00 for children and $12.00 for adults. For reservations call: 215-659-8550.

In the first production of Storybook's fourteenth season, Storybook's Artistic Director, Patricia Goldberg has adapted the book with original music by composer Kevin Arruda. In this well-known story, the idealistic hero believes the grass is always greener on the other side. When his mother tosses away the beans he traded for the family cow, he finds out that the grass is not only greener, but taller. Those beans sprout into a beanstalk as high as the clouds. Curiosity gets the better of Jack and he climbs the beanstalk and ends up encountering the most disagreeable ogre in fairy tale land. Fortunately for Jack, the ogre's wife is a bit less temperamental. How Jack saves the day, defeats the ogre, and brings happiness to his family and town makes for a fun-filled tale of adventure.

Storybook has gathered four talented, local, professional actors for their cast:

In the title role of Jack is Emmanuel Carrera of Philadelphia. He is making his Storybook debut in "Jack." Local credits include appearances at the Walnut St. Theater, the Wilma Theater and the Media Theater. He has been a soloist with the Philly Pops and has sung with the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Emmanuel was a Dorothy Haas Acting Apprentice at the Walnut St. Theater and is a graduate of Eastern University, where he was a Music/Vocal Performance major.

David Mulholland, of Bristol, PA. steps into the role of the ornery ogre. David, a Storybook regular, was last seen on Storybook's stage as the sly Fox in "Pinocchio." Other Storybook credits include "Elves and the Shoemaker," "Wizard of Oz," "Princess and the Pea," "Emperor's New Clothes," "Alice in Wonderland," and "Robin Hood." Regional credits include: "Tuesdays with Morrie" at Act Out Theater, "Only A Girl" with Lightkeeper Productions, "Our Town" at Delaware Theater Company and "The Snow Queen" at the Prince Theater.

The ogre's calming force, his wife Gertrude, is played by another Storybook favorite, Faith Sherman, of Dublin, PA. Faith was seen last season as Katrina the Cat in Storybook's "Pinocchio," several of the miners in "Snow White" and one of Beauty's sisters in "Beauty and the Beast." Other Storybook credits include: "Wizard of Oz," "Rapunzel," "Emperor's New Clothes," "Princess and the Pea," just to name a few. In addition, Faith is an Artist/Teacher with Storybook's literacy, "Page to Stage" outreach program.

Rounding out the cast is another Storybook veteran, Jen Faith Brown, as Jack's dedicated and worried mother. She was seen last season as one of the elves in "Elves and the Shoemaker" and two of the seven dwarves in "Snow White." Jen is one of the founders of Lightkeeper Productions and recently appeared in its presentation of "Only A Girl," which she helped create. Additional credits include "Arms and the Man" and "An Ideal Husband" at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, "Our Town" at Syracuse Stage, "Paint Your Wagon" and "Sound of Music" at New London Barn Playhouse. She holds an MFA in Acting from Alabama Shakespeare.

Children's tickets are $10.00, Adults are $12.00 with generous school and group discounts available. Show times are December 20 to 23 at 10:15 am, then Saturday and weekdays through December 30 at 11:00 am. The St. Joe's times are Tuesday to Friday at 10:15 am and Saturday at 11:00 am. Some shows are sold-out, please call for availability.

A special performance with an ASL interpreter, for the hearing impaired, will be held on Friday, January 13, 2006 at 10:15 am. at the Bluett Theater of St. Joseph's University. This program is provided by Creative Access. Special seating will be set aside and early reservations are suggested.

All Storybook productions are appropriate for ages 3 and older. After each performance, as always, everyone will have the opportunity to meet the characters for a hand shake, pictures, or an autograph. For information, reservations or directions, call the box office at 215-659-8550 or check Storybook's web site at: www.storybookmusical.org.

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