FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

8 November 2006

CONTACT:

Christine Arnison

(513) 921-5965

madcapmd@fuse.net

MADCAP KICKS OFF 25th ANIVERSERY SEASON WITH

2006/2007 HATS OFF REGIONAL FAMILY THEATRE SERIES

Madcap turns 25 this year and the celebrations begin with “It’s Snow Surprise!”, an original Czech Black holiday production, followed by new productions of two old favorites from past years. This season also marks the expansion of Madcap’s Hats Off Series to four theaters.

The Hats Off Series began at the Cincinnati Art Museum twelve years ago and has grown to 28 performances with puppet building workshops following every performance. Madcap was honored to be part of the Art Museum’s 125^th Anniversary celebrations and is now delighted to begin our festivities with them. Expansion of the series began six years ago when Madcap was invited by the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Kentucky to be a part of their regular family programming, followed by an invitation from the City of Mason three years ago to perform each season in its Community Center Auditorium. This year will be Madcap’s first full season as the resident children’s theatre company at the Carnegie Visual + Performing Arts Center in Covington.

Artistic Director John Lewandowski, in his first season with Madcap Puppets, feels the generational as well as the regional, expansion of Madcap is significant. "Our regional family series is an opportunity for Madcap to reach out, not only to the children of this region, but also to touch the parents and grandparents, many of whom have seen Madcap's giant puppets years earlier as children or young parents themselves,” says Lewandowski. “Our 06-07 season will thrill everyone; from the magic of our Czech Black productions to the excitement that our diverse fairy tales provoke. I look forward to sharing a piece of our 25th birthday cake with all of you!"

2006/2007 HATS OFF SEASON

IT’S SNOW SURPRISE, A Czech Black Style Production

In Madcap’s original new production, the Ice Goblin has kidnapped the Snow Makers, a wild crew of jolly cloud dwellers who work like mad making the winter snow. With no snow, what’s a bundled up kid to do? What’s a sled race without an icy hill? Or a snow angel without a deep drift? Find out if the Snow Makers can escape the clutches of the Ice Goblin and bring a wintry mix of snow-frolicking fun to kids of all ages. WOW!—“It’s Snow Surprise!”

MORE

SPECIAL HOLIDAY SHOW: CART TALES (Cincinnati Art Museum only)

It’s just a small cart—just a wagon, really—but oh the magic it holds! It belongs to Quincy Wilder: world traveler, fearless adventurer and amazing storyteller. With some assistance from you—yes, you there in the audience!—he will pull giants, fairy tale folk, and creatures of all sorts from his magical cart. With stories from all corners of the globe, he will make you laugh, gasp and shriek with delight. It’s Madcap’s gift of family fun for the Season. (NOTE: No workshops will be offered with these performances)

LONG LOST STORIES

In the corner of a large and dusty attic sits a long-forgotten trunk. It’s a trunk filled with mysteries and magical stories lost to the world for many years. Two young explorers, curious about the forbidden attic, discover the trunk and are immediately captured by its secrets and the Long Lost Stories inside. Join in the adventure and let your imagination soar in this exciting treasure of tales from Italy, New Zealand and Denmark.

THE DREAM WEAVERS

Two dream sprites, Artravia the sprite of nightmares and Diaphone the sprite of good dreams, want only to create dreams of their own. They escape from their boss, the Sandman, and put the whole audience of children to sleep! The dreams they create include stories from around the world. We see a Waterman of Scotland who has his sleep taken away (and we see the Country Boy who, with the help of a chorus of frogs, gives it back again). We also meet the Monstritos Banditos who are eating poor Granny’s dreams in a story from Spain. Will the sprites dream their dreams before the Sandman finds them? Fall asleep and find out!

Cincinnati Art Museum

It’s Snow Surprise! – December 9, 10, 16, 17

Cart Tales – December 27, 28, 29

Long Lost Stories – January 20, 21, 27, 28

The Dreamweavers – March 17, 18, 24, 25

Showtimes: 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. For tickets call: (513) 721-ARTS

Carnegie Visual & Performing Arts Center

It’s Snow Surprise! – December 3

Long Lost Stories – February 4

The Dreamweavers – March 4

Showtimes: 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. For tickets call: (859) 491-2030

Speed Art Museum

It’s Snow Surprise! – November 25, 26

Long Lost Stories – February 10, 11

The Dreamweavers – March 10, 11

Showtimes: Saturday 11:00 a.m. & 1:p.m. For tickets call: (502) 634-2700

Sunday 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.

Mason Center Community Auditorium

It’s Snow Surprise! – December 2

Long Lost Stories – February 3

The Dreamweavers – March 3

Showtimes: 11:30 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. For tickets call: (513) 229-8555

(Additional show at 6:30 p.m. on December 2^nd)

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For a quarter century Madcap Puppets has toured the country with four to six troupes bringing original giant puppet performances to schools, libraries, theaters and large audience venues across the country. Each year more than 500,000 children and families nation-wide, including 130,000 in the Greater Cincinnati Area, see Madcap performances in schools, libraries and theaters, at symphonies, museums, zoos, fairs and many other public and private venues. Madcap is in residence at The Cincinnati Art Museum (our 12^th Season), the Carnegie Visual + Performing Arts, the Mason Community Center Auditorium, and the Speed Art Museum ( our 6^th Season) in Louisville, Kentucky, and can be seen at the Cincinnati Zoo, Coney Island, Parkey’s Farm and many other venues in the area. This year’s theater series productions, as always, will include the highly popular annual holiday production, always done in Czechoslovakian Black theatre style of puppetry. For 2006/2007 Season information, see our website: www.madcappuppets.com.