Broadway In Chicago and Emerald City Theatre are delighted to announce that CORDUROY will make its Chicago return just in time for the holidays! Playing at Broadway In Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut), this limited engagement will run November 15, 2019 through January 5, 2020. Individual tickets will go on sale on September 8, 2019.
In this sweet adaptation of Don Freeman’s classic book, a small bear’s quest for a missing button leads to the friendship of a lifetime. After the lights are dimmed and the doors locked, the department store comes to life with circus elements and physical comedy. It’s up to Corduroy to outsmart the Night Watchman as he waits for his new pal Lisa to return with her mother. Along with exciting scenes of clowning and mischief, the story teaches the importance of empathy and unconditional love. Tailored for young imaginations, this playful adventure will delight ages three and up!
The play CORDUROY was adapted for the stage by Barry Kornhauser and is based on the Corduroy and A Pocket for Corduroy books by Don Freeman. The play is produced by special arrangement with Plays for Young Audiences. The show is licensed by CBS Consumer Products.
CORDUROY Creative Team
Barry Kornhauser (Playwright) recently joined the staff of Millersville University to spearhead the school’s newly formed family arts collaborative. Prior to this new endeavor, he served 32 years as the Playwright-In-Residence, TYA Director, and other key positions at the National Historic Landmark Fulton Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Barry is a recipient of the American Alliance for Theatre & Education (AATE) Charlotte Chorpenning Cup, honoring “a body of distinguished work by a nationally known writer of outstanding plays for children.”
Don Freeman (Author) made a name for himself from his successful Broadway sketches and took his first step into children's literature when he was asked to illustrate for William Saroya. He quickly began writing and illustrating his own children's books, including Corduroy, A Pocket for Corduroy, and the Caldecott Honor Book Fly High, Fly Low. He collaborated frequently with his wife, Lydia, a fellow author and artist.
Jamal Howard (Director) is the Artistic Associate at Emerald City Theatre and has directed and choreographed ECT’s productions of The Wiz, Magic Tree House: Showtime with Shakespeare, and the Chicago premiere of Corduroy. Jamal also is the Co-Artistic Director of the Chicago theater company, New American Folk Theatre (NAFT), where he most recently directed the original play, Scraps. Originally from San Jose, CA, his love of musicals began at age 8 when he started performing with Children's Musical Theatre San Jose. Jamal also co-founded NAFT in 2012.
ABOUT EMERALD CITY THEATRE
Emerald City Theatre (ECT) is Chicago’s largest theater for young audiences, reaching children 0 – 15-years-old through its three pillars of work: artistic, education, and outreach. Serving an average of over 60,000 children and their grown-ups annually, the company has created over 100 productions in Lakeview, Lincoln Park, and Downtown Chicago.
ECT also builds skills in children through its yearly camps, classes, and residencies – the largest theater arts education program in Chicago, serving over 64,000 students to date and an average of 200 schools annually.
ECT’s signature outreach program, One Fund supports increased literacy among Chicago’s children by providing a free play and free companion book to low-resourced Chicago Public Schools students. In 2018, ECT provided 95,000 free books to CPS students in Kindergarten – 3rd grade as part of a partnership with Mary Pope Osborne, author of theMagic Tree House book series.
ECT's lead supporters include ECT's lead supporters include the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, KPMG, Illinois Arts Council, and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events. For more information, please visit EmeraldCityTheatre.com
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailingGroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. Individual tickets will be on sale September 8, 2019. For more information visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 19 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining more than 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at the Auditorium Theatre. Broadway In Chicago proudly celebrates 2019 as the Year of Chicago Theatre.
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