La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts presents Madeline and the Bad Hat
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts presents ArtsPower's Madeline and the Bad Hat, the national touring musical based on the children's book by Ludwig Bemelmans. Performances are Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.
The third in the Madeline series, ArtsPower's Madeline and the Bad Hat focuses on the unbreakable bonds of friendship and family. Madeline is none too pleased when Pepito, the son of the Spanish ambassador, moves in next door. He seems insufferably arrogant and conceited. And worst of all, he's cruel to animals. Under the guidance of Miss Clavel, the caretaker of the girls at Madeline's boarding school, Madeline learns not to judge a book by its cover. She discovers that Pepito's father is rarely at home and that this new neighbor is misbehaving because he is desperate for attention. Pepito and Madeline become friends after she resourcefully rescues him from danger, and consequently, Pepito and his father also grow closer. It turns out that even an old-fashioned aristocratic gentleman can show great affection, and that Pepito isn't such a bad hat after all.
Madeline is in that important 'discovery' phase of her life, when the types of challenges and conflicts she faces are important to resolve. The timeless charm of Bemelmans' Madeline story is quite relevant to young children, who are forever seeking ways to handle such problems. The stage is a wonderful venue for such lessons.
Madeline and the Bad Hat was adapted for the stage by ArtsPower's Artistic Director Greg Gunning, who also wrote the lyrics and directed the production. Composer/Orchestrator Richard DeRosa created the original Broadway-style score.
Identical twins Mark and Gary Blackman founded ArtsPower in 1985 and have been steering its course ever since. Its 26 original, professional touring productions have been seen by more than 11 million people in 47 states - from Alaska to Florida - in some of the nation's top regional theatres, university auditoriums, and cultural centers, including The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and Lincoln Center in New York.
La Mirada Theatre's Programs for Young Audiences is designed to give children exposure to a diverse mix of national and international touring stage acts. The 2010-11 season will continue with Storybook Theatre's Jack and the Beanstalk on May 15, 2011 and The Disney Channels' Choo-Choo Soul with Genevieve! on July 10, 2011.
All seats are $8 for children and $12 for adults. Tickets are available online at www.lamiradatheatre.com or by calling the La Mirada Theatre Box Office at (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310. Season mini-subscriptions are available for $18 (Children) and $27 (Adults). The theatre is located at 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada, CA. Parking is free. Wheelchair access and Hearing Assist devices available.