YOUNG KING ARTHUR

THE MCGINN CAZALE THEATER 2162 Broadway, 4th floor, at 76th Street.

September 23rd – November 5th 2006

VITAL CHILDREN’S THEATRE is pleased to announce its upcoming production of “YOUNG KING ARTHUR” an original musical for children with book JON SHEAR and MARC CASTLE, lyrics by MARC CASTLE, and music by SCOTT ZESCH.  Directed and choreographed by JASON SUMMERS.  The Musical Director is CHARLES GEIZHALS.  “YOUNG KING ARTHUR” runs September 23 through November 5.  There will be an opening day workshop following the 1:00 pm show on Saturday, September 23.  All tickets are $18.00; workshop admission is $14 or purchase a $25 Day Pass which entitles the bearer entrance to the performance and workshop.  The show is appropriate for children ages 4 to 12.   For reservations, visit www.theatermania.com or call (212) 352-3101 or Toll-Free at (866) 811-4111.  For more information visit www.vitaltheatre.org.  “YOUNG KING ARTHUR” performs at The McGinn/Cazale Theatre, 2162 Broadway, 4th floor, at 76th Street.   School/Group Performances and Workshops at a school or at Vital Theatre run September 2006  - June 2007.

A kid who gets to be a king! How cool is that? ButArthurlearns having power is more than getting whatever he wants. It brings responsibilities... anda whole lot of trouble too,especially fromhis oafish brother Sir Kay and the evil Sir Ridley. But with the help of Merlin the Magician and an outspoken peasant girl named Brynith, young King Arthurdiscoversthat real power comes from the heart, a lesson that helps himbe theleader he was always meant to be.

JON SHEAR (book) Jon Shear is a native of Brooklyn and a graduate of Harvard University where he won the Harvard Prize for his play Spilt Milk and the MacDonnell Award for directing. He made his film-making debut as director and co-writer of the Lionsgate release URBANIA starring Dan Futterman and Alan Cumming. After premiering to great acclaim at Sundance, URBANIA won best film at the San Francisco, DC, Philadelphia and LA Outfest film festivals and was named “one of the year’s best films” by every major paper in Los Angeles, Time Out New York, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, and many others. It currently airs on HBO. His acting credits under the name Jon Matthews (he follows a family tradition of using a different last name for each profession), include RUNAWAYS, SHIMADA, and SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION on Broadway; the original production of ANGELS IN AMERICA at the Taper, Too in Los Angeles; many other plays at the Public, Playwrights Horizons, the Mark Taper Forum, and South Coast Rep; and the films INDEPENDENCE DAY, AND THE BAND PLAYED ON, and HEATHERS. Recent stage directing credits in LA include SANGUINE with Jeremy Sisto, and six seasons of the YOUNG PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL. This winter, he will direct the film RED LIGHT / GREEN LIGHT, his screenplay based on the Giuliani administration’s crackdown on New York City nightlife.

MARC CASTLE (book and lyrics) has been in the business since the ripe old age of ten, working extensively as an actor and director before turning to writing.  He wrote book, music and lyrics for a new original musical, LOVE, INCORPORATED, which was chosen to be part of the ASCAP Workshop, and has had readings presented by Innovative Stages, the York Theater and recently at the Snapple Theater Center.  He wrote lyrics for a musical based on the TV series, THE PRISONER, which premiered at Andy’s Summer Theater in New Hampshire.  With Scott Zesch he wrote the full length musical HOLLYWOODLAND, performed this past January in a concert version in Stamford Ct.; the short musical REEL LIFE, first presented at the About Face Theater on Theater Row; and two children shows. Other productions of his work have been seen at Ensemble Studio Theater, the Neighborhood Playhouse,Raw Impressions at La Mama, and Emerging Artists. His song, "Big Beehive Hair," (music, lyrics and vocals) was included in the film, URBANIA. (Directed by Jon Shear)  Mr. Castle is a member of ASCAP, Equity, SAG, The Dramatists Guild, Emerging Artists, the American Renaissance Theater Company, and an alumnus of the BMI Musical Theater Workshop.

SCOTT ZESCH (music) is the composer of the musical HOLLYWOODLAND (with Marc Castle), which was performed in concert earlier this year at Curtain Call Theatre in Connecticut. His one-act musical REEL LIFE (with Marc Castle) was presented in New York at the Nat Horne Theater by AboutFace Theatre Company, and a concert version of his musical RED SUN was performed at the Point Theater in Texas. Scott is an alumnus of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop, and a selection from his musical KIMANI (with James Harris) was used as the finale of BMI’s showcase at Lamb’s Theater. His songs have also been performed in New York at the Donnell Library as part of the National Music Theater Network’s Songbook series. His musical LOMA PARDA was a finalist in the Long Beach Civic Light Opera’s new musicals competition. In addition, Scott has composed the scores for the children’s musicals YOUNG KING ARTHUR (with Marc Castle and Jon Shear) and AMELIA EARHART (with Marc Castle and Lucy Coolidge). He also wrote songs for stage productions at Harvard and Texas A&M. Scott is the author of the narrative history THE CAPTURED (St. Martin’s Press, 2004), which won the TCU Texas Book Award and was a selection of Book of the Month Club. He is also the author of the novel ALAMO HEIGHTS (TCU Press, 1999).

JASON SUMMERS (director) has previously directed and choreographed AS YOU LIKE IT and RADIANT RUBY for the Vital Children's Theatre Company. Other NYC credits: choreography for ONLY A LAD (2006 NY International Fringe Festival) and PARADISE LOST (Niaterra Productions), direction for JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE? (Arch Productions), and direction and choreography for the off-Broadway musical A STOOP ON ORCHARD STREET. Mr. Summers has done extensive work regionally and in colleges throughout the country. He is the founding Artistic Director for The Hope for Change Foundation, a not-for-profit theatrical organization dedicated to raising money for breast cancer research. Mr. Summers has been a proud member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers since 2005.

Featured in the cast are EDDIE CRUZ, LIZ GERECITANO, MIRON GUSSO, GARRET LAMBERT, SARAH LEVINE and RYAN TREPANIER.  The design team includes sets by MARY HAMRICK, costumes by LISA JORDAN and lighting design by NATHAN ELSENER.  The Musical Director is CHARLES GEIZHALS.  The Stage Manager is SUSAN MANIKAS.

VITAL CHILDREN’S THEATRE COMPANY located in New York City 's Upper West Side at 76th and Broadway commissions four new musicals per year for children.   Since its founding in 1999, Vital Children's Theatre Company has been honored with two AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE by the Off Off Broadway Review and received high acclaim from audiences and critics alike for being “a wonderful place for parents to introduce their kids to the glories of live theatre, done well and at modest prices.”  Now in its ninth season, the company is dedicated to producing entertaining and educational theatre for young audiences. To date, the company has presented 36 original productions for over 35,000 children and their families. www.vitaltheatre.org.