Bay Area Children’s Theatre to Debut 'Ivy + Bean, The Musical' in 2012-13

By Vivian Auslander
Bay Area Children's Theatre

The mischievous second-grade heroines of the award-winning Ivy + Bean stories by Bay Area author Annie Barrows will make their stage debut in Ivy + Bean, The Musical, one of two new works being produced by Bay Area Children’s Theatre (BACT) as part of its 2012-13 season.  

Barrows’ wildly popular books about quiet, imaginative Ivy and outgoing, action-oriented Bean, will be adapted for the stage by Scott Elmegreen, the playwright, composer, and lyricist who helped BACT create last season’s hit touring show, The Magic School Bus, Live! The Climate Challenge.   

A second premiere, Tales of Olympus: A Greek Myth Musical, with book, music, and lyrics by BACT artistic associate Min Kahng, will introduce children to the intriguing adventures of ancient Greek gods and goddesses. 

Announcing the 2012-13 season, BACT Executive Director Nina Meehan said, “We are grateful to The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust for its generous, ongoing support of our New Works Program for young audiences and to Oakland-based Mueller Nicholls Builders, who understand the importance of the arts for children and are sponsoring BACT’s season for the second year in a row.”

In addition to the two debuts, BACT will bring popular children’s literature to life on stage, beginning with Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type, a delightful musical adaptation of the Caldecott Honor Book by Doreen Cronin. The amusing story of Farmer Brown’s c-c-c-cold cows who demand electric blankets is geared for preschoolers and their parents.  It opens at Children’s Fairyland in Oakland on July 7.

BACT’s main stage season opens with Lyle The Crocodile at Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage on Oct. 6. Adapted from the books by Bernard Waber, the show tells what happens when the Primms move into their new house on East 88th Street and find Lyle in the bathtub. Lyle The Crocodile will move to San Ramon’s Front Row Theater after its Berkeley run.

Tales of Olympus: A Greek Myth Musical opens Dec. 8 in Berkeley before going on tour to local schools in January and February, with support from the Clorox Company Foundation. 

Also in December, BACT is bringing back Pinkalicious, The Musical for a limited run at Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage. For those who missed the show’s recent run, here’s another chance to find out what happens when everyone’s favorite proponent of pink looks at her mom’s pink-frosted cupcakes and asks, "Can't I have just one more?"

Ivy + Bean, The Musical will weave its messy magic weekends in Berkeley Feb. 9 through March 3. The production moves to San Ramon on March 9.

Clothes will fly starting May 13, when Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical completes BACT’s season in Berkeley and San Ramon. This musical version of the hilarious picture book by Mo Willems brings to the stage the adventures of toddler Trixie and her beloved stuffed animal, Knuffle Bunny, when they go off to the laundromat with her somewhat distracted dad.

Season subscriptions for performances in Berkeley and Oakland are on sale now. An Early Bird Discount is available for Family Flex Pass purchases by June 30:

● All 6 shows for $78 adults, $72 seniors, $66 children

● 5 shows of your choice for $70 adults, $65 seniors, $60 children

● 4 shows of your choice for $64 adults, $60 seniors, $52 children

Box Office: http://www.bactheatre.org/ or (510) 296-4433.