Family-Friendly Play "Sideways Stories" Comes to Braintree!

Triad Theatre Company (TTC) will present its debut performance, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, at Curtain Call Theatre (CCT) in Braintree, Ma on September 16, 17, 23 & 24 at 7:00 PM and September 18 & 25 at 2:00 PM.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by John Olive premiered at Seattle Children’s Theatre on March 30, 2001. This play is an adaptation of the best-selling Wayside School series by award-winning author Louis Sachar. The wacky students and zany teachers at Wayside School – a school that was supposed to be one story high, with 30 classrooms side by side; but due to a construction error was instead built with 30 classrooms stacked one atop the other until it was 30 stories high ... sort of – tell us a story complete with an endearing cow, talking pigtails, a witch and a warlock.

Toni Ruscio founded Triad Theatre Company, which is in residence at Braintree's Curtain Call Theatre, and directs its exciting debut production of Sideways Stories from Wayside School. A graduate of Boston University and Emerson College, Ruscio has performed in, directed, and produced many shows in and around the Boston area. Her directing credits include The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Freckleface Strawberry, A Wrinkle in Time, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Scrooge. Triad Theatre Company is the second theatre that she’s established, having founded her first, Athena Productions, in 2003. Ruscio is also a professor at both Bridgewater State University and Massasoit Community College.

Said Ruscio, “I founded Triad Theatre Company to offer families - youth audiences, in particular - opportunities to see affordable, high-quality theatre productions. TTC’s mission is to use theatre as a vehicle to cultivate creativity in all community members while also nurturing their imaginations.”

Ruscio continued, “Sideways Stories from Wayside School is an incredibly entertaining play which offers audiences a space where they can turn off their brains and just laugh for a couple of hours. The Sideways Stories actors and designers are having a lot of fun with all the supernatural goings-on at Wayside School, and their joy is contagious.

“We recommend this show for everyone ages 6 and up and hope that folks will venture to the theatre for a family date night - or even just a date night. We know that adults will enjoy this story as much as the kids do! For many people the past few years have been turbulent, to say the least, and I think we all deserve to have some fun. It’s long overdue.”

Immediately following each Sunday matinee, TTC will offer a talkback session where there will be an opportunity to discuss the play with the Sideways Stories team. Audience members will also be invited to take photos with the actors after all performances.

Jim Gross who plays Louis in this production and is the set, sound and lighting designer said, "We produced this show at another theater in 2014 and I played the same role. The experience of performing for a young audience was the most fun I've had on stage in my 15 years of acting."

Joining Ruscio and Gross for this incredible production are Trisha Barungi of Weymouth, Michelle Bibeau of Hyde Park, Brianna Burrell of Braintree, Hannah Dillis of Weymouth, Sue Dosenberg-Kelly of Weymouth, Kayte Duren of Weymouth, Kyle Kashgagian of Easton, Quinn Keegan of Pembroke, Sean Keegan of Pembroke, Elizabeth Lovley of Duxbury, Melina Menghi of Braintree, Hallie Nowicki of Hingham, Michael Quigg of Rockland, and Erin Thomas-Lopatosky of Easton.

Tickets cost $20 for teens and adults and $15 for children ages 12 and under and can be purchased at www.triadtheatrecompany.com. Attendees need to show proof of vaccination and may be asked to wear a mask when in the building. Triad Theatre Company is located at Curtain Call Theatre, 182 Commercial Street, Braintree, Ma.

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