Harrisburg — Theatreworks USA will present a Broadway-style musical revue, “If You Give a Pig a Pancake & Other Story Books” at 2 p.m. and again at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, in the Rose Lehrman Arts Center theatre at HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College. The afternoon will feature a celebration of books and reading with free events before and after each show and a photo opportunity with the “Pig.”
Based on popular children’s literature, “If You Give a Pig a Pancake & Other Story Books”is a sparkling musical revue based on the popular picture books by Laura Joffe Numeroff, as well as six other stories familiar to the younger generation. Presented by a multi-talented cast, the stories represent various issues, themes and ideas relevant to a broad and diverse audience of children. Books featured in the show include:
“Diary of a Worm” by Doreen Cronin. Follow a worm’s adventures as he writes about them all in his diary.
“Fluffy the Classroom Guinea Pig” by Kate McMullan. When Fluffy enters a Best Pets Contest, a pesky flea threatens to derail the entire competition.
“Horace & Morris But Mostly Dolores” by James Howe. Three mice promise to be best friends forever.
“How I Became a Pirate” by Melinda Long. Young Jeremy Jacob would love to sail away and be a pirate…no vegetables, no manners, no bedtime, and no rules.
“If You Give a Pig a Pancake” by Laura Numeroff. A bossy little pig’s demands frazzle a little girl in this hilarious lesson about cause-and-effect.
“Lilly’s Big Day” by Kevin Henkes. Lilly’s teacher is getting married, and she just knows she’ll be a great flower girl, despite the fact that Mr. Slinger has already asked his niece to be the flower girl.
“The Paper Bag Princess” by Robert Munsch. When a ferocious dragon smashes Princess Elizabeth’s castle, burns all her fancy clothes, and kidnaps her beloved prince, she dons a paper bag and comes to the rescue.
Theatreworks USA has a distinguished history of not only providing young audiences with their first taste of the performing arts, but also giving young actors, writers, directors, and designers an early opportunity to work in this field. Theatreworks USA is the only children’s theatre to receive both a Drama Desk and a Lucille Lortel Award. In addition, it was the recipient of a 2001 Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Award, and in May 2000, The Actors Fund of America bestowed its Medal of Honor upon Theatreworks founders, Jay Harnick and Charles Hull.
Free pre-and post-performance events round out a fun-filled day. SuperReader, American Literacy Corporation’s (ALC) “Super Hero,” will present a pre-event performance in the Studio Theatre at 1 and 3:30 p.m. SuperReader, alter ego of Floyd Stokes, ALC executive director, dons a yellow mask, a blue cape and an “R” emblazoned uniform to “save” children from a life deprived of books.
After each Theatreworks USA performance there will be a free “Book and Cookie Party” in the lobby. Books will be given to each child courtesy of the ALC, while free “pancakes” (sugar cookies) are provided by Cookies by Design and juice donated by Harrisburg Dairies. There will also be a free photo opportunity with the “Pig” at the post-show parties. Support for this Live at Rose Lehrman event comes from HACC Alumni Association, American Literacy Corporation, and Capital Area Head Start. Media Sponsor for the event is Central Penn Parent.
Theatreworks USA’s musical production of “If You Give a Pig a Pancake & Other Story Books”will be presented 2 and 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24 in the Rose Lehrman Arts Center on the Harrisburg Campus of HACC. Tickets for the one-hour show, recommended for 5 years and up, are $15 for adults, senior citizens, students and $10 ticket for children ages 5 to 12. The pre-event performances by SuperReader begin at 1 and 3:30 p.m. in the Studio Theatre. Rose Lehrman Arts Center box office phone is 231-ROSE (7673). Tickets can be purchased online at www.LiveatRoseLehrman.org.
![Theatreworks USA cast: "If You Give a Pig a Pancake & Other Story Books"](/newsroom/2009/images/If "Theatreworks USA cast: "If You Give a Pig a Pancake & Other Story Books"")
