FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Please contact: Ruth Baum Bigus Publicist, Theatre in the Park (913) 707-7746 [email protected]

2013 The Theatre in the Park Season opens June 7; Family musical “Children of Eden” takes the stage

It’s summer and what could be more fun than enjoying live theater and movies in a park under the star- lit sky? On June 7, the Theatre in the Park will open its 44th summer season with the family-friendly and colorful production of “Children of Eden,” with music by Stephen Schwartz (“Wicked,” “Godspell”). “Children of Eden” is freely based on the story of Genesis featuring the stories of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and Noah and the Flood. It is a frank, heartfelt and often humorous examination of the age-old conflict between parents and children. “Children of Eden,” directed by Kevin Bogan and choreography by Tiffany Powell, includes 61 adults, 12 children and a community choir of 90 voices—all are volunteers! The cast includes several from area schools as well as performers from all over the Greater Kansas City Metro area. A 44-piece orchestra under the direction of Kevin Hershberger performs the beautiful symphonic score. “Children of Eden” runs June 7-9 and June 13-15 at the Theatre in the Park. Curtain time for the production is 8:30 p.m. with gates opening at the Park theatre at 6:30 p.m. In addition to “Children of Eden,” Theatre in the Park offers four additional musicals including our first co-production. “Hairspray” will be staged in partnership with the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas City with performances both on the Theatre in the Park stage and in the JCC’s White Theatre.

The musical performance schedule for TTIP’s 2013 summer season includes:

• CHILDREN OF EDEN* – June 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15 • 9 TO 5, THE MUSICAL– June 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29 • PETER PAN – July 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13 • DAMN YANKEES – July 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27 • HAIRSPRAY – July 13, 18, 20, 25, 27 @ 7:30pm July 14, 21, 28 @ 2pm at the White Theatre/ Jewish Community Center (5801 W. 115th St.); August 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 outdoors at the Theatre in the Park

This summer, all shows will open on a Friday night and run Saturday and Sunday the first weekend and Thursday, Friday and Saturday the second weekend. Each production runs for a total of six performances. Tickets may be purchased on line at www.theatreinthepark.org or at the theatre box office the nights of performance; the box office opens at 6:15 p.m. New this summer – a Sit-in Drive-in! It’s all the fun of drive-in movies but out at the Park! TTIP is partnering with SUREWEST for movie nights that will take place every other Tuesday evening (beginning June 11) and three Saturday evenings throughout the summer for only $1 per person. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. with movies beginning at 8:30 p.m. Movies titles include Disney’s Lion King, Mary Poppins, a Jurassic Park double feature and triple features of “The Lord of the Rings” and a James Bond double feature. Please visit www.theatreinthepark.org/movies for dates and titles. Also new at the theatre: • The TTIP concession has added new, healthy items to its menu. Picnics-to-go may be ordered in advance. • Rain out policy: If a production is cancelled at ANY time during the performance, it will be considered a rainout. All tickets scanned at the gate that night will automatically become valid again. • In addition to single night/date specific reserved parking passes, the public can purchase full season reserved parking passes for only $25 each. Reserved chairs are available again this year. TTIP continues to offer THRIFTY THURSDAY pricing - save 20 percent on general admission tickets that are purchased at the box office at the theatre for that night’s show. The Theatre in the Park is located in Shawnee Mission Park at 7710 Renner Road, Shawnee, and is a program of the Johnson County Park & Recreation District. TTIP is the largest outdoor community theater in the country, and has been providing quality theatre entertainment in the community for more than four decades. For more information about the entire 2013 TTIP productions, please visit http://www.theatreinthepark.org. Season sponsors include: Sprint, Shawnee Mission Medical Center and Entercom Entertainment.

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