FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Please contact: Ruth Baum Bigus Publicist, Theatre in the Park (913) 707-7746 [email protected] NOTE TO MEDIA: Show logos, news releases and photos are available for download at www.theatreinthepark.org/press.

FOUR THEATRE IN THE PARK PREMIERES HIGHLIGHT 2015 SEASON

It’s going to be a VERY fun summer at The Theatre in the Park! Located in Shawnee Mission Park, Theatre in the Park’s (TTIP) 46h season will feature four never-seen-at-the-park productions and a classic icon of the American musical theatre. The season will open with the high energy show THE WIZ, followed by the classic WEST SIDE STORY, the melodically beautiful THE SECRET GARDEN, Little Orphan Annie’s ongoing journey in ANNIE WARBUCKS and the popular SHREK, a co-production that will run at both the White Theatre of the Jewish Community Center and under the stars at TTIP. All productions at TTIP open on a Friday night and run Saturday and Sunday the first weekend and Wednesday through Saturday the second weekend, for a total of seven performances. TTIP Auditions will take place Saturday and Sunday, March 28 and 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The audition location will be announced after the first of the year. “I’m so thrilled to offer four shows we’ve never produced before in our 2015 season,” said Tim Bair, Producing Artistic Director. “2015 will really have something for everyone – not only from a patron standpoint, but also from a participant standpoint. There are great roles in all of our shows, and the range of ages and ‘types‘ for our 2015 participants is really more diverse and interesting than we’ve had in the recent past. I’m also very happy we’ve gotten the opportunity to co-produce with the White Theatre again,” Bair said. “It gives us the ability to present a really fun show with some pretty amazing production value, and it gives the members of the cast and orchestra and crew a longer run of the show, which is great fun from a performance standpoint.” THE WIZ (June 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12,13) is a groovy musical version of the classic story "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum that won seven Tony Awards while on Broadway. In this Motown meets Munchkins tale, audiences will follow all the beloved characters of the family favorite. The audience follows Dorothy through the Land of OZ after a tornado deposits her and her dog Toto in the land of the Munchkins. Along with her new friends the Scarecrow, Tin man and Cowardly Lion, Dorothy journeys to find the Wiz who can send her back home. However, she encounters the Wicked Witch who works her magic to stop the foursome along the way. The show is high energy with an electric score by Charlie Smalls that incorporates elements of rock, gospel and soul THE WIZ will be directed by Beth Wallerstein Huff. (This show is rated G and is appropriate for everyone.) WEST SIDE STORY (June 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27) is the iconic American musical beloved by generations. Based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, WEST SIDE STORY takes the audience into the streets of New York City with the warring gangs of Jets and Sharks. When the Jets leader Tony falls in love with Maria, whose brother leads the Sharks, their opposing worlds collide. The star-crossed lovers envision a perfect world with both sides living in harmony; instead, they encounter a world of cultural clashes. WEST SIDE STORY demonstrates how love and hate – both strong emotions – can create a moving yet toxic mix. The powerful score musical score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim has moved generations. This production will be directed by Mark Swezey. (This show is rated PG with parents deciding if this is appropriate for their youngsters.) TTIP’s beautiful outdoor venue is the perfect setting for the third production, THE SECRET GARDEN (July 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11). The musical, based upon the novel of the same name, takes place in 1911 when a young girl Mary, orphaned in an earthquake, is sent to live with her Uncle Archibald and his crippled son Colin in an English manor. While her uncle still grieves over the loss of his wife Lily, Mary befriends Dickon, the brother of the household maid, and the twosome form a strong bond. In this strange new world, Mary discovers a secret walled garden hidden on the grounds and releases the magic and adventures locked inside. Mary learns to cope with her bereaved Uncle Archibald who pines for his dead wife Lily, even after he flees to Paris. However, the ghosts of Lily and Mary’s mother – who were sisters – guide these broken relatives into a healed family filled with love. The lush score, with music by Lucy Simon and lyrics by Marsha Norman, lead the audience through this involved tale finding the beauty in the garden we all discover. Another TTIP veteran, Barb Nichols, will direct THE SECRET GARDEN”. (This show is rated G and is appropriate for everyone.) ANNIE WARBUCKS (July 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25) is the endearing sequel to the beloved musical ANNIE. The story picks up after Daddy Warbucks and Annie have celebrated their first Christmas together in 1933. Child Welfare Commissioner Harriet Doyle interrupts the happy scene with the news that Warbucks, who has adopted Annie, must find a wife and provide Annie with a proper mother within 60 days. If Warbucks fails, it’s back to the orphanage for Annie. While the dutiful Grace Farrell seems the natural choice for Warbucks, it is a long journey before he discovers the true meaning of love. Meanwhile, the audience learns about the commissioner’s plot to steal Warbucks’ fortune. In the end, Annie (accompanied by her beloved dog Sandy) becomes the story’s heroine but not before exciting adventures lead her to an encounter with FDR and being reunited with her orphanage pals. With the same composing team of Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin, ANNIE WARBUCKS is full of romance, laughs and unforgettable songs. TTIP veteran Chris McCoy will direct this production. (This show is rated G and is appropriate for everyone.) Closing the summer season is the family favorite Shrek, a co-production with The White Theatre of the Jewish Community Center. TTIP’s Producing Artistic Director Tim Bair will direct this production. “SHREK” is based on the DreamWorks animation movie and the book by William Steig with music by Jeanine Tesori and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. The musical is part romance and part twisted fairy tale with a not-so-handsome ogre and feisty princess crossing paths in a faraway kingdom. This humorous tale includes a wise-cracking donkey, a villain with a short temper, a cookie with an attitude, and many other fairy tale misfits. In the end, it’s Shrek who is the unlikely but loveable hero. SHREK will open first at the White Theatre running July 11, 16, 18, 23, 25 at 7:30 p.m. and July 12, 19, 26 at 2 pm. SHREK will move to the TTIP stage July 31, Aug. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8. Show time for all 2015 productions is 8:30 p.m.; the box office opens at 6:00 p.m. (15 minutes earlier than in the past), and the gates to the seating bowl open at 6:30 p.m. TTIP is a great value for the family with general admission only $8, youth $6, and children three and under may attend for free (but require a ticket for entrance). Tickets may be purchased online at www.theatreinthepark.org beginning early 2015 or at the theatre box office the nights of performance. Groups are also encouraged to attend at a discount! Group sales discounts and information can be found on the TTIP website at www.theatreinthepark.org/group-sales. TTIP continues to offer THRIFTY THURSDAY pricing, where patrons can save 20 percent on general admission tickets that are purchased at the box office at the theatre for that Thursday evening’s performance only. Reserved chairs are also available for every performance for only $20, and can be reserved ahead of time by visiting the theatre’s website. Also available this season are camping chair rentals for only $5 and will be available at the TTIP Ambassador booth on a first-come- first-serve basis. And MOVIES IN THE PARK are back for only one buck! Titles and dates will be announced after the first of the year. Also new this year is a revamped “healthier options” menu in the TTIP Concessions. Utilizing new standards District wide, lower sodium and healthier, more balanced options will be available not only at TTIP but in every concessions stand throughout all of JCPRD! The Theatre in the Park is located in Shawnee Mission Park at 7710 Renner Road, in Shawnee, KS, 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. Season sponsors include Shawnee Mission Health. For more information including entire show synopses for all 2015 TTIP productions, please visit http://www.theatreinthepark.org/2015-season. ###