Westport, CT -- Westport Country Playhouse’s Family Festivities Series will presentArtsPower’s new musical about a puppy, “Biscuit,” based on the book by Alyssa Satin Capucilliwith over 17 million copies in print, on Sunday, January 22, for two performances, at 1 p.m., and 4 p.m. The show is recommended for ages 4 to 8. Running time is approximately one hour. Tickets are $20.
The musical features a frolicking little puppy named Biscuit who loves exploring, making new friends, and stirring up some mischief. Along the way, Biscuit learns about the joy of having a family. Musical numbers include “Best Puppy in the World,” “What a Friend!,” “The Dog Who Went to School,” and “Biscuit Is Love.”
In between “Biscuit” performances, adoptable puppies/dogs from the Connecticut Humane Society’s Westport location will be playing in the Sheffer Studio. The audience is invited to visit them and explore adoption opportunities at 2 p.m. (following the 1 p.m. performance, and prior to the 4 p.m. performance).
Children’s pre-show activities will be led by Adelka Polak one hour prior to each performance, at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., in the Playhouse’s Smilow Lounge on the mezzanine level.
“Biscuit” is produced by ArtsPower, founded in 1985 by identical twins Mark and Gary Blackman. Its 30 original, professional touring musicals and dramas have been seen by 13 million people in 49 states in hundreds of the nation’s top regional theaters, including The Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center.
One week before the Playhouse presentation, a new, free-of-charge program, “Story Explorers,” will offer an interactive book reading of “Biscuit” on Saturday, January 14, at 2 p.m., in The Westport Library’s Smilow Family Children’s Department. “Story Explorers” is intended to promote childhood literacy while also enhancing children’s experiences of attending the Playhouse’s Family Festivities shows. Each “Story Explorers” will include readings of books based on the upcoming shows, plus activities surrounding the book’s theme. Presenting partners for “Story Explorers” are Westport Country Playhouse, The Westport Library, and Westport Young Woman’s League. Programs will be approximately one hour.
In conjunction with the Family Festivities Series, the Playhouse will once again host a book collection for Read to Grow, Inc., a statewide nonprofit organization that helps parents take an active role in their children's literacy development by providing free children's books to families with limited access and to community resources that serve them. At each Family Festivities performance, bins will be located in the Playhouse lobby for donations of gently used and new children’s books which will be given to families and programs in the greater Fairfield County area through Read to Grow. During last season’s Family Festivities series, the Playhouse collected nearly 300 books.
Family Festivities shows are presented on selected Sundays from November through April. Family Festivities Corporate Sponsors are Pitney Bowes and Northern Trust. Family Festivities Sponsor is Darlene Krenz. The Family Festivities Series is also supported by the Westport Young Woman’s League.
Everyone in the audience requires a ticket. For more information or tickets, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Tickets are available online 24/7 at www.westportplayhouse.org. Stay connected to the Playhouse on Facebook (Westport Country Playhouse), follow on Twitter (@WCPlayhouse), or view Playhouse videos on YouTube (WestportPlayhouse).