EUGENE–Two wacky, audience-interactive musical comedies are in store for children and their families this summer during University Theatre’s Mad Duckling Summer Theatre season at the University of Oregon.

"My Emperor’s New Clothes" and "Schoolhouse Rock Live!" will be presented outdoors on the lawn in the amphitheater adjacent to the south side of Robinson Theater at Villard Hall, 1109 Old Campus Lane. Free parking is available nearby in the UO lot at East 11th Avenue and Kincaid Street.

All performances will start at 11 a.m., with general-admission seating on the lawn available on a first-come, first-served basis.

"My Emperor’s New Clothes" by Larry Shue will streak into view July 5 and will continue on July 6—8 and July 11—15 with "more comic bits per square inch than you’ve ever seen and loads of laughs for everyone," according to director Jonathan Cole, a doctoral degree student in theater arts from Springfield.

"A colorful, brightly comic and truly delightful treat for young audiences, it is written by one of contemporary theater’s most accomplished playwrights," he says. "Reflecting the antic humor which distinguishes his hit comedies ‘The Nerd’ and ‘The Foreigner,’ Shue has transformed the famous original children’s story into a fresh and lively theater piece filled with funny lines, hummable songs and fast-paced action."

"Schoolhouse Rock Live!" adapted from the Emmy Award-winning animated shorts of the 1970s and 1980s by the Chicago acting company, TheatreBAM, will open on July 25 and continue
July 26—29 and Aug. 1—5. Directing will be Deborah Greer, a theater arts doctoral degree student from Springfield.

"Schoolhouse Rock Live!" is the story of a young teacher on the morning of her first day in the classroom. She finds herself cheered and encouraged by five new friends who seemingly appear from her television set.

Representing five very different aspects of her personality–romantic, goofy, sweet, cool and mature–these new friends lead her in a high-energy, fast-paced and fun romp through the Schoolhouse Rock series originally broadcast by ABC-TV on Saturday mornings from 1973 to 1985. "Conjunction Junction," "Lolly Lolly Lolly," "Sufferin’ till Sufferage" and "Nouns" are just a few of the songs brought to life by the teacher and her friends.

The acting company for Mad Duckling Summer Theatre is made up of Amanda Dumler, a sophomore pre-journalism major, from Beaverton; Sarah Turnquist, a junior music major from Cottage Grove; Jon Sharpy, a sophomore theater arts major from Eugene; Giovanni Bliss, a junior linguistics major from Lake Oswego; Jocelyn Fultz, a sophomore theater arts major from Monmouth; Tara Warner, a freshman theater arts major from Myrtle Point; and Lindy Anderson, a junior English major from The Dalles.

Sets for both shows will be designed by Don LaPlant, a theater arts doctoral degree student from Eugene, and costumes for both shows will be designed by Beth Christensen, a theater arts master’s degree student from San Marcos, Texas.

Musical direction and accompaniment for both shows will be provided by Curtis Williams, a sophomore undeclared major from Gresham. Stage manager for both productions will be Ian Appel, a senior English and theater arts major from Brookings.

Tickets for all seats at all performances are $4 each, with a discount for groups of 10 or more. To purchase tickets, visit the theater on performance days or, to buy them in advance, call the Mad Duckling Box Office, (541) 346-4192.

Mad Duckling Summer Theatre is made possible through the support of the UO Summer Session Office.

For more information about Mad Duckling Summer Theatre, browse http://play.at/duckling or call GuardLine 24 hours-a-day from a Touch-Tone phone, 485-2000, and select Ext. 2287.

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