June 17, 1998 Contact Karen Scheeland (541) 346-4190 or John R. Crosiar 346-3135 EDITORS' NOTE: Photo call is at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 25, in the outdoor amphitheater adjacent to Robinson Theatre at Villard Hall, 1109 Old Campus Lane. EUGENE--The University of Oregon's University Theatre is launching its 1998 summer theater season with an exciting new twist. For the first time, the Mad Duck(ling) summer theater program will present a season of fun, zany children's shows--"Peter Rabbit" and "King Tut." "Peter Rabbit" will hop onto the stage July 7-11 and 14-18, with "King Tut" tagging along on July 28-Aug. 1 and Aug. 4-8. All performances begin at 11 a.m. in the amphitheater on the south side of the Robinson Theatre at Villard Hall, 1109 Old Campus Lane. "Peter Rabbit" tells the tale of a "rock `n' roll rabbit" who doesn't want to follow the rules. When Peter tries to steal a carrot from MacGregor's garden, he is caught and falls into a dreamland where the vegetables put him on trial. This high-energy show uses cartoon themes and a 1950s musical style, along with lots of interaction as the audience helps Peter learn to make the right choices. "King Tut" is a wacky musical comedy set in ancient Egypt. Unfortunately, the newly crowned Tut's wealth and power become too much for him to handle. Believing that his godfather Ay and his friend Rosetta Stone are only after his gold, Tut decides to lock himself inside a pyramid with all of his riches. Through help from a comical mummy, the Sphinx and hints from the audience, Tut manages to escape the pyramid and learn a lesson. The Mad Duck(ling) production of "Peter Rabbit" is being directed by Melanie Moseley, a theater arts master of arts degree candidate from Eugene, while Jonathan Cole, a theater arts master of arts degree candidate, also from Eugene, is directing "King Tut." Both shows are original scripts, full of crazy characters, silly puns and wacky songs. The cast continually comes to audience members to help them solve tough problems, or just to ask for directions. "What we're trying to do is fill a gap in Eugene theater," Cole says. "We wanted to produce children's theater that was wacky and fun for children, and throw in some silly stuff for the adults, too. And, it's a great opportunity for us to have a lot of fun. We love this stuff!" "Peter Rabbit" and "King Tut" both are being designed in their entirety by Chris Wooten of Corvallis, a theater arts master of fine arts degree candidate, with music by Melanie Moseley. The seven-person cast includes Wooten, Cole and Moseley, as well as Daniel Dismuke, a sophomore undeclared major from Ashland; Heather Meyers, a sophomore theater arts major from Bend; Dave Royer, a junior theater arts major from Central Point; and Rene Regan, a senior theater arts and humanities major from Eugene. Ticket prices are $3 for all ages and $5 for both shows. Tickets are available at the box office in the Erb Memorial Union, 1222 E. 13th Ave., or call (541) 346-4363. EMU ticket office hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets also will be available at the door. -30- #P-2251/A&E