‘Petite Rouge - A Cajun Red Riding Hood' debuts at the Growing Stage

NETCONG - A swamp chorus sings backup when the foot-stomping, family-friendly musical “Petite Rouge (A Cajun Red Riding Hood)” opens at the Growing Stage, the Children’s Theatre of New Jersey. On stage from Jan. 30 through March 8, this New Jersey premier is based on the book by Mike Artell with music and lyrics by Joan Cushing, the writer/composer of Junie B. Jones and A Little Monkey Business fame. The story unfolds when the Big Bad Gator spies tasty duck Petite Rouge on her journey down the bayou. Petite leads him on a wild duck chase through the Mardi Gras, all the way to a surprise ending. It’s saucy and colorful and great fun for the entire family. The cast includes veteran Growing Stage performers Hillary Hawkins, as Petite Rouge, Scott Zenreich as TeJean, Lisa Winkler as Mrs. Duck, Tony Robinson and David Yashin. James Scoville, as Claude, and Anastasia Marsucci as Grandmere, round out the cast. Stephen L. Fredericks, founder and executive director of the Growing Stage, will direct the show. Performances of the Growing Stage productions are Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 4 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at $12 for children and senior citizens and $16 for adults. To purchase tickets, call the box office at 973-347-4946 or go on-line to www.growingstage.com. Matinee performances of Petite Rouge will be available at the theater for school groups from Feb. 2 to March 5. For information and scheduling of school performances, call Education Director Lori B. Lawrence at 973-347-4946 or e-mail her at eddir@growingstage.com. The Growing Stage, the Children’s Theatre of New Jersey, is located in the Historic Palace Theatre, 7 Ledgewood Ave., in Netcong, N.J. Founded in 1981, the Growing Stage was the 2008 recipient of the prestigious Sara Spencer Artistic Achievement Award presented by the American Alliance for Theatre & Education for sustained and exceptional achievement in the field of theatre for young audiences. As the only theater solely dedicated to young audiences in New Jersey that owns its own facility, the Growing Stage offers children throughout the state performances on their Main Stage, an extensive educational program, and in-school performances of select productions. For more information, visit www.growingstage.com.