Press Releases

Manasquan Elementary School teacher Kristine Gianna Also Joins Broadway Veteran Patrick Cassidy on Stage in a Hilarious New Musical

EVENT INFORMATION
What:
"Kids Say the Darndest Things! Starring Patrick Cassidy"

Who:
Algonquin Arts Theatre

Date & Time:
Thursday, June 28 � 8 p.m.
Friday, June 29 � 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 30 � 2 p.m.
Saturday, June 30 � 8 p.m.
Sunday, July 1 � 3 p.m.

Location:
Algonquin Arts Theatre
173 Main Street, Manasquan, N.J., 08736

Tickets:
Adults: $33 / 28
Seniors: $31 / 26
Students: $23 / 18
Group rates available for 10 or more. Individual tickets subject to $2 per ticket processing fee.

To Purchase or for Information:
732-528-9211 or algonquinarts.org

MANASQUAN, NJ � Broadway veteran Patrick Cassidy, son of Shirley Jones and part of the famous Cassidy show business family, will be joined on the Algonquin stage by 29 local students for five performances of "Kids Say the Darndest Things! Starring Patrick Cassidy" from June 28 to July 1.

A new musical based Art Linkletter's classic radio show, television show and later book, the same format inspired Bill Cosby's television series "Kids Say the Darndest Things!" This Algonquin Arts Theatre musical production opens at 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 28 and continues with 8 p.m. performances on Friday, June 29 and Saturday, June 30. There will be two matinee performances, a 2 p.m. curtain on Saturday, June 30, and the show closing performance at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 1.

Tickets are on sale now online at algonquinarts.org, by calling 732-528-9211 or stopping by the Box Office at 173 Main Street in Manasquan from 12-6 p.m. on weekdays and 12-4 on Saturdays. Regular tickets are available for $28 for adults, $26 for seniors and $18 for students. Premium tickets � the first 10 rows of the orchestra center section � are available $33, $31 and $23, respectively. A $2 processing fee is applied to each ticket.

Algonquin Arts Theatre is fortunate to have Robert Johanson ("Joseph... Dreamcoat" & "The 1940s Radio Hour") return to direct this production. Johanson collaborated with Linkletter to write the script and lyrics to this show, giving the students enrolled in Algonquin Youth Ensemble (AYE) a chance to work with an experience director who also helped create this new musical.

The role of the host is played by Cassidy. An Emmy-nominated actor for his role on "Dress Gray" in the 1980s on screen, Cassidy's numerous Broadway appearances include leading roles in "Annie Get Your Gun," "Aida," "42nd Street" and "The Pirates of Penzance." He also originated the role of the balladeer in Stephen Sondheim's off-Broadway production of "Assassins."

Manasquan Elementary School drama teacher Kristine Gianna plays the role of the teacher as the kids discuss the finer points of history, geography, astronomy, biology and many more related topics. One of the kids, Donald, observes: "One reason the South lost the Civil War was they made Confederate money not knowing it was worthless."

Cassidy and Gianna will appear with 29 of young stars from AYE who will surely have many more zany and oddly wise things to say - and sing. Ranging in ages from 7 to 13 years old, there are 12 principle actors that play rolls who interact with the host. Principle rolls are being played by and Ava Barlow (Spring Lake Heights Elementary/Spring Lake Heights), Gianna Brogna (Walnut Street Elementary/Toms River), Jake Coniglio (Midstreams Elementary/Brick), Nicole Curnan (St. Josephs Grade School/Toms River), Sam Pearlberg (Brielle Elementary/Brielle), Chloe Raichle (Allenwood Elementary/Allenwood), Jake Rallo (Knollwood/Fair Haven). Jonathan Slovak (Spring Lake Heights Elementary/Spring Lake Heights), Nicole Sestito (St. Josephs Grade School/Wall), Evan Silva (Midstreams Elementary/Brick), Hunter Stahley (Millstone Middle School/Millstone Township) and Leana Vicente (Asbury Park).

For the show's nearly 20 musical numbers, the ensemble performs as a children's chorus. The members of the ensemble are Molly Babos (Edgar Middle School/Metuchen), Kelly Embon (Allenwood Elementary/Wall), Ellie Frankel (Deane Porter/Rumson), Sarah Frankel (Forrestdale School/Rumson), Daniel Freeman (Cedar Drive Middle School/Colts Neck), Mia Sha Higgins (Sea Girt Elementary/Sea Girt), Alyssa Lego (North Dover Elementary/Toms River), Sarah Maes (Brielle Elementary/Brielle), Aidan Matthews (Shark River Elementary/Neptune), Jillian Moran (Antrim/Pt. Pleasant Beach), Maeve Oldham (Lake Riviera Middle School/Brick), Luke Pearlberg (Brielle Elementary/Brielle), Chase Elizabeth Portmann (Village School/Holmdel), Gabrielle Raichle (Allenwood Elementary/Allenwood), Chyna Pearl Rushing (Gables Elementary/Asbury Park), Olivia Werther-McDonnell (St. Denis School/Wall) and Jenna Wynd (St. Denis School/Manasquan).

Following "Kids Say the Darndest Things," the Algonquin Arts Theater Summer Series continues with "The 39 Steps" in July and "Oliver!" in August. Multiple-show packages combining two or three of the titles are available. A three-show package offers the biggest savings - more than 30 percent at some levels - and regular seating for three shows is just $60 for adults, $54 for seniors and $39 for students and no processing fees apply.

For more information on upcoming programming including G.Love and Chris Pinnella: Live at the Algonquin, call 732-528-9211 or visit algonquinarts.org.

Algonquin Arts Theatre was founded in 1992 as a nonprofit organization to provide cultural enrichment and educational enhancement of the highest quality for Central New Jersey residents.