“WINNIE-THE-POOH” MUSICAL CAST ANNOUNCED

“WINNIE-THE-POOH” MUSICAL CAST ANNOUNCED Theatricks director Webster Crocker has announced the cast for the production of Winnie-The-Pooh. The musical ends the 2005-2006 season sponsored by Caskey Orthodontics. Twenty-one actors have been cast to portray the characters in this popular children’s story. This year marks the 80th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh. The book was first published in 1926 and has sold over 20 million copies and been translated into 25 languages. The author A.A. Milne's poetry provided the basis for most of the lyrics of this enchanting musical. Winnie-the-Pooh, the famous bear of Very Little Brain, is singing happily that "Isn't it funny how a bear likes honey," when the "terrible" trouble begins. Kanga comes to the forest with soap for baths and spoonfuls of Strengthening Medicine--Something must be done! Jon Reynolds has been cast in the title role as Winnie-The-Pooh, with Anna McGowan portraying Christopher Robin. The Narrator is voiced by Zeke Dolezalek, with Kanga played by Theresa Littlefield, and baby Roo played by Raya Ghozeil. Piglet is acted by Natalia Wojciechowski, Christian McGowan plays Owl, Eeyore is Daniel Clark, and Melissa Ross portrays Rabbit. Rounding out the cast is a host of other animal characters played by Olivia Tackett, Joshua Stephens, Krystina Burns, Walter Mitchell, Sheridan Scott, Autumn Winegarden, Daniel Hebert, Laney Ortel, Madalyn Teague, Brianna Wiese, Brittany Snow, and Aurora Winegarden. The popular characters are based on real animals that Milne and his son actually knew. During World War I, lieutenant Harry Colebourn bought a small female black bear cub for $20 from a hunter who had killed its mother. He named her 'Winnipeg' after his hometown of Winnipeg, Canada. Winnie the bear-mascot traveled to Britain with the unit, and was loaned to the London Zoo when Colebourn fought in France. She became a permanent and popular attraction at the zoo in December 1919, where she lived until 1934. During that time, Winnie became a favorite of Christopher Robin, son of author A.A. Milne. The child often spent time inside the cage with Winnie, and Christopher Robin named his own teddy bear Winnie after his bear friend at the zoo, and Pooh after a swan that lived on the estate. Christopher Robin’s stuffed animal friends--Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, Kanga and Roo inspired the other characters in A.A. Milne’s series of books about Winnie the Pooh and his son Christopher Robin. Rabbit and Owl were based on animals that lived in the surrounding area of Milne's country home. Performances of Theatricks Winnie-The-Pooh will be July 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, and 16, 2006. Matinee performances are on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm and Friday evening performances at 7:00 pm. The 2006-2007 Theatricks’ Season opens this fall with Peter Pan, followed by The Secret Garden and sequel to the current show, The House At Pooh Corner. For further information about SCP-Theatricks programs, call Webster Crocker at 903-893-8525, or visit the Theatricks website at www.scptheater.org. END