THEATRE + COMEDY

She's baaaaack!!! Main Street Theater Theater for Youth presents Barbara Park’s Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business, book, music & lyrics by Joan Cushing.  Directed by Mark Adams.

Beloved children’s character Junie B. Jones is back at Main Street Theater! Based on the popular book by Barbara Park, Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business will play Saturdays at 1pm and 4pm from February 13 - March 27 with additional Spring Break performances Monday – Friday at 11:30am from March 15 – 19. March 19 is also Target Family Day. 2 for 1 tickets are available for this performance. Beginning at 10:30 there will be snacks and activities for families sponsored by Target.

She’s back! Junie B. Jones, the world’s most precocious kindergartner, mistakenly believes her new baby brother is actually a monkey. She starts taking bids from Lucille and That Grace, her “bestest” friends, for the first look at him, but then Meanie Jim and Crybaby William enter the fray and things get completely out of control. You won’t want to miss seeing the havoc that ensues when Junie B. and friends team up for wild adventures!

About Author Barbara Park
Barbara Park was born in Mt. Holly, New Jersey. She received a B. S. from the University of Alabama in 1969 and married to Richard Park. They have two grown sons. Ms. Park resides in Phoenix with her husband and their golden retriever.

Ms. Park began writing as an adult with her first book, Operation: Dump the Chump. Since then she has received numerous awards including the Young Hoosier Award in 1985, the Milner Award in 1986, and Tennessee Children’s Choice Book Award in 1986 for Operation: Dump the Chump, and The Library of Congress Book of the Year in 1987 for The Kid in the Red Jacket. Buddies received the Parents’ Choice Award in 1985. Overall she has received more than 40 awards, including 25 Children’s Choice Awards. While she is most likely best known for her Junie B. Jones books, she has also written numerous other books, including a picture book and thirteen middle grade novels.

About Librettist, Composer, and Lyricist Joan Cushing
Joan Cushing, a former elementary school teacher and cabaret performer, is best known for her political satirical revue Mrs. Foggybottom & Friends, which opened in 1986 at New Playwrights Theatre, and moved to the Omni-Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C., where it ran for 10 hit years, and four years on the road.

More recently, she has adapted 7 popular children's books as musicals, receiving over 200 productions and 2 national tours: Miss Nelson Is Missing!, winner of the 2003 Nat’l Children’s Theatre Festival; Junie B. Jones & a Little Monkey Business!; Miss Nelson Has a Field Day!; Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood (2007 NY Musical Theatre Festival); Heidi (w playwright Martha King De Silva); all commissioned by Imagination Stage, Lawrence, commissioned by Gabrielino High School; and Brave Irene, commissioned by Adventure Theatre.

Ms. Cushing lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband Paul Buchbinder.

About the Production
Mark Adams directs Junie… after directing this season’s tour of Stuart Little. Miriam Daly is the Music Director. Caroline Menefee (The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Sideways Stories from Wayside School) plays Junie. The rest of the cast includes Brittny Bush, Jared Carlin, Meghan C. Hakes, Alan Hall, Jessica Knapp, and Kathryn Noser.

The design team includes Meghan C. Hakes (set design), Eric Marsh (lighting design), Macy Perrone (costume design), Andrew Harper (sound design), and Richard Solis (properties design). Caroline Scott is the Production Stage Manager.

Performances are at Main Street Theater–Chelsea Market, 4617 Montrose Boulevard in the Museum District. Ticket prices for public performances are $12 for preferred seating and $10 for side seating. Tickets are on sale in person at the Main Street Theater Box Office at 2540 Times Blvd. in Rice Village, via phone at 713.524.6706 or online at mainstreettheater.com. Group rates are available.

Recommended for Pre-Kindergarten and up. Children under the age of 3 (including sleeping babies) not allowed in the theater.

Pictured is Caroline Menefee as Junie B. Jones. Photo by www.RicOrnelProductions.com.