(L-r) Elizabeth Stepp Cauthen, Paul Lindley II, Sarah Jackson in Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
It’s a super, wonderful, amazing, very good day. Join the Midlands’ premiere professional theatre for families and young audiences as Columbia Children’s Theatre (CCT) presents Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible No Good, Very Bad Day September 16- 25. Shows are Fridays at 7 p. m.; Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7 p.m.; and Sundays at 3 p.m. The show is produced in partnership with Mental Health America of South Carolina, and the Saturday, September 17 performance will feature a postshow party with the cast, dessert, and a visit from I. C. Hope, the ambassador for Mental Wellness. All performances are held at Columbia Children’s Theatre in Richland Mall, 3400 Forest Drive.
Based on Judith Viorst’s 1972 children’s classic, this musical adaptation premiered at The Kennedy Center in 1998 with a book and lyrics by Viorst and music by Shelly Markham. The story follows young Alexander through a day that begins with him finding gum in his hair and just gets worse as he becomes sick on the car ride to school, loses his best friend, and is forced to buy plain white sneakers. Markham’s catchy tunes and beautiful melodies serve to take Alexander out his bad day where he can imagine what it would be like “If I Were King of the World” or how it would feel to live in “Australia.”
Columbia Children’s Theatre first staged the show in 2009 as the inaugural production in its new space in Richland Mall.
CCT has assembled a cast of actor/singers to bring this show to life. CCT newcomer Paul Lindley II will play Alexander. Another CCT first-timer George Dinsmore will play Alex’s father, Dr. Fields, and The Shoe Salesman. Evelyn Clary, last seen as Tweedle Dum and a Dixie Chicken in Al ice in Wonderland will play Mother and Alex’s teacher Mrs. Dickens. Other CCT newcomers are Sarah Jackson who will play Alex’s brother Anthony and his classmate, Becky, and William Woody who plays Alex’s other brother Nick and his classmate Albert. Carolyn Chalfant (last seen as Fawning Lady in Robin Hood) will play Audrey and Phillip and CCT veteran Elizabeth Stepp ( Pantalone in Princess and the Pea and Pinocchio and many others) will play Paul and also choreographs the production. Everybody’s favorite intern and CCT understudy Matt Wright will cover the roles of Alexander and Father during the run.
Tickets for Alexander are $8 and can be purchased online at www.columbiachildrenstheatre.com. For more information contact CCT at 691-4548.
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