Dallas Children’s Theater presents Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type this week

by PegNews wire

Photo by Mark Oristano

Dallas Children’s Theater turns the barnyard upside down with Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type playing January 23 – February 22, 2009 in the Baker Theater at DCT’s Rosewood Center for Family Arts.

Farmer Brown’s animals love their little farm, but would like to make some changes. When a cow starts reading an old copy of “Animal Farm” by George Orwell, she convinces the others that they deserve better treatment. After several failed attempts of explaining their situation to Farmer Brown, Hen finds a typewriter in her nest and they begin writing letters requesting electric blankets. Farmer Brown guffaws at this and the animals decide their freedom is at stake. Singing a liberating song in search of a peaceful solution, they conspire to strike. Will this tyrannous farmer free the oppressed? It’s a barnyard musical of mutiny, but on this “Animal Farm”, anarchy and rebellion lead to an exquisitely happy ending.

Guest director Doug Miller brings his talent and vision to this wildly popular farm story to DCT. He states, “The show is highly entertaining for both kids and adults, but it also carries some valuable life lessons. In between jokes, laughs and over-the-top theatrical songs kids will recognize the importance of compromise, the value of cooperation and the power of never giving up.”

Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type

Fri
Jan
23^rd
7^PM

Rosewood Center for Family Arts
5938 Skillman Street, Dallas
$12 - $22
Age limit: All ages

Doreen Cronin’s Caldecott Award-winning book premiered as a play at Lifeline Theatre in Chicago in 2003. Fans of the book will delight in this expanded, Broadway style adaptation with doo-wop, tap dancing and merry chaos. The Cows are grumpy, Hen is chilly and Duck has big dreams, but Farmer Brown just wants his milk and eggs. Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type rises from the page to the stage with “Liberty and Justice for all.”

Energetic songs help forward the story, provide an in-depth look at each character and bring the barnyard to life with showbiz pizzazz. A 1960’s girl group number (“An Electric Blanket Feels Like Home”), a “Les Miz”-esque song (“We Will Fight!”), and a sweeping waltz (“Oceans, Rivers, and Waterfalls”) bring humor and hilarity for kids, with a wink and a nod to adults through satire and literary references. Each animal takes the stage for a moment to shine.

Set designer Randel Wright has created a dark, muted barn with prison bar windows overlooking a bright, colorful distance signifying the freedom that the animals yearn to reach. Multiple levels and platforms heighten the Broadway style and performance quality of the musical numbers. Frivolous and stylish costumes by Laurie Land highlight hints of country chic.