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Carnegie welcomes Bunnicula to the stage
bunnicula pic 1
LightBox Theatre will debut their first production at the Carnegie Arts Center with an adaption of Bunnicula. - photo by Photo by Marty Bicek/Bicek Photography

The season of frights begins Friday with the showing of “Bunnicula” at the Carnegie Arts Center.

The play is the inaugural production of LightBox Theatre. The LightBox Theatre Company is a new non-profit organization aiming to bring live drama to Turlock’s youth. They plan on offering both public and school based performances.

The LightBox Theatre Company was created with the goal of exposing more youth in Turlock and the surrounding areas to live theater. The company also strives to offer paid opportunities for designers, directors, actors, and technicians to produce high-quality entertainment for young audiences. The theatre group plans on initially offering two productions a year, one in the fall and one in the spring. They also have plans on offering internships for those looking to get into a career in theater or teach theater education.

 

“The Carnegie is really excited about working with LightBox Theatre,” said Lisa McDermott, Director of Carnegie Arts Center. “It increases our ability to provide arts education for kids in our community. We’ve been very successful with our field trips bringing students to see gallery exhibitions; now we have the chance to add high quality theatre to what we can offer to local schools.”

The company has partnered with Wakefield Elementary School for this production, providing opportunities for their students to experience and learn about literature through live performances. The school’s third, fourth and fifth grade classes will get an opportunity to see the play and read the book. A grant from the Kiwanis Club of Greater Turlock will make a copy of the original book available to each of the Wakefield students to take home.

“Bunnicula” is an adaptation of James and Deborah Howe’s classic novel, “Bunnicula.” This is a thrilling tale in which the Monroe family rescues a bunny from a movie theater. Chester (the family cat) and Harold (the family dog) agree that this new pet named Bunnicula is not an average animal. Their suspicions deepen when all the vegetables in the house appear to have been drained of their juices.

The production has been developed by two members of the CSU Stanislaus Theater Department who are the founding directors of LightBox Theatre Company; Stefani Tsai is directing the show and Eric Broadwater has designed the production.

The play stars Alex Alansalon as Pete; Maria Alvarez as Toby; Angeleigha Arnold as Chester; Carleigh Arnold as Mrs. Monroe; Walter Astorga , as Harold; Ramon Vargas as Mr. Monroe; and Ariel Hicks as the Bunnicula puppeteer.

The show is 75 minutes long with no intermission.

The play opens at 7 p.m. tonight, with additional shows at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, 7 p.m. Oct. 9 and 10 and 2 p.m. Oct. 10 and 11.

All shows will be in the Loft Theater at the Carnegie Arts Center at 250 N. Broadway in Turlock.

Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 for Carnegie Arts Center members and $8 for children and students with id. Tickets for the matinee performance on Oct. 3, will be available by donation at the box office beginning at 12:30 p.m. on the day of the show. A donation in any amount will be accepted per ticket for that performance only. Seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets for all other performances are on sale now and may be purchased on line at www.LightBoxforYouth.org or at the Carnegie Arts Center box office, open from10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday; and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.