TEMPE – Zachary Briddling is unbearably normal. His height is exactly the height of an average boy of an average age. His hair lies exactly the way of an average boy on an average day. And when he dreams at night, he dreams the most average dreams. Zachary wants to be different–someone who stands out and is special. So, he sets off on a magical adventure to find a place where he might feel special, and in doing so, takes the audience on a hilarious and imaginative journey.
After touring to schools across Arizona since October, Childsplay Theatre brings The Grumpiest Boy in the World to Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway. Performances will be held April 8 through 16, 2017, Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m. Tickets start at $12 and are on sale now at www.childsplayaz.org or at the Tempe Center for the Arts Box Office (480) 350-2822 (ext. 2).
“The Grumpiest Boy in the World is sort of the epic journey of any young person’s life, where you are trying to find where you fit into it,” said Director Jon Gentry. “And along that journey, you hopefully find out that you have your own place. But also, that you have commonalities with people–it’s a balance of both.”
The 1 p.m. performance on Saturday, April 8 is a special $12 Storybook Preview performance, sponsored by The Steele Foundation. Each family that attends this General Admission preview performance will receive a free book. The play is recommended for ages 5 and up.
The Grumpiest Boy in the World cast features Tony Latham (Zachary Briddling), Bobby Shook (Dad/Scientist 2/Others) and Caroline Wagner (Mum/Scientist 1/Others).
Director: Jon Gentry
Scenic Design: Jeff Thompson
Costume Design: Elizabeth Ihlenfeld
Lighting Design: Kara Ramlow
Sound Design: Stephen Christensen
Rehearsal Stage Manager: Heather Patterson
The Grumpiest Boy in the World was created by Finegan Kruckemeyer. Childsplay’s production of The Grumpiest Boy in the World is sponsored by Friends of Tempe Center for the Arts.
For interviews or media appearances, please contact Samantha Johnstone at (480) 921-5703 or [email protected]. High resolution images are available for download from Childsplay’s website at www.childsplayaz.org/press.
About Childsplay:
Childsplay, Inc. is a nonprofit theatre company of professional, adult artists who perform for and teach young audiences and their families. The mission of Childsplay is “to create theatre so strikingly original in form, content or both, that it instills in young people an enduring awe, love and respect for the medium, thus preserving imagination and wonder, the hallmarks of childhood which are keys to the future.” For more information, visit www.childsplayaz.org.
