Davenport Junior Theatre's “Charlotte's Web" at St. Ambrose University -- October 10 through 17.
Saturday, October 10, through Saturday, October 17
St. Ambrose University's Galvin Fine Arts Center, 2101 North Gaines Street, Davenport IA
With its source material named "the best American children's book of the past two hundred years" by the Children's Literature Association, the stage version of E.B. White's beloved Charlotte's Web enjoys an October 10 through 18 run in St. Ambrose University's Galvin Fine Arts Center. The show will be performed by talents youths from Davenport Junior Theatre, and this adaptation by playwright Joseph Robinette was praised by the Chicago Tribune as a theatre piece that "manages to hit the emotional and humorous high points of the original."
In Robinette's take on Charlotte's Web, all of White's enchanting characters are accounted for: Wilbur, the irresistible young pig who desperately wants to avoid the butcher; Fern, a girl who understands what animals say to each other; Templeton, the gluttonous rat who can occasionally be talked into a good deed; the Zuckerman family; the Arables; and, of course, the extraordinary spider Charlotte, who proves to be “a true friend and a good writer.” Determined to save Wilbur, Charlotte begins her campaign with the miracle of her web in which she writes, "Some pig." It's the beginning of a victorious campaign that ensures Wilbur's place on the Arable farm forever, and in this beautiful, knowing play about friendship, the spider's acts of kindness lead to Wilbur doing what is most important to Charlotte.
As stated at the company's Web site: "Founded in 1951, Davenport Junior Theatre is the second oldest children's theatre in America maintaining the mission of 'Theatre for Kids, by Kids.' Co-founders Leone Bredbeck and Mary Fluhrer Nighswander developed the idea of theatre instruction and performance for Quad-City Area youth. From these ideas, Davenport Junior Theatre was born. Because of the work of its founders, Junior Theatre has been able to spend the past six decades giving area youth the opportunity to learn to speak clearly, confidently and creatively in any social setting."
In the organization's early years, the site continues, "Junior Theatre rehearsed and performed in various parks, theatres, and churches. The dream of a permanent home came true in 1976 when the City of Davenport bought the Annie Wittenmyer Complex and designated three cottages and the chapel for the program. Over the next four years, Junior Theatre, Inc. invested approximately $750,000 and countless volunteer hours toward its renovation."
Presented in special partnership with and at St. Ambrose University's Galvin Fine Arts Center, Davenport Junior Theatre's Charlotte's Web runs October 10 through 17, with performances on Saturdays at 1 and 4 p.m., Sunday, October 11 at 3 p.m., and Friday, October 16 at 7 p.m. Admission is free, and more information is available by calling (563)888-2227 and visiting DavenportJuniorTheatre.org.
