Is everyone racing to get things announced before May 1? Theatre 3, AT&T PAC, the DTC, the DCT: Is there some deadline I don’t know about?

Anyhoo, it’s the Children’s Theater’s 27th season, and it’s got two world premieres, two regional premieres and a festival 

And there are puppets!! Interestingly enough, one of the world premieres is a Japanese Bunraku puppet-show version of The Snow Queen, courtesy of the Kathy Burks Theater of Puppetry Arts. And Theatre 3 just announced a Bunraku premiere, Tales from Mount Olympus. So perhaps this guy and these folks have made North Texas a hotbed of people dressed in ninja-black holding little figures in front of them. Plus, there’s something about Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale that seems to inspire Japanese-ish interpretations.

The other world premiere is a musical version of The Pied Piper and the festival will be a month’s worth of of Linda Daugherty’s ‘teen problem’ plays in rep.

The full season is below the fold.

DALLAS CHILDREN’S THEATER ANNOUNCES ITS 27TH SEASON OF HITS

Every Child Deserves Great Theater!

(Dallas, TX) Dallas Children’s Theater (DCT) announces an extraordinary lineup for the theater’s 27th season, continuing DCT’s focus on presenting new works alongside classic literature, folk and fairy tales. The 2010-2011 season includes two world premieres, two regional premieres, a dynamite month-long festival for young adults, and is flanked by musicals and colorful stage adaptations of award-winning books.

Robyn Flatt, DCT’s Executive Artistic Director, states, “Dallas Children’s Theater values the multi-generational audience and is so proud to serve the whole family with wonderful entertainment options. In our 27th season there is a hit for everyone.” Ms. Flatt continues, “As experts in our field, we have crafted a season with careful consideration of the community we serve, the age appropriateness of our productions, and the balance between presenting new works alongside adaptations of classics. It is an important responsibility to reach children and families from all parts of our city. Every child deserves great theater!”

DCT’s 2010-11 season includes several exciting premieres. Renowned children’s author and illustrator Steven Kellogg has agreed to allow DCT’s award-winning resident playwright, Linda Daugherty, to adapt his brand new book from a vibrant illustration into a magnificent, three-dimensional stage setting. Summer fun will ensue with the WORLD PREMIERE of The Pied Piper in the most joyous musical re-telling of the well-known fable. Another WORLD PREMIERE production is a holiday winter’s tale by Kathy Burks Theater of Puppetry Arts in their breathtaking adaptation of The Snow Queen incorporating elements of Japanese Bunraku Puppet Theatre with the Black Theatre tradition they have mastered. Additionally, the holidays ring in a REGIONAL PREMIERE starring the world’s most irresistible first grader. At Christmas-time, Junie B. Jones is back with another big problem – Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!

DCT offers audience pleasers for every age. Launching the season with Miss Nelson is Missing!, the younger ones will laugh wildly as they learn a lesson or two about the golden rule. Teens have their raucous comedy in The Curse of Castle Mongrew, a gothic horror melodrama in the style of Jane Austen/Charlotte Bronte meets The Addams Family. When a young girl falls in love with a boy and learns his secret of immortality, it’s the heartwarming stage adaptation of the award-winning novel, Tuck Everlasting.

DCT is proud to be a leader in the development and commission of plays for and about young adults, especially those tackling relevant problems and exploring positive responses. Out of DCT’s dedication to illuminating the challenges facing adolescents, as well as honoring resident playwright Linda Daugherty’s most recent work, DCT presents a multi-show in repertory Festival of teen plays. Two must-see professionally produced productions include dont u luv me? by Linda Daugherty (just in time for National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month) and hard 2 spel dad by Linda Daugherty and Mary Rohde Scudday. Staged readings and teen productions of Linda Daugherty’s highly successful plays The Secret Life of Girls and Eat (It’s Not About Food) will also take place. These in-depth explorations will continue DCT’s practice of offering enlightening post show discussions.

When DCT’s acclaimed National Tour makes a hometown stop after traveling from coast to coast, it’s the return of the hilarious musical sequel to Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type in another barnyard blockbuster, Giggle, Giggle, Quack, directed by guest artist, Doug Miller.

Finally, the 2010-11 Season also showcases plays based on traditional and not-so-traditional folk and fairy tales. Everybody knows the story of the three little pigs, but when Alexander T. Wolf defends himself on trial claiming he didn’t kill anyone, reporter pig, Lillian Magill, is hungry for the truth. Dallas veteran musical director, Cheryl Denson, directs this topsy-turvy rock show, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. For more fun, Kathy Burks and Company stage The Frog Prince in the sophisticated style of a Noel Coward comedy of manners. Both hilarious stories allow the audience to decide the ending! You won’t want to miss this opportunity to engage with the performers in a truly live finale!

Subscribe now for the best prices and selections because every child deserves great theater!

Season subscription packages are now on sale and may be purchased by calling Dallas Children’s Theater at 214/740-0051. Packages range from $56 for 4 plays up to $154 for all 11 productions. DCT Season Subscriptions provide the best value for DCT patrons. Single tickets available on September 1, 2010. For more information about DCT visit www.dct.org.