Katie Couric's Brand New Kid Teaches Kids to Be ThemsElves

Media Contact:

Kristen Gleason
Director of Marketing
The Paramount Theater
215 East Main Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
434.979.1922 ext. 103
kristen@theparamount.net

For Immediate Release

February 27, 2008

In the town of Delasky, Miss Kincaid’s class is starting second grade at Brookhaven Elementary. Most everyone knows each other -- all except the new kid, Lazlo S. Gasky, who isn’t from Delasky -- or even the United States! His classmates notice that he is different in the way he looks, speaks, and acts, and some of the students tease him. While the teasing causes many problems, it ultimately leads the class to learn an important lesson -- that being yourself is the best way to be.

In a “highly entertaining” (The Washington Post) Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences on Tour presentation featuring “a top-notch cast” and “funny, upbeat musical numbers” (The Washington Times), Katie Couric’s The Brand New Kid comes to The Paramount Theater on Tuesday, March 11.

Based on the popular children’s book written by CBS Evening News anchor and UVA graduate Couric, this musical production for the whole family is offered at a special 6 pm show time. Recommended for grades K-4, Youth/Child price tickets are available for those aged twelve and under.

Special Media Sponsor for this event is AlbemarleFamily.

This uplifting new musical version of Couric's book is about the crisis second-grader Ellie McSnelly faces when Lazlo Gasky joins her class. From Hungary, Lazlo’s differences immediately make him an outcast. Even so, Ellie decides to take a chance and become friends with Lazlo -- a choice that causes her classmates to question her judgment. Eventually, all the students realize that Ellie is right and that Lazlo is just like them, a person who has a lot to offer.

“Endearingly goofy” (The Washington Times), the production features ingenious sets, original music, and dance. Directed by Nick Olcott, The Brand New Kid was adapted for the stage by Melanie Marnich, with music by Michael Friedman, and lyrics by both Marnich and Friedman.

In advance of the March 11 performance, The Paramount is partnering with Barnes & Noble Booksellers in the Barracks Road Shopping Center (1035 Emmet Street, Charlottesville) for a Storytime featuring the book The Brand New Kid on Saturday, March 8 at 11 am.

Actress Stephanie Burden, who plays Mrs. Gasky and Miss Kincaid in the Kennedy Center production, will be present to read the story. All those attending the Storytime will be eligible for an in-store raffle offering two tickets (one adult, one youth/child) to the March 11 show at The Paramount.

For more information about the March 8 Storytime, please contact Sandra Cararo, Barnes & Noble Community Relations, at 434.984.6598, or visit the store's events page.

Tickets for Katie Couric’s The Brand New Kid on Tuesday, March 11 at 6 pm are $30.50, with a $20.50 Youth/Child price offered to those aged twelve and under. Half-price student rush tickets and group discounts are also available.

Tickets are available online or through The Paramount’s Box Office at 434.979.1333.