c/o Watsons

14826 Manahan Road, Sabillasville, MD 21780

(301) 416-0864

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Beth Watson (301) 416-0864

THESPIANS BRING ROBERT FULGHUM’ S BOOKS TO LIFE IN THURMONT

The gentle and hilarious tales by former minister and popular author Robert Fulghum have been fused into musical theater by Ernst Zulia and David Calwell. The results have been hailed from coast to coast. Good Morning America said: “Robert Fulghum’s stories withstand the test of time. His is the Will Rodgers and Mark Twain of our day.” And National Public Radio reported:“…heart-warming, charming, funny and touching. These stories are about all of us!”

The Thurmont Thespians will mount a production of Robert Fulghum’s “All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten” for two weekends this coming April 4-6 and 11-13 at their home venue, The American Legion Auditorium at 8 Park Place in Thurmont. The production is under the direction of the groups artistic director, Beth Royer Watson. Co-starring in the cast are well-known Thurmont actor-singers Christine Smith and Eileen Winston along with Catoctin High senior Lindsey Puvel. Bill Collins from Frederick, together with his son, Sean Collins, a Tuscarora High School senior, also appear in co-starring roles. The seven-member company is rounded out with actor-singers Kelli Donaghue from Woodsboro and Spence Watson of Sabillasville. And the show’s choreographer is Jennifer Buccheister from Fairfield, PA.

“All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten” Page 2

Robert Fulghum is the author of several long-time best sellers, including “All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten” (more than 15 million copies in print in 27 languages in 93 countries since 1982), “It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It”, “Uh-Oh”, “Maybe(Maybe Not)”, “From Beginning To End”, “True Love” and “Worlds I Wish I Wrote”. Many of these have topped the New York Times Best Seller List on more than one occasion. He was born in Waco, Texas in 1937 and in his youth, worked as a ditch digger, newspaper carrier, ranch hand, singing cowboy and weekend rodeo-rider. He is also an accomplished painter, sculptor and musician and currently lives on a houseboat in Seattle, Washington.

This musical version of “All I Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten” takes a funny, insightful and nostalgic look at what is profound in everyday life through theatrical story-telling utilizing monologues, dialogues and multiple-voice narrations together with seven original new songs with lyrics based on Fulghum’s writings. There is a piano underscoring throughout to provide fluidity, charm and emotional texture. The many delightful stories feature such colorful characters as the little boy who insists on playing a “pig” in his class production of “Cinderella”; a man whose dream of flying takes him 11,000 feet over Los Angeles in an aluminum lawn chair lifted by helium weather balloons and the Mother of the Bride who brilliantly orchestrates her daughter’s wedding until the bowling ball of fate rolls down the aisle.

The area premiere of “All I Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten” will open Friday and Saturday, April 4-5 and the following Friday and Saturday, April 11-12 at 8:00PM at the Legion Auditorium. There will also be Sunday matinee performances April 6 and 13 at 2:00PM. There will also be one dinner-theater performance on Saturday, April 12 starting at 6:30PM with a Fried Chicken and Shrimp dinner and cash bar. All tickets for the shows will be $15.00 which includes free desserts or snacks and refreshments during intermission. The Dinner Theater combination tickets are $30.00. Early reservations for all performances may be made by calling Mrs. Urian at 301-271-7613. The April 12 Dinner Theatre reservations close on Monday, April 7 at 9:00PM.

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