Children’s Theatre of Charlotte to host inaugural WonderFest

Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is ringing in the new year with a bit of wonder.

In the debut of its inaugural theatre festival, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte brings two world-premiere spins on family favorites, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Commedia Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and returns a perennial favorite, New Kid, to the stage.

In addition to the family-friendly productions, WonderFest will bring together Charlotte families for three weekends in January (Jan. 14 to Jan. 29) in true theatre festival format for the reading of finalists in the annual Young Playwrights for Change contest, theatre workshops and more.

“WonderFest is an exciting and entertaining theatre festival, filled with world-premiere productions, classes and fun for families,” Adam Burke, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s artistic director, said. “We’re thrilled to bring the inaugural festival to families in 2017.”

In Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s original retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Goldilocks isn’t quite the devilish little girl we’ve known before. She’s alone in the world and a little wild, deeply curious and terribly uninhibited. Baby Bear is her opposite, sheltered by well-meaning parents. Likewise, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs gets a masterful retelling by renowned circus arts expert, CarlosAlexis Cruz, in a commedia dell’arte form. Full of slapstick comedy and exaggerated masks, this retelling of the fairy tale classic will leave families in stitches.

The timeless story of New Kid also returns to Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s stage for WonderFest, telling the story of Nick, who moves to America from his country of Homeland. Nick has to learn English, and the audience is put front and center in learning along with him!

“New Kid revolves around the ideals of tolerance and empathy,” Burke said. “This production, like no other I’ve seen, puts audiences front and center in understanding how it feels to be different.”

WonderFest opens Jan. 14, 2017, and the three shows run each weekend until Jan. 29, 2017.

Audience members can purchase tickets, starting at only $12, online at ctcharlotte.org or by calling the Box Office at 704-973-2828.