Author: Miller Howard

South Carolina Children’s Theatre (SCCT) is pleased to announce the lineup for their 2020-2021 MainStage Season—the first season to be produced in its entirety at SCCT’s brand new Theatre Arts and Education Center for Children.

The six-show season will open in September with the classic musical Annie. This will mark the sixth mounting of the orphan-finds-a-home tale by SCCT, most recently produced by the theatre in 2013. It will be co-directed by SCCT’s Co-Artistic Directors Betsy Bisson and Matt Giles. Bisson has previously played the role of Ms. Hannigan opposite Giles’ Rooster and has also directed the show. Her most recent SCCT directorial credits include Ella Enchanted, A Year With Frog & Toad and Shrek The Musical. Giles, the newest member of the SCCT team, is on deck to direct SCCT’s upcoming production of Curious George: The Golden Meatball—the organization’s final production as a resident company of the Peace Center.

“We’ve been holding this one in our back pocket, knowing we wanted to open our new theatre with this classic show,“ said Bisson. “The parallel between Annie the Orphan finding a home, and SCCT finally moving into our own home was just too perfect.”

Following Annie, in October, will be the kindness-counts story of Spookley The Square Pumpkin. This will mark the first time SCCT has produced this show and it will be directed by regular SCCT guest director Kim Granner. Granner most recently directed SCCT’s Winter 2020 production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and prior to that, Mr. Popper’s Penguins in Winter 2019. Granner is a multi-talented artist and an experienced puppet maker, which will certainly be an asset to a show in which the main character is a non-traditionally shaped pumpkin.

December’s holiday show is a remount of Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells. Director Mia Phillips, who directed both previous productions of this fun-filled show, brings it back to life, this time on SCCT’s very own MainStage! Phillips is a regular guest director, most recently sharing her directorial talents with A Charlie Brown Christmas in December 2019 and with Elephant & Piggie’s: We Are In A Play! in June 2019.

February, 2020 will mark Giles’ return to the director’s chair for the 2020-2021 season with Robin Hood. Another first-time production for SCCT, this classic tale of good vs. evil will be a treat for children and adults alike and will feature the daring fights and classic characters that continue keep this story on children’s bookshelves all over the world.

“I can’t wait to bring this show to SCCT,” says Giles. “I’ve had the privilege of seeing this show come to life on the stage and I can say with confidence that SCCT audiences are in for a real treat.”

In April, SCCT’s Tour Manager and School Liaison Lauren Imhoff will direct Pete The Cat. A perfect show for younger audiences, Pete the Cat follows the popular James Dean book character as he helps a young boy harness the power of his imagination. Imhoff has directed several shows for SCCT—most recently, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical on SCCT’s 2nd Stage. She is also a gifted choreographer, creating the dance numbers for 2019’s Ella Enchanted, A Year With Frog & Toad and Curious George: The Golden Meatball, coming up in April 2020.

The season will wrap in July with Disney’s The Little Mermaid. The final show of the season will be directed, once again, by Matt Giles. This magical underwater tale is coming to the SCCT stage for the third time and was most recently produced in 2004.

Season tickets for SCCT’s inaugural season in their brand new home on Augusta Street will go on sale on May 1, 2020. Individual show tickets will be available for purchase beginning in July.

About SCCT’s Headquarters

 South Carolina Children’s Theatre will officially open their new Center for Theatre Arts and Education to the public in June, 2020. The facility, located at 153 Augusta Street, will serve as the headquarters for the organization. All SCCT MainStage and 2nd Stage performances as well as education programs will take place at the center, bringing all three pillars of SCCT’s mission—performance, outreach and education—under one roof for the first time in the organization’s history.

About South Carolina Children’s Theatre

Since 1987, South Carolina Children’s Theatre has impacted the lives of children and families in South Carolina through theatre, educational classes and workshops, and accessible outreach initiatives. Each year, SCCT produces and performs high-quality, live theatre MainStage performances featuring children and adults, as well as additional shows and other special events on the theatre’s 2^nd Stage.

SCCT offers professional year-round education in the dramatic arts for children ages 3 to 18 and educational outreach to low-income, special needs and hospitalized children.

The mission of South Carolina Children’s Theatre is to educate and stimulate the minds and imaginations of young people and their families through participation in high-quality theatre, year-round education and accessible outreach.

Until their upcoming move to a permanent home at 153 Augusta Street, SCCT is temporarily located at 1200 Pendleton Street in Greenville.

GREENVILLE, January 21, 2020 – Thanks to grant funding from Hollingsworth Funds, South Carolina Children’s Theatre (SCCT) announced today that they have named Matt Giles as Co-Artistic Director of the organization. Giles will officially join SCCT in March 2020 and will serve alongside SCCT’s current Artistic and Education Director, Betsy Bisson, for a period of one year before becoming sole Artistic Director. At that time, Bisson will remain as the organization’s Education Director, narrowing her focus on growing and enhancing SCCT’s robust education programming.

As Co-Artistic Directors, Giles and Bisson will share responsibilities for setting the artistic direction for the theatre; hiring, managing and evaluating artistic personnel including directors, performers and designers; serving as spokespersons for the organization’s artistic purpose; fostering the continued development of good relations with other cultural and community organizations; along with the executive director, setting the strategic and financial objectives of SCCT; and maintaining the artistic and educational integrity of SCCT’s programs.

A native of Upstate South Carolina and a Wofford College alumnus, Giles joins SCCT from Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) in Minneapolis—the nation’s largest theatre for multigenerational audiences, where he currently serves as General Manager. Prior to his time at CTC, Giles was the Associate Producing Director at Seattle Repertory Theatre. He is also an accomplished director, with more than 30 directorial credits to his name.

Giles will direct on SCCT’s MainStage as well, beginning with Curious George: The Golden Meatball in April 2020—SCCT’s final production as a resident company of the Peace Center.

“It has been a dream of mine to return to the South, and to have the opportunity to do so at South Carolina Children’s Theatre is almost too good to be true. I have such a passion for the work they do on their stages, in their classrooms and throughout the community. I’m excited to partner with the staff as we move into our new home on Augusta Street and continue to grow an organization that means so much to me and to the Upstate of South Carolina.”

Throughout his career, Giles has worked with SCCT as an actor, director and teaching artist, most recently playing ‘Snail’ in SCCT’s production of A Year With Frog & Toad, in Spring 2019.

“We are thrilled for Matt to become an official part of the SCCT family,” said SCCT Artistic and Education Director Betsy Bisson. “Through his time spent with us over the years, he has gained an understanding and appreciation of the organization and stands ready to leverage the experience and relationships he has built throughout his career, to help SCCT fulfill our vision of becoming a model for children’s theatres across the Southeast.”

“Matt’s impressive management and artistic experience as well as his strong track record of creating successful community partnerships offer SCCT the solid leadership needed to sustain us into our next 30 years and beyond,” said SCCT Executive Director Debbie Bell. “As we look to the future, I find myself reflecting on the work Betsy Bisson has done as Artistic Director of the theatre. Her dedication has been invaluable to us, and her leadership and vision for the theatre remain an important asset. I am so excited to see these two come together and to see the things I know they’ll do for this theatre and this community!”

 

About South Carolina Children’s Theatre

Since 1987, South Carolina Children’s Theatre has impacted the lives of children and families in South Carolina through theatre, educational classes and workshops, and accessible outreach initiatives. Each year, SCCT produces and performs five high-quality, live theatre MainStage performances featuring children and adults, as well as four additional shows and other special events on the theatre’s 2^nd Stage.

SCCT offers professional year-round education in the dramatic arts for children ages 3 to 18 and provides educational outreach to low-income, special needs and hospitalized children.

The mission of South Carolina Children’s Theatre is to educate and stimulate the minds and imaginations of young people and their families through participation in high-quality theatre, year-round education and accessible outreach.

SCCT is temporarily located at 1200 Pendleton Street in Greenville. In May 2020, the organization will move into its permanent home at 153 Augusta Street.

To learn more about South Carolina Children’s Theatre, visit www.scchildrenstheatre.org.