Josh Wainright

Piedmont Players Theatre

What would you do if a tree house in your neighborhood could transport you anywhere you wanted to go? While exploring one afternoon, siblings Jack and Annie discover a tree house full of books. Jack looks through a book about dinosaurs and wishes he could see a real one. Suddenly the wind begins to blow and the tree house starts to spin wildly. When it finally stops, Jack and Annie open their eyes to find they have been transported back to the time of the dinosaurs.

“Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark Kids” is an adaptation of the first of Mary Pope Osborne’s award-winning fantasy adventure books from the Magic Tree House book series. The books are number one New York Times bestsellers — more than 100 million copies have been sold in North America alone.

Perhaps the only thing more impressive than the dinosaurs appearing on the Norvell stage is the fact that all of the dinosaurs were created right here in Salisbury. With the help of “Dinosaur” Ed Bounds, Allen Jones and the PPT crew made every dinosaur in the show by hand in the Meroney Theater shop. Each dinosaur was hand sculpted using nothing but foam and an electric carving knife. PPT has long been respected for producing some of the most incredible costumes and sets in the business. With the Magic Tree House costumes, Jones and the PPT team have once again raised the bar. From the backpack-puppet style costumes created for the Anatosaurus to the helmets of the Triceratops, these costumes are just a reminder that those behind the scenes of the Rowan-Salisbury theater community are just as talented as those we see on the stage. Audience members will see dinosaur eggs hatch, revealing the baby dinosaurs inside and may even get a visit from the most feared dinosaur of them all.

In addition to six public shows, “Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark Kids” is also PPT’s 2nd and 3rd grade school show. All 2nd and 3rd grade classes in the county will be bused in to the Norvell to experience live theatre the week of November 10.

The public can join Jack and Annie on their adventure back in time to experience an amazing group of dinosaurs face to face beginning November 14. Public dates are Nov. 14 and 21 at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 15 and 22 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  Adult tickets are  $10, seniors/students $8. Tickets go on sale Nov 10.  Stop by the Norvell Box Office, call 704-633-5471 or buy online at PiedmontPlayers.com. Producing Partner: Salisbury Academy

MEET THE CAST

Jack

Garrett Alewine– 8th Grade – Southeast Middle

Annie

Berkley Loeblein– 8th Grade – West Rowan Middle

Henry (Pteranodon)

Joseph Clark – 8th Grade – Sacred Heart

Hemlock – Susan (Anatosaurus)

Georgia Reichard – 9th Grade – Home School

Hemlock – Natty (Anatosaurus)

Caroline Sobolowski – 8th Grade – Mount Pleasant Middle

Hemlock – Joan (Anatosaurus)

Madison Barrier – 11th Grade – Home School

Sapling – Toto (Baby Anatosaurus

Sarah Beth Richard – 8th Grade – Sacred Heart

Larry (Triceratop)

Timothy Duggins  5th Grade – Home School

Gary (Triceratop)–Puppet

Abby Campion – 5th Grade- Overton Elementary

Terri (Triceratop)– Puppet

Olivia Gregory – 8th Grade- Southeast Middle

Redpine – Panoplaosaurus

Blake Barrier – 4th Grade – Overton Elementary

Redpine– Iguanadon

Maddie Laity – 8th Grade – West Rowan Middle

Redpine – Troodon

Hannah Bogle – 3rd Grade- Forest Park Elementary

Stump– Ankulsaurus

Alex Blumenthal – 6th Grade – Knox Middle

Hemlock– Protoceratop

Baleigh Hill – 8th Grade – Erwin Middle

Otto – Puppet

Connor Hennie – 5th Grade – Sacred Heart

Redpine – T-Rex

Joe Cornacchione – 12th Grade – East Rowan High