Two musicals aimed at family audiences will go up at the Santa Monica Playhouse this June. The Silver Key--a search for the way out will be launched Tuesday June 24 at 7 PM prior to its debut this July in Derry, Ireland. The production will be the second exchange with the renowned Irish theatre company The Playhouse, which visited Santa Monica in 1998.

Moonlight Madness will be seen at the Santa Monica Playhouse for two weekends only (June 13-20), produced by the Young Professionals Company.

The Silver Key has been described as "a musical adventure...filled with witches, fairy godmothers, feisty heroines, zany goblins and a host of colorful and fantastical creatures blurring the boundaries between here and there, yesterday and tomorrow."

Directed by Evelyn Rudie and Chris DeCarlo, with book, music and lyrics by Ruidie and Matt Wrather, the darkly humorous musical features India Brookover-Coleman, Molly Brush and Danny Newman, among others.

Moonlight Madness is a 50s revue offering bobby socks, poodle skirts and poodle cuts. With musical direction and arrangements by Matt Wrather, Moonlight Madness is called "1950s America come alive, complete with hair spray, beat poets, true love and disaster at the big dance," said a company spokesperson. The show will travel in July to England for its overseas premiere at the Dream Factory in Warwickshire.

Also premiering in the U.K. this summer is Charlie's Place, the Playhouse's country and western musical.

Santa Monica Playhouse is at 1211 Fourth St. in Santa Monica. Call (310) 394-9779 for information.

-- By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent