The TADA! production of The Little House of Cookies is set to close Jan. 28 at the TADA! Theatre in midtown Manhattan. The play began performances Dec. 22 and was originally to close Jan. 21 before extending the extra week.
In Little House, the neighborhood kids come up with the idea to use an abandoned house as a "boys-only" clubhouse. But the house has a different plan; when they try to enter, the door becomes too small for them. However, Jane and Alice have no problem turning the house into a homemade cookie shop. That is, until the mean old landlord arrives to collect rent.
Little House was the first musical produced by the company in 1984. The "scrumptious musical," as it is billed, is based on "The Tiny Little House" by Eleanor Clymer. TADA! artistic director Janine Nina Trevens, who adapted the show and directed the original production, told Playbill On-Line that she brought it back because she "likes what it has to say." Joel Gelpe composed original music and also wrote the lyrics.
Michael Perreca directed the production this time around with a cast of kids from 8 to 16 years-old that includes Devon Beckford, Gillian Boswell, Darius Davie, Lamont Dunnigan, Patricia Fitzpatrick, Kareen Foster, Natalie Heredia, Taylor Hogan , Ben Levin, Sam Levin, Vicki Likitsakos, Nicky Low, Adam Metzger, Alania Mosely, Renisha Mungin, Lacie Pulido, Jonathan Rice, Kareena Rivera, Nicole Singer, Marisa Smith, Brittney Williams and Valerie Yawien. The two adults who perform are Kate Weiman and David Plotka.
Choreography was put together by Dani Altiere and musical/vocal direction was handled by Tammy Holder. The design team included Zeke Leonard (sets), Shelley Norton (costumes) and Jason Livingston (lights). Tickets are $6 for children under 15, $15 for adults and, as Trevens boasted, "everybody gets a free cookie at the end." To make your reservations to the presentation at TADA!, 120 West 28th Street (between 6th and 7th Ave.), call (212) 627-1732. For more information on the show and the programs at TADA!, visit their website at www.tadatheater.com.
— by Ernio Hernandez
