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Ben and The Magic Paintbrush

Presented by South Coast Repertory at South Coast Repertory - Julianne Argyros Stage

May 21-June 6, 2010

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Children’s Magical Adventure Begins with a Paintbrush

 A pair of plucky orphans fall into the clutches of a greedy couple in the final installment of SCR’s 2009-2010 Theatre for Young Audiences season. Ben and the Magic Paintbrush, adapted by Bathsheba Doran from a Chinese folk tale, has its world premiere May 21 through June 6 on the Julianne Argyros stage.

Paintbrush opens with siblings Megan and Ben eking out a living on the streets. Megan poses as a human statue, and Ben paints portraits. When the evil Mrs. Crawly spots Ben’s talent, she lures him to her home to see if he can unlock the magic of her father’s paintbrush, which in the right hands brings paintings to life. After the cat Ben paints sashays off the wall, Mrs. Crawly makes Ben her prisoner. But Meg stages a daring rescue, and soon the pair head off on a magical adventure to Bohemia.

Doran, whose adult plays include Kin, Living Room in Africa and Nest, says one of her goals was to write a play that audiences of all ages could enjoy: “I want children to fall in love with going to the theatre, the way that I did when I was a child. So I've tried to write something that they will like, and something that their parents will like, so that they can enjoy the experience all together, without the barriers that usually exist between children and grown-ups.”

 TICKETS to Ben and the Magic Paintbrush can be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or by visiting the box office at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. Performances begin on May 21 and continue through June 6. Ticket prices range from $17 to $29. Low-priced previews are available from May 21-28.

 LOCATION: South Coast Repertory is located at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa, at the Bristol Street/Avenue of the Arts exit off the San Diego (405) Freeway in the Folino Theater Center, part of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Parking is available off Anton Blvd. on Park Center Drive.