TICKETS ON SALE NOW:
THE HOBBIT based on the novel by J. R. R. Tolkien
February 12 - 27, 2010
Thursdays at 7 PM, Fridays at 7 PM, Saturdays at 1 PM & 5 PM & Sundays at 3 PM
It’s unusual for a modern work to become a classic so quickly, but Tolkien’s “ring” stories, which began with The Hobbit, clearly are in this very special category. They stir the imagination and intellect of everyone they touch.
Bilbo, one of the most conservative of all Hobbits, is asked to leave his large, roomy and very dry home in the ground in order to set off as chief robber in an attempt to recover an important treasure. It’s the last thing that any sensitive Hobbit would want to do, but great benefit eventually results—not only for Bilbo but for all of the Hobbits who inhabit Middle Earth—and the hearts of those children and adults who continue to enjoy this kind of magic.
Set in a time “Between the Dawn of Fairies and the Dominion of Men”, “The Hobbit” follows the quest of home-loving Bilbo Baggins to win a share of the treasure guarded by the dragon, Smaug. It was published on September 21, 1937 to wide critical acclaim, being nominated for the Carnegie Medal and awarded a prize from the New York Herald Tribune for best juvenile fiction. The book remains popular and is recognized as a classic children’s book.
Bilbo’s journey takes him from light-hearted, rural surroundings into darker, deeper territory. The story is told in the form of an episodic quest, and each sequence introduces a new, fascinating type of creature from Tolkien’s Wilderland. By accepting the romantic, fey and adventurous side of his nature and applying his wits and common sense to his quest, Bilbo develops a new level of maturity, competence and wisdom. See all of the famous characters of the book come to life: Gandalf the Wizard, Thorin Oakenshield, the proud pompous leader of the Dwarves, Smaug the Dragon, Gollum and his underground lake, and many more.
The COMPLETE PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE is:
Friday, February 12 at 7 PM
Saturday, February 13 at 1 PM and 5 PM
Sunday, February 14 at 3 PM
Thursday, February 18 at 7 PM
Friday, February 19 at 7 PM
Saturday, February 20 at 1 PM and 5 PM
Sunday, February 21 at 3 PM
Thursday, February 25 at 7 PM
Friday, February 26 at 7 PM
Saturday, February 27 at 1 PM and 5 PM
Reservations are strongly recommended for all CTK performances. To reserve tickets for the production, e-mail the number of adult and child tickets needed, along with your requested performance date and time, to tickets@childrenstheatreknoxville.com . Or you may call us at (865) 599-5284. Tickets are $11 per person. CTK is
continuing our special Adult & Child Combination rate for this production: If an adult and a child enter together, these two may be admitted for $9 each.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
The play is being performed by 18 of the Knoxville area’s finest child actors, being joined by two seasoned adult performers. Blair Johnson plys the title role of Bilbo Baggins, the sensible hobbit who is reluctant to join another quest. Audiences may remember Blair as James in CTK’s recent production of “James and the Giant Peach.” Evan Satterfield, making his CTK debut, plays Thorin Oakenshield.
Rounding out the vibrant characters who made Tolkein’s work so compelling are Kiernan Bensey, Clare Carter, Abigail Coughlin, Alex Drinnen, Josiah Eakle, Zack Hall, Will Kersey, Caitlyn Lemmon, Alex Levi, Connor McClure, Hannah Sloas, Sean Sloas, Sarah Smith, Luke Taylor, Morgan Voyles, and Sophie Wright. Veteran adult performers Steve Trigg and Roy de la Rosa portray Gandalf and Smaug, respectively.
The play is directed by Ashlee Latimer, making her CTK directorial debut. Ashlee has worked with CTK since its inception, having served in a wide variety of capacities. After acting in “Little Women” and “The Wind In The Willows,” she served her technical apprenticeship by stage-managing “The Diary of Anne Frank,” assistant directing “James and the Giant Peach,” and serving as the instructor for CTK’s “Styles and Stories” class. Jennifer Osborn serves as the play’s stage manager, and Liz Davis is the show’s assistant director. Kenny Mayfield is the show’s scenic designer and master carpenter, and Jamie Jensen is the backdrop artist.
LOCATION
The play is being performed at CTK’s new theatre in downtown Knoxville, located at 800 Tyson Street. Heading north from downtown on Broadway, Tyson Street turns left (west) just past Old Gray Cemetery. Tyson Street is between the traffic lights on Broadway at Fifth Avenue and Central Avenue, and is directly across the street from historic Emory Place. The theatre is about 300 feet down Tyson Street, immediately next door to Dixie Kitchens. The CTK sign is visible from Broadway, looking down Tyson Street.
The play is made possible through the support of UT Surgical Associates, Schaad Companies, Kersey Family Care, and Knology.