Photo Flash: First Look at Dr. Seuss' THE CAT IN THE HAT U.S Premiere at Children's Theatre Company

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) has long been the only theatre in the U.S.A. granted permission to develop and produce original productions based on the work of Dr. Seuss. CTC first brought The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins to the stage and then were the creators of the stage production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Continuing in this tradition, CTC will presents U.S. premiere of The National Theatre of Great Britain's adaptation of Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat on the Cargill Stage, now through December 2, 2012. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

While the Cat in the Hat is a familiar representation of classic children's literature, CTC's production will be the first time the story has been onstage in the U.S. The adaptation by The National Theatre's Katie Mitchell is pulled directly from the text of the beloved, rhymed story of the mischievous bow tie-wearing cat that performs amusing tricks to entertain two young children stuck at home on a rainy day. Production director Jason Ballweber exclaims, "I am really excited about this production. We are creating the show using only the text from 'Cat in the Hat.' There are going to be no additional words at all. The rest of the show will be filled in with these wonderful actors' imaginations with the help of all the designers and crew at CTC. It will be a truly unique performance."

The Cat will be played by CTC company member Dean Holt, who is returning to CTC for his nineteenth season. Holt is known for his unique comedic performances and physical humor, as most recently seen in Pippi Longstocking, and his portrayal of the Cat will require him to use every bit of agility he has acquired. Gerald Drake plays the resistant and cautious fish, so skeptical of the Cat's tricks. This season marks Drake's 42nd year in the CTC Acting Company.

Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat runs through December 2 on the Cargill Stage. As part of CTC's commitment to programming for ages two through eighteen, Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat is recommended for pre-K and up.

Children's Theatre Company (CTC) is the first theatre for young people to win the coveted Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater (2003). Founded in 1965, CTC serves more than 300,000 people annually and is one of the 20 largest theater companies in the nation. The company is noted for defining worldwide standards for youth theatre with an innovative mix of classic tales, celebrated international productions and challenging new work.

For tickets and more information, visit childrenstheatre.org.

Photo Credit: Dan Norman