UD Summer Stage Kicks Off Season 49 with performances of “Dot and the Kangaroo, Jr.”
June 28, 2024 - Drexel Hill, PA. Upper Darby Summer Stage kicks off its 49th season with the Pennsylvania premiere of “Dot and the Kangaroo, Jr.” the story of a girl on the adventure of a lifetime. Performances are July 9, 10, and 11 at 10:30 am. and July 10 and 11 at 7:00 pm. Shows take place at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center located at 601 N. Lansdowne Avenue, Drexel Hill. Parking is free.
Join us ‘down under’ as the iconic children’s novel, Dot & The Kangaroo, hops to life on our stage! The adventurous young Dot longs to explore everything her country has to offer. When she ends up lost, a motherly Kangaroo and Australia’s entire outback work together to get her back home. The musical is the newest release from Musical Theatre International’s Broadway Junior catalog and features songs by Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical writers Daniel Mertzlufft and Kate Leonard.
Tickets are $11-$15 and can be purchased online at udsummerstage.org or by calling the box office at 610-814-7270. Young audience members and their families are invited to come early to the performances for fun pre-show activities and to stay after the show to meet cast members. “Dot and the Kangaroo, Jr.” is ideal for ages three and up.
Show director Ali Caiazzo said, “In our story, Dot meets the animals and the animals think that humans might not be so great, but through their journey, Dot learns to trust the animals and they learn to trust her.” She added, “One of the cool themes of ‘Dot and the Kangaroo’ is understanding those who are different from you.”
Starting in the spring of 2023, the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center has been undergoing significant renovation. The new interior design consists of new flooring throughout the entire venue, new lighting and sound units, updated restrooms in both lobbies, and a freshly reconstructed box office. The magic is always alive at Summer Stage but even more so this season as the renovations will add new excitement to the Summer Stage experience.
After “Dot and the Kangaroo, Jr.”, “Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jr.” will return to the stage followed by the Summer Stage premiere of “The Lightning Thief, TYA.” After that, “A Year with Frog and Toad, TYA”, a Summer Stage favorite, returns followed by the premiere of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical” to ring in August. The summer concludes with a revamped “Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, Jr.” featuring new music from the 2010 live-action adaptation.
Mainstage at Summer Stage, also known as “Broadway in Delaware County,” will bring “Disney's Newsies the Musical” to the stage. One of the performances features Summer Stage’s first-ever accessible/relaxed performance for the community through a newly formed partnership with KultureCity. Featuring a live, professional orchestra and priced for everyone in the family to enjoy, Mainstage tickets are $16-23 with the show running approximately two hours with intermission. “Disney’s Newsies the Musical” is recommended for ages eight and up.
To learn more about the dates and times of each show, audience members may visit udsummerstage.org.
Upper Darby Summer Stage is the nation’s leader in children’s theatre, empowering young people to celebrate the magic within themselves and others, and to share the magic with the entire community. Each summer Summer Stage entertains over 30,000 audience members and in 2024 will engage over 800 students. Featuring programs for young people and adults ages 10 through 35, Summer Stage is not only an ideal place for young audience members to experience the magic of theatre for the first time, but also participate in an environment where taking risks, embracing the unknown, and celebrating community are pillars of the organization’s existence. Visit udsummerstage.org for more info.
###