Oregon Children's Theatre cues up two musicals

Oregon Children’s Theatre begins its 29th season with two musicals, “Goosebumps” and “Fly Guy,” both co-commissions with other companies.

Thanks to “Hamilton,” musicals are hotter than ever. Stan Foote, OCT artistic director, remembers when talk in the theater world had musicals going the way of the dinosaur.

“But, the musical form is back and strong,” Foote says.

The award-winning theater company has collaborated with other groups on the original musicals, starting with “Goosebumps the Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium,” which will also open at First Stage Children’s Theatre in Madison, Wisconsin.

It’s based on a book in the R.L. Stine series and loosely based on “Phantom of the Opera.” The story: Mysterious events befall the theater — is it coincidence or the work of The Phantom? Brooke and Zeke are excited to star in the school play “The Phantom,” until they hear that the show has been cursed and the school haunted.

It’s a silly and little bit spooky world premiere, directed by Foote.

“Great music and story collide with a fun type of scary, the kind of scary that makes you scream and laugh at the same time,” Foote says.

“I was happy to work with First Stage, and get exclusive rights to the series, and very happy that this book existed. It fits perfectly into the musical format and something you can put on stage.”

More so, “I love that Brooke (played by Katie McClanan) is the female protagonist and a strong young woman and a strong character in the show,” he adds.

“Goosebumps,” which has nothing to do with the movie released with the same name last year, hits the Newmark Theatre stage, 1111 S.W. Broadway, Oct. 22 through Nov. 20.

“Fly Guy,” Jan. 14-Feb. 12 at Newmark, is co-commissioned with the Bay Area Children’s Theatre in Oakland, California. It’s based off the popular book series about a boy and his pet fly who enters in “The Amazing Pet Show,” and Fly Guy meets Fly Girl.

“It’s hard for me to understand why ‘Fly Guy’ is so fascinating to kids,” Foote says. “They love him. In the context of the script, I like him, too.” There is some rap amid the singing, another musical influenced by “Hamilton,” Foote says.

Oregon Children’s Theatre also has scheduled “Flora & Ulysses,” Feb. 25-March 26 at Winningstad Theatre, “Tomas & the Library Lady,” April 1-23 at Winningstad, and the return of the musical “Pinkalicious,” May 6-June 4 at Newmark.

“It’s amazing to me how many kids walk through, 11 and 12 years old, and say that their first show they saw was ‘Pinkalicious,’” Foote says.

In addition, OCT’s Young Professionals Company will present the following at its studio, 1939 N.E. Sandy Blvd.:

“In the Forest She Grew Fangs,” Oct. 28-Nov. 13; Impulse: OCT’s Improv Troupe, Jan. 27-Feb. 12; “Orphans,” April 14-30.

Oregon Children’s Theatre has earned multiple honors at the Drammy Awards throughout the years, and stands as one of the country’s largest theater companies of its kind. The company mentors about 60 kids each year, with more than 1,000 in classes and thousands in attendance, kids and adults alike.

For more: www.octc.org.