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Article: Schoolhouse rocked by 'New Kid'; High in sweetness, low in sap, kids' musical teaches compassion.(SHOW)(THEATER)
- Article from:
- The Washington Times (Washington, DC)
- Article date:
- November 22, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 The Washington Times LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Jayne Blanchard, THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Katie Couric may be in the ratings basement as anchor of the CBS Evening News, but she rates high as a children's book author. Her pint-sized treatise on kindness, "The Brand New Kid," has been spiffily adapted to the stage by Melanie Marnich and Michael Friedman as a tuneful new musical perfectly attuned to the fads and fears of today's children.
Director Nick Olcott offers up a show that's sunny without sticking in your craw and assembles a top-notch cast of adult actors portraying a gaggle of strong personalities who are embraceable, but never cutesy.
Based on the 2000 picture book, "Katie Couric's The Brand New ...