Constellation Stage and Screen will welcome audiences to the premier of their first Kids Series play, “Anne of Green Gables,” at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Waldron Auditorium on Walnut Street.
The play is writer Catherine Bush’s adaptation of the classic children’s novel by L.M. Montgomery and follows siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert — the owners of Green Gables farm on Prince Edward Island. After planning to adopt a young boy to work as a farmhand, the pair are shocked to discover they’ve adopted a little girl, the free-spirited Anne Shirley, according to Constellation’s press release. The heartfelt play follows Anne as she navigates her place on the farm, in the world and in her family’s heart.
Director Mallory Metoxen, the Chicago-based artistic associate for Seven Devils New Play Foundry, directs new works and reimagined classics with a feminist perspective. For “Anne of Green Gables,” Metoxen will be directing an entirely local cast.
Metoxen said Anne’s wild spirit and thoughtfulness are a testament to growing up without sacrificing parts of oneself to appease others.
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“Anne proves that she can do anything a boy can do, overcoming society’s expectations of a young girl,” Metoxen said. “When the time comes, Anne makes the difficult decision to grow up without losing her wild imagination.”
At 4 p.m. Nov. 27, Constellation will offer a sensory-friendly adaptation of the show so children with autism or other sensory issues are able to enjoy the classic with their families. The show will feature lowered lighting and sound and will welcome audience members to move around the theater during the performance. This show is sponsored by Unlocking the Spectrum. More details about accommodations can be found on their website.
"Anne of Green Gables” will be the first Kids Series play Constellation has premiered since the Bloomington Playwright’s Project, Cardinal Stage and Pigasus Institute merged in July 2022 to form the company. The Kids Series will present a variety of productions geared towards younger audiences.
Tickets are $15 for children and $25 for adults. They’re now available on Constellation’s website. The show will run from Nov. 10-27.
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