Press Release: “The Epic Adventures of Lulu’s Lemonade Stand” Opens August 17 at Cotuit Center for the Arts

“The Epic Adventures of Lulu’s Lemonade Stand,” an original play by Holly Erin McCarthy and Chris Compton for children and families, will be presented by Theater Under the Stairs at Cotuit Center for the Arts August 17 to September 2. Performances are 10 AM Friday through Monday in the Black Box Theater.

"’Lulu’s Lemonade Stand’ is anything but straightforward; it is unpredictable, swashbuckling, zany, magical, colorful, richly developed and loaded with fun for the whole family," wrote Ellen Petry Whalen on wickedlocal.com, when the show, which premiered in 2013, was presented in 2017.

“This is the first year we will be performing ‘Lulu’ in the Black Box, which is exciting new territory,” said McCarthy. “The limitations of the space have provided a lot of fun opportunities to get creative with staging and other elements.”

Also new this year is the book version of the play, which McCarthy wrote, in rhyme. Sander Goldman, a 2015 graduate of Sturgis Charter Public School East in Hyannis, illustrated the book using a digital painting style that looks like watercolor and ink.

Lulu Leominster, played by Celia Cota, 17, who recently played Little Sally in “Urinetown” at the Tilden Arts Center, is a young entrepreneur out selling lemonade. Suddenly she realizes she's late for her own birthday party and has to cut through "The Weird Part of Town" to get home. Thus begins her thrilling odyssey.

Lulu and her business associates encounter silly pirates, delicious biscuits, and confusing bus schedules in an adventure both humorous and exciting. Will Lulu make it home in time for her birthday party? And will she manage to sell any lemonade on the way?

The tale is based on Homer’s “The Odyssey,” with Lulu as Odysseus.

“One of the oldest stories in Western literature, ‘The Odyssey’ translates surprisingly well into a children’s comedy,” said McCarthy. “And, luckily, while it takes Odysseus 10 years to reach his destination, Lulu’s trek is significantly shorter.”

The show runs about an hour, with no intermission.

The show has a cast of 14: 10 children ages 10 and up from Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee, Sandwich, Barnstable, and Yarmouth, and four adults, including local favorites Anthony Teixeira, Hannah Carrita, and Ari Lew.

“We are very excited about the show and the cast,” said McCarthy. “It is fun, silly, and laugh-out-loud funny for kids and their parents. And the cast is always ready to try new things. It’s rewarding to see them make these characters their own.”

Books will be on sale at the show for $10, and McCarty will be present at every performance “to happily greet people” and sign books. The cast will also be on hand after each show to sign books.

Anthony Teixeira wrote lyrics for the show and provides musical direction. Costumes and props are by McCarthy, and Sander Goldman created the show poster.

Tickets are $10. Cotuit Center for the Arts is at 4404 Route 28 in Cotuit. For more information, visit www.artsonthecape.org, or www.theaterunderthestairs.weebly.com or call 508-428-0669.

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What:

“The Epic Adventures of Lulu’s Lemonade Stand”

Where:

Black Box Theater, Cotuit Center for the Arts, 4404 Route 28, Cotuit

When:

August 17 through September 2, Friday through Monday, 10 AM

Admission:

$10

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