Boston Theatre Works proudly presents the New England premiere
A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant.
October 16 , 2006

Regional premiere of the 2004 Obie Award-winning play by Kyle Jarrow at the
BCA Plaza Theatre from November 24 through December 16, 2006

[BOSTON, MA] Boston Theatre Works continues its season of award-winning plays with the New England premiere of A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant by Gorilla Man author Kyle Jarrow. The production plays for four weeks at the Boston Center for the Arts beginning on Friday, November 24th. BTW Artistic Director Jason Southerland helms a cast of eight children in this hilarious holiday comedy.

A jubilant cast of children celebrates the life of L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the controversial religion, in uplifting pageantry and song. The actual teachings of The Church of Scientology are explained and dissected against the candy-colored backdrop of a traditional nativity play. Avant-garde performance art and children's theater meet in a musical that The New York Times called "…A spooky, sharp-toothed smile of a show.” They went on to say that, “Pageant has acquired a halo of hipness and daring,” while The Los Angeles Times called it, “An instant cult classic.” The play is being remounted in New York City where it will run concurrently at New York Theatre Workshop.

Author Kyle Jarrow also wrote last season’s campy Gorilla Man, which BTW presented as a late night cabaret. His earlier works have been workshopped at BTW Unbound, an annual festival of new plays, and he is the recipient of a commission from BTW for his latest musical Love Kills, which BTW will present in workshop form during the run of Scientology Pageant.

Kyle is a Brooklyn-based writer and musician. He won an OBIE Award at age 24 for Scientology Pageant, which also had a successful run in Los Angeles and is being remounted at New York Theatre Workshop in December. His follow-up play Armless won the Overall Excellence Award at the New York International Fringe Festival.His play Hypochondria (BTW Unbound 2003) was a finalist for the Princess Grace Award, and Gorilla Man was recently published by Samuel French. Kyle's work has been presented at Performance Space 122, The John Houseman Theatre, HERE Arts Center, New Dramatists, The Flea, The Hangar Theatre, and Dad's Garage in Atlanta. He also writes for film and television and plays in the glam rock band The Fabulous Entourage, which released its debut album Play Nice Now in April 2006. Samples of Kyle’s diverse music can be heard at www.BostonTheatreWorks.com/Jarrow

…Scientology Pageant Ticketing and Information

Purchasing Tickets

www.BostonTheatreWorks.com (service charges apply)
Boston Theatre Scene at 617.933.8600 (service charges apply)
Calderwood Pavilion Box Office, 527 Tremont Street, Boston‚ MA 02116 (no charge)
B.U. Theatre Box Office, 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston‚ MA 02115 (no charge)

Box office hours vary. Check the schedule at www.bostontheatrescene.com/contact/

Scientology Pageant Curtain Times/Ticket Prices

Performance Dates:
Friday, November 24th – Saturday, December 16, 2006.

Performance Schedule/Prices:                          Ad            Sen            Stu
Tuesday, December 12            7:30 p.m.            $25            $22            $22
Wednesday, Thursday              7:30 p.m.            $25            $22            $22
Friday, Saturday                         8:00 p.m.            $28            $25            $22
Sunday                                         5:00 p.m.            $25            $22            $22

Press Performances:
Saturday, November 25, 8 p.m.
Sunday, November 26, 5 p.m.

Special Events:
Second Sundays “Artist Talk Back” Sunday, December 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Pay What You Can: Friday, November 24, 8:00 p.m.

Running Time:
65 minutes with no intermission.

Discounted Prices:
Senior prices are valid at age 62+.
Group rates ($5 off ticket) available for parties of 10 or more by calling 617.728.4321.
“Student Rush” price is $10 cash, night of performance, 1 hour before curtain.
Pay What You Can: Friday, November 24, 8:00 p.m.

About the Boston Center for the Arts

Theatre Location:
BCA Plaza Theatre
539 Tremont Street, Boston (South End)

Parking:
Valet parking at BCA, $15 (evenings only)
Warren Street garage, $12
Metered parking in the area (n/a on Sundays)

Public Transport:
MBTA Orange Line to Back Bay Station
MBTA Green Line to Arlington Street or Copley Stations
Silver Line to East Berkeley Street

Accessibility:
Wheelchair Accessible