Contributed by Kalamazoo Civic Theatre

KALAMAZOO (MICH.)-The Kalamazoo Civic Youth Theatre will be presenting the Kalamazoo premiere of How I Became a Pirate, an all-new stage adaptation of the book by Melinda Long, March 16-24 in the Parish Theatre.

Jump on board for a swashbuckling musical based on the hilarious and award-winning book by Melinda Long.  Jeremy Jacob dreams of being a pirate.  And what kid doesn’t? After all pirates don’t have to eat their vegetables or go to bed at a certain time, and they get to ride in a cool ship!  An excellent sand castle builder, Jeremy is recruited by Captain Braid Beard to join his scurvy crew.  It seems they have a treasure that needs burying and they’re down one digger.  Before you can say shiver me timbers, Jeremy is off on a high sea adventure, but it doesn’t take long for him to realize that the truly important things in life are worth more than any buried treasure.  Written by Mark Friedman and Janet Yates Vogt, the same team that brought us last year’s Sleepy Hollow, a Musical Tale, this fun-filled family show is sure to leave you and your mateys dancing in the aisles.

Director Trevor Stefanick (Lyle the Crocodile), Musical Director Jay Schumacher and Choreographer Nicki Poer (James and the Giant Peach, Sleepy Hollow, a Musical Tale) are leading the talented cast, which features Civic veterans Marcus Bechek,  Hannah Glass-Chapman, Mitchell Harpenau, Hannah Clare Horner, Mary Landreville, Tiffany Melvin, Jackson Mills,  Molly Podiak and Alexander Smith. Making their Civic debuts are Sarah Aiello, Kayla Belmont, Bonnie Charlton, Quincy Ellis, Colin Evans, Kristin Gustavson, Ava Keller, and Coryne Paige Mannes and Noah Winne.

Returning as part of the hard working crew are Koichi Anderson , Grace Augustine, Nic Augustine, Andrew Carpenter , Casey Lynn Crawford,  Ryan Crawford, Nick Emig,  Margaret Hennessy,  Matthew Hennessy, Sarah N. L.Kueppers, Graham Lape-Shoub,  Isabel Measzros, Henry Muscara, Paige O’Keefe, Lyvia Osterstock,  Izaac Piorkowski, Keanu Wagner and Emily Walsh.  First time crew members are Zoe Branson, Andre Davis, Olivia Davis, Quinn Epkey, Pax Iaderosa-Desroches, Sydney Kruggel, Isabella Lager,  Sarah Melgar,  Tajah Thomas, Nikki Schmitt and Jack Warmelink.

Regina McLeod is stage managing How I Became a Pirate with Xavion D. Gill and Nathan Lethiot as Assistant Stage Managers.

Tickets to How I Became a Pirate are currently on sale and can be purchased online at www.kazoocivic.com or by calling the Civic Box Office at 269-343-1313.  Group rates are available for groups of 20 or more.