The Linkville Players will be opening a four weekend performance run of Philip Osment’s family friendly
LITTLE VIOLET AND THE ANGEL on Friday, July 11, 2008. This newer theatrical work weaves together puppetry, l
ive music, and theater to create the magical setting for the wondrous adventure of an angel named Gabriel, a guardian angel in training.
The production is directed by Corey Christensen, who along with members of the cast have hand-crafted the multiple puppets used in the play.
The cast features a total of 14 local actors, musicians and puppeteers. Little Violet and The Angel is a special Summer production of the Linkville Player’s ‘07/’08 season and will feature an eight-performance run over four weekends beginning Friday, July 11th and concluding Saturday,
August 2, 2008.

The opening night ticketholders on July 11th will be treated to a special complimentary reception beginning at 7:00pm in the lobby of the
Linkville Theater, hosted by Alexia Hardt and Charles Cossey.

“We have been hard at work expanding and preparing our new lobby area for this production and think all our audience members
will appreciate the additional lobby space, especially during our opening night receptions,” says Jason Icenbice, President of the
Linkville Players. Because this special summer performance of Little Violet and the Angel is geared toward people of all ages,
the reception will feature non-alcoholic beverages and plenty of “kid friendly” food fare.

Performances of Little Violet and the Angel will be Friday and Saturday evenings beginning with opening night on Friday, July 11th and continuing on July 12, 18, 25, 26, 27 and August 1 and 2. Curtain time for all evening performances is 8:00 pm. There will also be special matinee performances on Saturday, July 26, and Sunday July 27 at 2:00pm. Reserved tickets, which are priced from $11 to $14, are available in advance at Shaw Stationery Co. Students and seniors are entitled to a $1 discount per ticket.

Little Violet and the Angel, a family friendly show and an unforgettable exploration of the joys and heartaches of living and loving, is a new play that features a wide range of theatrical mechanisms. The story follows the adventures of an apprentice guardian angel, young Gabriel, who finds that his new job is not as easy as he thought. It is also the story of a little girl, Violet, who magically grows from age 6 months to 6 years old on stage, using marvelous puppetry techniques. The story unfolds as Gabriel’s heavenly Boss is constantly on his back as young Gabriel tends to neglect his charge, a little baby abandoned on the doorstep of an older couple. Violet’s life and happiness hangs in the balance as the husband wants to keep the child, but the wife, wrapped up in the grief of her dead son, has no time for the baby and wants her sent off to an orphanage. It is Gabriel’s job to make sure that the child is saved from this fate. What happens next is magical, sad, funny and wonderful.

“What makes this play unique is its appeal to such a wide age range. From the youngest to the oldest, there will be something to amuse and touch the heart. I truly believe that this play will make a difference to all those who see it,” asserts Corey Christensen, the play’s director.

The Linkville’s production features 14 local actors, including notable Basin theater veterans Van Abercrombie, Barbara DiIaconi, and Mathew Landsiedel. Other actors include; Joel Walden, Kendra Hutcheseon, Dina Cruickshank, Tamara Moyer, Jason Tannehill, Travis Erwin, Summer Cochran, Marissa Tuttle, Chris James, Ryan Carney and Seth Hogg.

Tickets for Little Violet and the Angel are on sale at Shaw Stationery Co. For ticket information and reservations, telephone Shaw Stationery Co. at 882-2586. Any tickets not sold in advance will be available at the door prior to each performance.