DATE: Friday, October 10, 1997              TAG: 9710080176

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 14   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: THEATER 

SOURCE: BY IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   45 lines

CHURCHLAND STUDENT FEATURED IN ``ROCKIN' THE PLAYHOUSE'' MUSICAL

Jacob Pennington, a fifth-grader at Churchland Elementary School, will be a featured player in ``Rockin' the Playhouse,'' which opens Saturday at the Hurrah Players Studio, 935 Woodrow St., Norfolk.

The musical is a new Little Playhouse production in the Little Plays for Little People series. It is aimed at youngsters between the ages of 2 and 10.

Jacob plays Big Joe, a 1950s kid who helps a '90s boy find the fun side of '50s music. The audience gets involved in helping the boy discover the ``cool'' side to the ``uncool'' parents' music.

In songs like ``Rockin' Robin,'' ``Lillipop,'' ``The Monster Mash'' and ``Splish Splash,'' members of the audience blow bubbles, dance the Monster Macarena, play the name game, do hand jive and have a rockin' good time.

Mikki Black, director and choreographer of the Little Playhouse Series, said the show is the first musical in the series.

``In the past we have concentrated on fairy tales and other familiar children's stories because we have such a young target audience,'' Black said. ``I think that music can be fun and familiar to all ages, and this show gives us a chance to expose young children to a different era of music.''

``Rockin' the Playhouse'' is Jacob Pennington's fourth Little Playhouse production. He made his main stage debut last winter in ``The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.''

The Little Playhouse is a wing of the Hurrah Players, founded by Hugh Copeland.

``The Little Playhouse has done very well in our studio theater and has gained a following,'' Copeland said. ``We are hoping to build on it and add several new shows to the series that will appeal to all ages.''

``Rockin' the Playhouse'' performance times are 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Oct. 11 and Oct. 18; 3 p.m. Oct. 12 and Oct. 19.

Tickets are $4 and can be purchased in advance or at the door. For information, call the Hurrah Players Box Office at 627-5437. ILLUSTRATION: Starring in ``Rockin' the Playhouse,'' a Little

Playhouse production, are: top row, from left, Dustin Elsea, Hey Suk

Chong and Steven Wahl; bottom row, from left, Elizabeth Alford,

Jacob Pennington and Ricky Jones.

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