‘Pippi’ will be singing

TOM TITUS

Laguna Beach youngsters who have read the exciting stories of Pippi

Longstocking have a treat in store for them next weekend -- she’s

coming to town. Not only that, but she’ll be singing.

Laguna’s No Square Theatre is preparing a three-day production of

“Pippi Longstocking, the Family Musical” on the Festival of Arts

grounds with a cast of 43 children ages 6 to 16.

Directed by Patty Ramsey, with musical direction by Justin Pyne

and choreography by Michelle Merlino, the musical fantasy focuses on

the young heroine of Astrid Lindgren’s classic children’s book about

a red-haired girl whose father is a pirate king. She lives alone in

her wacky house, Villa Villekulla, with her horse and monkey.

In the Laguna production, Amber Charton will play the title role.

She’s a No Square veteran with previous appearances in “Bugsy

Malone,” “Annie Warbucks” and “Babes in Arms,” among other shows.

Her two best friends will be played by Adam Cohen and Sara Gold,

while her nemesis, social worker Mrs. Pryss, will be enacted by

Celena Del-Pizzo Howell, who recently played the role of Rizzo in

“Grease.”

Pippi encounters many interesting characters in her travels, among

them city police constables Cling and Clang (Brianna Krantz and Chloe

Mansour). Robbers Bloom and Thunder Carleson will be played by

brothers Spike and Charlie Jackson.

Also in the cast are a gaggle of circus folk enacted by Sarah

Busic, Emily Van Hanswyk and Dylan Bush (as the world’s strongest

man).

In a special-guest adult appearance, No Square Theatre veteran

Keith Henderson will be playing Pippi’s pirate father, Capt.

Longstocking. His daughters -- Kami, Kiki and Kasey -- also are

aboard, along with five other sibling groups, all from Laguna Beach.

Performances of “Pippi Longstocking” will be given next Friday and

Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 1, at 2 p.m. in the Forum

Theater.

Tickets are $18, $12 for students and senior citizens, with

reservations taken on the No Square Theatre website at

www.nosquare.org.