Christopher Acevedo (The Uncorker) and Tia Pinson (Little Mew Understudy).

“First time seeing one of my books on stage! Amazing to actually meet the Uncorker of Ocean Bottles…! @Filamentthreads did a BEAUTIFUL, immersive, heartfelt job, can’t thank them enough ❤️❤️❤️… totally magical.” – Michelle Cuevas, nationally bestselling author of The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles via Instagram

About the Show:
Friends of all ages are invited to a seaside party to experience the heartfelt whimsy and captivating wonder of The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles. Once again, Filament Theatre has created a relaxed environment where kids and their adults can play together as they enter a world full of all the warmth and surprise of a message in a bottle!

Run time:
About 60 minutes; Audiences are encouraged to come early and stay up to 30 minutes after the performance to participate in activities and play in our sandbox set!

What Parents are Saying:
A mother of a 6 & 9 year old loved how kids are “able to help with the scenes and interact with the actors before, during, and after the show.” She recommends the show for “any and all [ages]!” and she thinks “the story relates to all ages.”

An elementary school teacher for CPS who attended with three children recommends the show for ages “4-12.” She was delightfully surprised by “how small and enclosed the set was!”

A parent of a 10 month old recommends the show for “All ages.” She was particularly impressed with the “truly welcoming environment and how the actors “interacted with the kids but still kept the story going.” She also felt “the production value was amazing.”

What Critics are Saying:
Macaroni Kid
The full review offers a wonderful play by play description of attending the show. Click here for the full review. 

“If you have the opportunity to take your kids and family to see The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles, do it! I’m telling you, it’s worth it. I can’t say enough good things about the Filament Theatre. Even before they show starts, they are engaging kids. In the lobby area before we went in, the kids could make party hats, paint with water on a chalk board, play with musical instruments, and find things hidden in bottles full of rice. When we left, I asked my daughter if she had fun and got I a resounding yes! and when she woke up the next morning, she asked if we could go see the show again.” Lindsay Keller, Publisher Macaroni Kid Skokie, Niles, Park Ridge and Far Northwest Chicago

PerformInk
The full review describes Filament’s aesthetic beautifully! Click here for the full review.

“Perhaps what makes Filament Theatre so engaging is that no one is acting at you… Unlike most children’s theatre these days, the adults creating this play are not trying too hard to have fun. They simply fill the space with authentic joy without manufacturing forced energy and over-the-top acting. It’s quite possible that Filament is capable of introducing our young into the theatre in a way that makes them feel celebrated and renders their participation desired and necessary.” Tonika Todorova, PerformInk (Critics’ Picks)

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More questions about your visit to Filament? Checkout our Plan Your Visit page or reach out to us: boxoffice@filamenttheatre.org; 773.270.1660

About the Book:
A national bestseller, named best book of the year by Time, People, The Boston Globe, and School Library Journal.

“Cuevas’s prose is laden with gems . . . gorgeous sentences as precious as the messages themselves. Beauty shines through a fog of sadness…” —The New York Times Book Review

“Readers will find both consolation and encouragement on every visit to this emotionally resonant, evocative story.” —Kirkus, starred review

“Stead’s characters exude an endearing vulnerability and quirky charm. . . . A perfect pairing of text and art. Share this quiet story with your wishers and dreamers.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“The underlying message about learning to see the worth of every person is a treasure.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

Meet the Author:
Michelle Cuevas will offer a public book signing after our 2:30pm performance on May 12th. The signing will begin around 3:30pm. We hope to see you there!

The Creative Team

Book Author: Michelle Cuevas
Book Illustrator: Erin E. Stead
Playwrights: Melissa Pfeiffer-Lampl & Andrew J. Lampl*
Director: Julie Ritchey
Composer / Music Director: Tim McNulty*
Costume Designer: Emily Waecker*
Puppet Design: Andrew Marchetti*
Set / Space Designer: Amy Gilman
Lighting Designer: Carley Walker
Production Stage Manager: Caroline Foulk
Technical Director: Hannah Holmes-Robbins
Assistant Costume Designer / Stitcher: Lydia Parker
Casting Consultant: Marika Mashburn

The Actors

Christopher Acevedo (The Uncorker)
Molly Bunder* (The Soprano, et al)
Nico Fernandez (The One-Man-Band, et al)
Olivia Jackson (The Baker, et al)
La Shone T. Kelly (The Girl in Green, et al)
Michele Stine (Little Mew)

Understudies
Tia Pinson (The Uncorker, Little Mew, the Baker)
Daniella Rukin (The Soprano, The One-Man-Band, The Girl in Green)

* Denotes Filament Resident Artists

THE UNCORKER OF OCEAN BOTTLES
Written by Michelle Cuevas, Illustrated by Erin E. Stead
Text © 2016 by Michelle Cuevas, Illustrations © 2016 by Erin E. Stead Dial Books for Young Readers/Penguin Young Readers Group

Filament will hold a sensory-friendly performance of The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles on Sunday, May 20th at 11am.

Sensory-friendly performances are designed to create a performing arts experience that is welcoming to all families with children with autism or with other sensory sensitivities.

Accommodations for this performance may include:

• Lower sound level, especially for startling or loud sounds;
• Lights remain on at a low level in the theater during the performance;
• A reduction of strobe lighting or lighting focused on the audience;
• Patrons are free to talk and leave their seats during the performance;
• Space throughout the theater for standing and movement;
• Fewer tickets will be sold making for a smaller audience size;
• Filament staff will be on hand to be inviting and accommodating to families’ needs.

Individuals without sensory sensitivities or not accompanying those who do are encouraged to attend a different performance. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact us at boxoffice@filamenttheatre.org or by calling 773.270.1660,

School field trips are available. Please click here for more information.

Purchase a ticket package of The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles & The Snow Queen and save 25%.