THE HUNDRED DRESSES at CATS

The Hundred Dresses opens March 25, with evening performances on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and afternoon shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. through April 3. Call now for information on daytime shows for school groups on Thursday, March 31. Tickets are only $8 for adults; $6 for students (ages 4+), military, and seniors (ages 55+); and $2 for a lap pass for ages 3 yrs. and younger. Call 817-861-2287 now to reserve your seats!
Creative Arts Theatre & School is located at 1100 West Randol Mill Road, Arlington, Texas 76012. For more information, contact CATS at 817-861-2287 or visit the website at www.creativearts.org.
Creative Arts Theatre & School (CATS) is honored to present The Hundred Dresses, adapted by Mary Hall Surface from the endearing Newbery Honor Book by Eleanor Estes. The play, set in 1930s small-town America, tells the story of elementary school students and their treatment of a new girl, Wanda Petronski, fresh from Poland with her one plain dress and easily mocked accent. The taunting of the children forces the new girl's father to pack up and move, and it forces the children to face the consequences of their behavior.
The story is told mainly from the point of view of Maddie, a classmate who knows that the bullying isn't right, and yet, does nothing to prevent it. When the teasing doesn't stop and the Petronskis move to get away from the town's prejudices, Maddie is wracked with guilt. She realizes that allowing her friend to be a bully can be just as bad as acting that way herself. Determined not to let her fear get the best of her again, Maddie braves the scorn of her classmates and stands up to them, making an unlikely friend in the process.
With the recent high-profile suicides of harassed youths, bullying-including cyber-bullying-has been thrust into the national spotlight. The Hundred Dresses clearly demonstrates the detrimental effects of being a target of bullying and how bystanders play an active role in allowing it to continue. As depicted in the play, many bystanders do have empathy for the victim, but have difficulty in intervening and helping.
The director of the play, Joe Chapa, an Associate Theatre Professor at UT Arlington, says this about the play: "Every time we rehearse The Hundred Dresses, I get chills. I know that the children who will be in the audience are the children that need to see it the most. It's a touching story, full of hope.''

[@pinkiedash893]

My teacher read the book at school I LOVED it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

[@tianamajor8582]

this is so beutiful

[@mylittelucy]

I read this when I was nine, but didn't realise it was about bullies think I need to reread it

[@karlaqtpie]

we red the book at school!