On Saturday, February 23 at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble will hold a free public preview of its 2008 Theatre In the Classroom touring show All Aboard! The Story of the First Transcontinental Railroad at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 123 North Market Street in downtown Bloomsburg. Admission is free and open to everyone, young and old, for this chance to get a sneak peak at what thousands of grade school children will experience over the next few months. Ensemble member and director of the production, James Goode says, “The Transcontinental Railroad not only linked our nation from coast-to-coast, it transported our nation into the modern world. It made possible giant leaps in business, politics, knowledge, and popular culture. Americans began imagining themselves as an important world power. ALL ABOARD! will inspire students, teachers, and families to once again dream the big dreams that motivated our ancestors.”

Now in its 30th year, Theatre In the Classroom (TIC) is an original educational/theatre experience that BTE researches, develops, writes and tours to schools, libraries, community rooms and theatres. Two teams of three actors spend eight weeks from late February through the
middle of April using clever props, imaginative storytelling, lively audience participation and enthusiastic, infectious performances to deliver an absolutely unique educational experience to almost 40,000 children from kindergarten through 8th grade all over Pennsylvania and beyond.

For more information on the public preview, or on TIC in general, visit the BTE website: www.bte.org or contact BTE’s School Programs Director, Paula Henry at(570)458-4075 or e-mail to phenry@bte.org