Your story could become a part of an original musical at East Carolina University.

Storybook Theatre will present All Aboard America!, a collection of stories, heroes, legends, and music from across the land. On Friday, April 11, the musical will premiere at East Carolina University’s Wright Auditorium. Two performances are offered. At 10:00 a.m., school children in grades K-6 may attend (we call this our "Arts Smart" series). At 7:00 p.m., anyone can attend (we call this "Family Fare").

Join Professor Pontificator and his young friends as they travel the mountains, plains and seashore in search of all-American tales. This collection of heartwarming American stories illustrates our rich multicultural heritage. Meet seafaring pirates, Paul Bunyan, cowboys and cowgirls, and a host of engaging characters as they lead a foot-stomping sing-along romp set to original music. See a quilt of geographical Americana unfold as our heroes take a trip through time. All Aboard America!

Winners
Hey, everyone is a winner. If you enter, you'll get a certificate of participation. If your story is selected, it will becomes a part of All Aboard America! and you will receive:

• a free set of tickets for your class to attend All Aboard America! (10:00 a.m.),
• a free set of tickets for your family and school officials to attend All Aboard America! (7:00 p.m.),
• a copy of the script,
• a photo opportunity with the cast, and
• an introduction to the audience.

Judging
Once your stories come to campus, they'll be considered by a panel of judges. We expect to select three stories that will
become a part of the production.

How to enter
Students should write a colorful story (fiction or historical) involving one or more characters from your immediate geographical area. Stories must have a beginning, middle and end, and must convey information about your locale. Stories should be no more than two pages in length. We can read handwritten entries as well as print, but we insist on exceptional spelling and grammar.

Entries must be original work of students living in counties we've invited to participate, and enrolled in grades K-6. Each entry must include the author’s name, age, mailing address, school, grade and teacher’s name. Stories are due by January 18, 2008. Winners will be notified by February 1.

If you are unable to open or use the entry form linked above, please include the following release language on an additional page with each entry: I, (name), a parent/legal guardian of (student name), allow East Carolina University the right to use the attached story in conjunction with Storybook Theatre’s production of All Aboard America!, including the option to adapt the work for the stage and submit the work in whole or part to regional media. (Sign it, date it, send it!). Mail entries to Michael Crane, 100 Erwin Building, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353.

More
Please be sure to look over our production series offerings online. We'd love to see you in the audience at Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major and Katie Couric’s The Brand New Kid. Questions? Michael Crane at 252-328-5386, cranemi@ecu.edu.