On Nov. 22, the Sunnyvale-based company presents Brave Irene, a musical based on a book by popular children's author William Steig. This production marks the West Coast premiere of the show.

The titular heroine of Brave Irene is indeed courageous. The young but very determined Irene Bobbin goes out in a terrible blizzard in order to deliver a dress for her seamstress mother, who has suddenly taken ill. Irene takes on all the harshest weather and more--wind, sleet, snow and dark of night--in her bid to bring her mother's handiwork to the duchess, who commissioned the dress, in time for the duchess' grand ball. During Irene's journey, the weather becomes so bad, it literally takes on a life of its own.

Singer and composer Joan Cushing adapted Steig's book into the musical. Cushing, well known in her hometown of Washington, D.C., for her clever cabaret shows satirizing national politics, is also proving a creative force in children's theater, with her musical adaptations of several favorite kids' books, including Harry Allard's Miss Nelson is Missing, which won the 2003 National Children's Theatre Festival. California Theatre Center staged that show last season, and due to its popularity, will present it again in the spring of 2004. Cushing also recently adapted the popular book Junie B. Jones & A Little Monkey Business, by Barbara Park.

Brave Irene is directed by Will Huddleston, California Theatre Center's resident director, with music direction by Tony Eiras and choreography by Katie O'Bryon.

California Theatre Center presents "Brave Irene" on Nov. 22 at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Sunnyvale Community Center Theatre, 550 E. Remington Drive, Sunnyvale. A special question-and-answer session with the cast, director Huddleston and composer Cushing will be held following the 11 a.m. performance. Tickets are $11 advance/$12 at the door. For more information, call 408.245.2978 or see www.ctcinc.org.