Life in a community of potters in 12th-century Korea is illuminated in Linda Sue Park's Newbery Award-honored "A Single Shard" book for youth. Now Seattle Children's Theatre is rolling out a new stage adaptation of the book, scripted by the Seattle-based Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan ("The Kentucky Cycle").

The drama (starring Ho-Kwan Tse, left, and Jason Ko) is about an orphaned Korean boy, Tree Ear, who embarks on a dangerous but hopeful quest in hopes for a better life for himself and his only friend, Crane Man. Masks, tall puppets and traditional Korean dance all figure in SCT's world-premiere production opening Friday, under Linda Hartzell's direction.

Through March 18 at Seattle Children's Theatre, Seattle Center; $20-$36 (206-441-3322 or www.sct.org).

Misha Berson, Seattle Times theater critic