October 17, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dana Werdmuller: (831) 459-3160
[email protected]
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND, SHAKESPEARE SANTA CRUZ PRESENTS THE PRINCESS & THE PEA - HOLIDAY SHOW TICKETS ON SALE NOW
SANTA CRUZ, CA – Playwright Kate Hawley’s celebrated “panto” based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name, played to sold-out houses in 2004. Now remounted for the first time, Shakespeare Santa Cruz’s THE PRINCESS & THE PEA combines music, comedy, audience participation and strong story telling to create an uplifting show that will captivate family audiences of all ages. The Shakespeare Santa Cruz Holiday Show is produced in collaboration with the UC Santa Cruz Theatre Arts Department and runs from November 16 through December 16, 2007, on the UCSC Theatre Arts Mainstage.
SSC Artistic Director Paul Whitworth (and UCSC Theatre Arts faculty member) will co-direct THE PRINCESS & THE PEA with choreographer Terry Barto. Whitworth notes, “Having been introduced to live theatre (like most English children) by going to the Pantomime at holiday-time, I’m particularly thrilled to continue the tradition in Santa Cruz with our own home-grown variety. Kate Hawley’s ‘pantos’ are a wonderfully funny, smart and moving combination of the American Musical and the traditional English ‘Pantomime’ – an endearingly eccentric blend of fairy tale and theatrical exuberance that has nothing whatsoever to do with mime.”
Paul Whitworth and Kate Hawley have collaborated on a total of four SSC pantos: Cinderella (1999, 2000), Gretel & Hansel (2001, 2002), The Princess & The Pea (2004, 2007), and Sleeping Beauty (2006). As in earlier productions, this year’s show combines the talents of Shakespeare Santa Cruz professionals, local actors and musicians, and UCSC students. Original music and lyrics are by composer Adam Wernick. Also returning to this year’s P&P creative team are veteran SSC costume designer B Modern, choreographer Terry Barto, lighting designer Derek Duarte and set designer Kate Edmunds, who also serves on the UCSC Theatre Arts faculty.
In THE PRINCESS & THE PEA, Hawley has given us a witty and moving script that pits vanity and ambition against purity of heart. Victoria, the Princess of Veracity, with her keen wit and honest heart must compete with false princesses and true villains before she is put to the real test: is she enough of a princess to feel a pea under a tower of mattresses? Before Victoria can find her Prince Royal, there are many adventures to undergo: on the way we will meet Chester, the court Jester who can’t tell a joke to save his life (played by SSC favorite Mike Ryan in one of his most endearing roles), a dancing Bear called Ted, the scurrilous Prime Minister Ratatouille (played once again by the wickedly delicious Joseph Ribeiro), the outrageous Queen Grosioso who is less than truthful about her age (but is played by the scrupulously honest New York actress Suzanne Grodner in her SSC debut), the rival Princesses Balonio and Pretencio, and the maternal Ducky (Suzanne Schrag) with her tap-dancing ducklings. Three Starlets - Starlight, Starbright and Stella - twinkle down on the proceedings and seem to guide us gently from afar. Music and lyrics are by Adam Wernick.
WHAT THE MEDIA HAVE TO SAY ABOUT SSC’S THE PRINCESS & THE PEA:
(All reviews from 2004 World Première)
“[The Princess & The Pea], Kate Hawley and Adam Wernick’s intoxicating new holiday musical, spices the classic fairy tale with everything from Shakespearean gender-bending to social commentary…It’s sweet as it is witty and bright, with topical jokes to tickle the adults and flying candy to delight the small…[The Princess & the Pea] represents the gold standard in family theatre…Light-hearted but never light-headed, this is one piece of family theater guaranteed to stimulate adults as well as their charges.” – Karen D’Souza, San Jose Mercury News
“… sparkling and high-spirited…a wonderfully colorful and hilarious retelling of that well-known story. Hawley adds an assortment of ancillary characters to contribute marvelous comedy to the sweet love story… The result is an evening of delectable fun for folks of all ages.” – Ann Bennett, Santa Cruz Sentinel
“Bursting with hilarity, vibrant color, memorable music, and fantastic performances, The Princess & the Pea offers a bit of magical charm and delight to enrich your holiday season…Composer Adam Wernick’s score is perfect for the play, with its 1920s jazz flavor and occasional strokes of cabaret and Latin timbres, it could be favorably compared to any Disney classic.”
– Chris Sentieri, The Voice
The UCSC Theatre Arts Mainstage is located on the campus of the University of California, Santa Cruz. For more show and ticket information, please visit the SSC web site at www.shakespearesantacruz.org or call the UCSC Ticket Office at (831) 459-2159. Tickets are also available at www.santacruztickets.com.
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WHO: Shakespeare Santa Cruz and UC Santa Cruz Theatre Arts Department
WHAT: SSC Holiday Show, The Princess & The Pea
WHEN: November 17 through December 16, 2007 with a Preview show November 16
WHERE: UC Santa Cruz Theatre Arts Mainstage, on the UCSC Campus
COST: $18 Youth; $26 Seniors, Students, UCSC Staff; $32/$35 Adult; $18 Preview (all seats), November 16, 2007; $14 Student Rush tickets (check online for details); a ticket processing fee applies to all tickets.
TICKETS: UCSC Ticket Office, at the UCSC Theatre Arts Center, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, (831) 459-2159; Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium Box Office, 307 Church Street, Downtown Santa Cruz, (831) 420-5260; Online at www.shakespearesantacruz.org or www.santacruztickets.com
Shakespeare Santa Cruz 2007 Season Sponsor: Coast Commercial Bank
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