What Happens to the Glass Slipper is the Least of Our Worries

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(Business Wire)

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Expect the unexpected: that’s the message Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) is spreading this holiday season. Glass slipper? Check. Charming prince? Check. But, at CTC, spinning Cinderella into a thoroughly fresh fairy tale involves a little heart and hilarity.

Enveloped in outrageous costumes and often at the center of the show’s physical gags, Reed Sigmund and Dean Holt steal the show as Cinderella’s ugly—and over-the-top—arch nemeses, stepsisters Dorcas and Pearl. The actors, along with Autumn Ness, as Cinderella’s evil stepmother, bring to life the English panto: a holiday theatre tradition of outlandish physical comedy, outrageous gags, modern-day references and audience participation.

“This is a Cinderella of tenderness, beauty and comic energy and invention,” says Peter Brosius, artistic director. “The actors have embraced the English panto with gusto—from the slapstick madness of the stepsisters to Cinderella’s story of hope and redemption, there is a banquet of the senses. It is fresh, unexpected and full of surprises.”

A tender and timeless love story, Cinderella is set amid a gorgeous and opulent scenic design by Eduardo Sicangco, and stars Erik Pearson, as a debonair Prince Eric, and Maeve Moynihan as Cinderella. Moynihan perfectly captures Cinderella’s warm and hopeful spirit. Her previous credits include: Korczak’s Children and Esperanza Rising (CTC), Little House on the Prairie (Guthrie Theatre) and The Grapes of Wrath (The Minnesota Opera). Pearson has appeared at the Guthrie Theater and studied at St. Olaf College and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Bringing the panto form’s hilarity and gags to life are the dynamic talents of Sigmund, Holt and Ness. Ness and Sigmund are in their tenth seasons at CTC. Among Sigmund’s most note-worthy productions: A Year with Frog and Toad and Bert & Ernie, Goodnight! A versatile talent, Ness’s credits include The Magic Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Romeo & Juliet and The Snow Queen. Holt, an Ivey Award-winner, has been in 50 CTC productions, including Reeling and If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.

Costume design is also by Sicango, whose inventive work has previously filled CTC’s stage with mermaids, gypsies and headless characters. Among Sicango’s highly acclaimed credits are: The Spring Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, Carmen and Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci for the New York City Opera and the World Premiere of The Harlem Nutcracker.

Choreography is by Joe Chvala of the acclaimed dance company Flying Foot Forum. Chvala has choreographed and been commissioned to create new works for the Guthrie Theater, Walker Art Center, Minnesota Opera and Zenon Dance Company and is a recipient of the Ivey and Sage Awards.

A holiday treat for CTC guests, Cinderella features original music, created by three-time McKnight Fellow and international composer Victor Zupanc and presented by a seven-piece orchestra. Equally as enchanting is the work of Eric J. Van Wyk, whose puppet design brings Cinderella’s mice and birds to life.

Cinderella opens Nov. 13 and runs through Jan. 2. Tickets are $20 - $44 and are available by calling (612) 874-0400 or at www.childrenstheatre.org.

Also upcoming at CTC this season: a charming production of Mr. McGee & the Biting Flea, by Australia’s Patch Theatre; According to Coyote, Iron Ring, Disney’s Mulan, Jr. and The Biggest Little House in the Forest.

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Children’s Theatre Company
Anne Schopen
aschopen@childrenstheatre.org