Storybook Musical Theatre to Present PRINCESS & THE PEA, 12/23-30

Storybook Musical Theatre, the Philadelphia area based professional Equity children's theatre company will present the Hans Christian Andersen tale of a disheveled girl, who must prove she is a real princess by taking a very strange test involving twenty mattresses and a tiny pea. The musical plays for the holidays from December 23 to December 30 at the Gratz College Theater, 7605 Old York Road in Melrose Park, PA. Tickets are $12 for children and $14 for adults. For reservations or more information call: 215-659-8550 or www.storybookmusical.org.

The adaptation is by Storybook's Artistic Director, Patricia Goldberg with original music by composer, Kevin Arruda.

Princess and the Pea opens with the Prince complaining about being lonely. The Queen tells him she has already sent for a princess to be his bride. The only problem is that the Prince and the newly arrived Princess Jerseylee have nothing in common. The Prince is still as lonely as before. Then, in the middle of the night, a disheveled girl, Georgiana, knocks on the castle doors. She claims to be a princess who was thrown from her horse and needs someplace to spend the night. The Prince is immediately smitten with the new arrival but the Queen has her doubts that she is a real princess. She devises a test to prove she is a princess by placing a small pea under twenty mattresses. If she cannot sleep then she will pass and can marry the Prince. Will the princess pass, even after the Queen slips her a sleeping potion?

Playing the role of the lonely prince is Brian Bateman, of Philadelphia. Emily Cheney, of Columbus, New Jersey, plays the hopeful bride-to-be, Georgiana. Elizabeth Ann Corkum, of New York, N.Y. plays the sometimes annoying Princess Jerseylee. Storybook veteran, Maryann Bucci, or Yardley, PA, plays the conniving Queen. Rounding out the cast is Jeff Reim, of Sewell, New Jersey, playing the somewhat henpecked King who tries to advise the Prince on the meaning of "the birds and the bees."

Children's tickets are $12.00; Adults are $14.00 with generous school/group discounts available. Show times vary. Call for available dates and times.

Storybook Musical Theatre productions are appropriate for children age three and older. After each performance children will have an opportunity to meet the actors for handshakes, pictures, or an autograph.

For information, reservations, or directions call the box office at 215-659-8550 or check the Storybook Musical Theatre's website at www.storybookmusical.org.