Photos: First Look at New Family Musical Hans Christian Andersen's THE SHADOW!

Los Angeles based Dance/Theater company, Mixed eMotion Theatrix has announced the first look at a fully staged developmental production of a brand-new musical, the two-time Jim Henson Foundation grant awardee, Hans Christian Andersen’s THE SHADOW, based on “The Shadow” by Hans Christian Andersen. Check out the photos! 

Inspired by the classic tale, Hans Christian Andersen’s THE SHADOW is a developmental workshop production of an inventive new musical about an awkward, struggling writer whose longing for inspiration takes an unexpected turn when his shadow magically sets out to explore the world on his own.  Secretly observing humanity from afar, “The Shadow” becomes captivated by the allure of power, status and manipulation.  Determined to become a “real man,” he crafts a clever deception that sweeps himself and the Man into the path of a rebellious Princess longing for her own freedom.  But as ambition turns into betrayal, a dark conflict threatens to shatter all of their dreams.

Where Andersen’s original story ends in tragedy, this fairytale is only beginning.  Driven onto an extraordinary voyage filled with high-seas danger, fantastical sea creatures and mythical monsters, the unlikely trio is forced to confront their deepest flaws and question what it truly means to be human. Told entirely through music, lyric, movement, puppetry and projection, Hans Christian Andersen’s The Shadow is an uplifting new musical for the whole family about identity, redemption and the transformative power of choosing light over darkness.

Janet Roston (Director/Choreographer/Book) is an award-winning Director/Choreographer working in theater, concert dance, and many forms of media. She was the Director/Choreographer and Co-Creator of Anaïs Nin: Unbound, which tells the story of famed diarist, Anaïs Nin, a MeMT production. The production premiered at the Greenway Court Theatre, other performances include the New Vic in Santa Barbara and the Musco Center for the Arts, Chapman University. It was part of the Festival Off d’Avignon in France and opened the International Theater Festival in Casablanca, Morocco as well as performing in Paris at La Nouvelle Eve in March 2018.

Thc Cast of Hans Christian Andersen’s THE SHADOW will feature: Kenneth Mosley as “The Shadow,” Madison Grepo as “The Princess/Captain,” Christin Byrdsong as “The Spirit of Light,” and Nick Abbott as “The Man.” The Ensemble will feature (in alphabetical order): Kira Bartholomew, Jacob Byrd, Danny Castro, Sinon Lathrop, Steph Mizrahi, Annabel Phinney, Dusty Roberts, Dave Roston, and Brayden Lee Tucker, The Swings are Jaylen Baham and Audrey Lyn Crabaño.

The Design Team will feature:  Scenic Design by Nichols Ponting; Lighting Design by Hayden Kirschbaum; Costume Design by Lena Sands; Sound Design by Cricket S. Myers; Projections Design by Joe LaRue; Properties Design by Nicole Bernardini; the 3D Mapping Consultant is David Murakami. The Production Stage Manager is Kimberly Sanchez-Garrido. The Producers are Ryan Bergmann and Christopher Sepulveda.

Hans Christian Andersen’s THE SHADOW will perform Saturday, August 22 & Sunday, August 23 at 2:00 pm at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada. Tickets are Free and available at lamiradatheatre.com.

Photo Credit: Barry Weiss