Storybook Musical Theatre to Stage PRINCESS & THE PEA Throughout Pennsylvania

Storybook Musical Theatre, the Abington, PA-based professional Equity children's theatre company, just north of Philadelphia, 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 family musical first plays at the Klein JCC Theater, 10100 Jamison Ave. in Philadelphia from November 23 to December 1, then at the Gratz College Theater from December 23 to December 30. It concludes it run at St. Joseph's University from January 14 to18. Tickets are $12 for children and $14 for adults. For reservations or more information call: 215-659-8550 or www.storybookmusical.org.

Storybook's Artistic Director, Patricia Goldberg with original music by composer, Kevin Arruda, adapted this popular fairy tale.

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. That is when, in the middle of the night, a disheveled girl 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, Georgiana, but the Queen has her doubts that she is a real princess. She devises a test to prove her princesshood by placing a small pea under twenty mattresses. If Georgiana cannot sleep through the night, then she will pass and can marry the Prince. Will Georgiana pass, even after the Queen slips her a sleeping potion?

Storybook has gathered five talented, local professional actors for their cast:

Playing the role of the lonely prince is Brian Bateman, of Philadelphia. He is making his Storybook. Regional credits: Carousel, Oklahoma and Oliver at Bucks County Playhouse, The Complete Works...Shakespeare (Abridged) for Marathon Theater Collective at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Educational Credits at Boston Conservatory: Tommy, Sylvia, A New Brain, Sweeney Todd, Falsettos and Strike Up the Band. He is a recent Musical Theater graduate of the Boston Conservatory.

Emily Cheney, of Columbus, New Jersey, plays the hopeful bride-to-be, Georgiana. She was last seen as Rowena in Storybook's Rumpelstiltskin. Other Storybook credits included: Beauty and the Beast, Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty. Regional credits: Love's Labour's Lost for Tudor Theatrical Productions, He & She and Berkeley Square for East Lynne Theatre Company, Twelfth Night and Much Ado About Nothing for Delaware Shakespeare Festival, A Christmas Carol at the Walnut St. Theater, Beauty and the Beast and Jesus Christ Superstar at the New Candlelight Dinner theater.

Elizabeth Ann Corkum, of New York, N.Y. plays the sometimes annoying Princess Jerseylee. Elizabeth made her Storybook debut playing the same role in our 2008 version of the show. Regional credits: The Producers, Seven Brides..., Disney's Geppetto and Son at Barn Theater, Judy Norton & Friends, Thanks for the Memories at Granbury Opera House, The Christmas Carols at Galveston Island Musicals. Elizabeth has done stunts on Rescue Me and supporting roles in the films The Sorcerer's Apprentice, The Smurf Movie and Office Romance. In addition, she is model, an avid runner, marathoner and fitness trainer.

Storybook veteran, Maryann Bucci, or Yardley, PA, plays the conniving Queen. Storybook credits: the Mother in Hansel and Gretel, Madeline in Emperor's New Clothes, the Stepmother in Cinderella, the Mother in Rapunzel and the Grandmother in Little Red Riding Hood, which she will be recreating later this season. In Addition, Maryann is an accomplished opera singer and has appeared with Opera Philadelphia and has been seen in numerous films and commercials.

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." Reim last appeared on Storybook's stage in the role of the Father in Hansel and Gretel. Other Storybook acting credits include: Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, Wizard of Oz, Rumpelstiltskin and Aladdin. In addition, Reim has composed many Storybook shows including Puss 'n Boots, Elves and the Shoemaker, The Frog Prince, Alice in Wonderland and our new show this season, Adventures in Toyland. Jeff is also a director and set designer for a number of local theater companies.

Children's tickets are $12.00; Adults are $14.00 with generous school/group discounts available.
Photo by Mike Levin

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