TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, is thrilled to announce the return of its favorite pop-rock group, GrooveLily. The authors of TheatreWorks' sensational hit shows STRIKING 12 and LONG STORY SHORT are returning to the Lucie Stern Theatre on Friday, January 8, to perform a benefit concert of their latest album, SLEEPING BEAUTY WAKES, a fractured fairytale. Band members Brendan Milburn, Valerie Vigoda, and Gene Lewin give this classic children's story an exciting and decidedly modern twist when, after her centuries long snooze, Beauty wakes to find herself far from her magic kingdom, in a contemporary sleep disorder clinic where all the princes seem to have disappeared. V.I.P. tickets, which include a pre-show dinner reception with GrooveLily, center orchestra seats, and a copy of the hit album, are $225. Performance-only tickets are available for $75. All audience members are invited to attend a post-show champagne reception with the band. Proceeds will directly benefit TheatreWorks' education and outreach programs. For more information, please call (650) 463-1960 or visit www.theatreworks.org.
SLEEPING BEAUTY WAKES began as a commission from Deaf West Theatre, who after seeing STRIKING 12, asked GrooveLily composers Brendan Milburn and Valerie Vigoda to create another musical fairytale that could be performed with a company of both deaf and hearing actors, but without focusing on issues of deafness. Intrigued by the idea, Milburn and Vigoda proposed the story of "Sleeping Beauty" set in a sleep disorder clinic, not only unraveling the plight of the dislocated princess trying to find her way in a world of malls and clinics, but exploring the concept of what it means to break out of sleep, and live awake in the world. The story was especially significant for Milburn and Vigoda, who were new parents at the time, and could relate to the plight of the king and queen, who go to extreme, ridiculous, and ultimately futile lengths to keep their daughter safe. SLEEPING BEAUTY WAKES premiered in 2007 as a co-production with Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, and included Milburn and Vigoda signing, singing, acting, and playing instruments onstage with the rest of the cast.Videos