Bergen County Players to Present RAPUNZEL, Beginning 11/24

Celebrating 80 years, the Bergen County Players (BCP) will present its annual children's show, David Crane and Marta Kauffman's (creators of the hit television show Friends) tongue-in-cheek retelling of the favorite fairytale, Rapunzel. Under the direction of Jerry Hurley, Rapunzel will be performed at the Little Firehouse Theatre in Oradell from November 24th through December 16th. Shows will be on Fridays at 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm and 3:30pm. Tickets may be purchased online at www.bcplayers.org, by calling 201-261-4200, or by visiting the box office at 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell during regular box office hours. Tickets are $13 for all performances.

Rapunzel has been performed in New York City and as a production of the professional children's theater touring company, TheatreWorksUSA. BCP is proud to announce that this version of Rapunzel is for the first time being produced in New Jersey. "This show has all of the hallmarks of great children's theater," says director Jerry Hurley, of Hackensack. "A witch, a heroic prince, magic, a beautiful girl, song and dance, shenanigans – and even a contemporary moral about parent-child relationships that will resonate with young audiences."

Hurley, a Life Member of BCP, is a veteran director of children's shows on the BCP stage, including Hansel & Gretel and Cinderella.

Rapunzel (Elizabeth Erdmann of Nutley), the girl with the longest hair in the world – "Braided or twisted or clipped or curled. My hair is my most favorite thing in the world" – is locked in a tower. Her possessive mother, who is really a Witch (Jill Eras of Wyckoff), promises to let her out into the world on her sixteenth birthday. The determined Prince Brian (Christian Spinella of Rutherford), who has an inferiority complex – he is only seventeen and has never slain a dragon or conquered an ogre or anything of that sort – tries to save Rapunzel. His loyal valet, Simon (James Dolan of Ramsey), has to keep the Witch occupied while Prince Brian is trying to rescue Rapunzel, but all sorts of tomfoolery occur. Come to the show to see how the Witch reacts…you just might be surprised! The cast is rounded out by Rob Kopil of Suffern as the bumbling King, Rosella DeVincenzo of Oradell as the Cobbler's Wife, and Edie Orlando of Hillsdale as the Narrator.

Production team members include Rhea Smith (Producer); Geri Berhain (Assistant to the Director , Stage Manager); Michael Smith (Set Design and Construction, Photography); Ray Poquette (Lighting Designer); Tim Larsen (Sound Designer); Cheryl Woertz (Music Director); Julie Steckler-Kopil (Light Operation); Gloria Bumbaco (Props and Crew); Pat Bain (Costumes); Lauren Zenreich (Décor); Jenna Stewart (Makeup); Neil Stewart (Crew); Leigh Adel-Arnold and Chris Nelson (Program & Bios); and Nancy Rollins (Publicity).

TICKET AND SCHEDULE INFORMATION:

All performances of Rapunzel take place at The Little Firehouse Theatre, 298 Kinderkamack Road in Oradell, home to the Bergen County Players since 1949. Performance times are Fridays at 8pm, and Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm & 3:30pm.

Tickets for Rapunzel are $13 for all performances, and can be purchased online at www.bcplayers.org, by calling 201-261-4200, or by visiting the box office during regular box office hours. Visa, MasterCard, and American Express cards accepted.

Those interested in group sales of 20 or more tickets may call 201-262-0515.