The Rep’s ITC Presents The Elves and the Shoemaker

The Imaginary Theatre Company, the young audiences touring ensemble of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, will present its own original version of The Elves and the Shoemaker this holiday season. Adapted by playwright Sarah Brandt and composer NeAl Richardson, the performance is a musical that combines the magic of the well-known tale by The Brothers Grimm with a fresh new score to create a brand-new 45-minute performance suitable for all ages.

The Rep’s Imaginary Theatre Company, supported by a $25,000 grant from Brown Shoe Company and a $25,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund, will present The Elves and the Shoemaker on Dec. 17, 21, 22 and 23, at 11 a.m., including 3 p.m. performances on the 17 and 23, at the Heagney Theatre on the campus of Nerinx Hall High School, 530 East Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves. Tickets are $6.

"The Rep is honored to team up with Brown Shoe Company and the Monsanto Fund," said Steve Woolf, artistic director of The Rep. "We are thrilled that we can share our production of The Elves and the Shoemaker with more audiences because of receiving this funding."

The Rep’s Imaginary Theatre Company series includes three productions performed at schools, libraries and community centers throughout the St. Louis area October through April. The series introduces live theatre to children through the use of literature, folk tales, fairy tales and new adaptations of classic works and also includes special public performances.

"In our business, designing great shoes that our customers love is dependent on creativity and inspiration," said Brown Shoe spokesperson, Marie Finnegan. "Brown Shoe Company is proud to support The Rep’s Imaginary Theatre Company because we believe that exposing local youth to the power of the arts expands their imaginations and inspires originality."

"The Monsanto Fund is proud to support The Rep’s Imaginary Theatre Company and its pursuit to expose young people in our community to live theatre," said Deborah Patterson, president, the Monsanto Fund. "Experiencing these high-quality live performances, like The Elves and the Shoemaker, inspires children to expand and apply their own creativity."

The cast of The Elves and the Shoemaker is Lakeetha Blakeney as Townsperson and Betty; Alan Knoll as Townsperson, Elf, Cook and Dancer; Jerome Lowe as Shoemaker; and Cara Myler as Townsperson, Beggar Woman, Elf, Dancer and Queen.

The creative staff also includes Bruce Longworth, Director; Scott Loebl, scenic designer; Dorothy Marshall Englis, costume designer; Ellen Isom, choreographer; and Danny Maly, stage manager.

For more information about The Rep’s production of The Elves and the Shoemaker, including a guide introducing the characters, plot and background on the play; photos related to the production; and to purchase tickets, visit The Rep’s comprehensive public website at http://www.repstl.org or call the Box Office at (314) 968-4925.