WORLD PREMIERE!
By Kathryn Petersen
Music & lyrics by Michael Ogborn
Directed by Pete Pryor
Main Stage
Cinderella's Dame crashed the NBC 10! Show:
It's the land of lavish celebrations, fountains of bubbly, trays of canapes, designer shoes and outrageous costumes. There's Cinderella, of course, a lonely prince, maybe a mouse or two, vain socialite stepsisters and a plus-size fairy-godmother whose work is never done. You never know what will rise from the ashes when you bring the whole family to enjoy Cinderella in a whole new way! Our holiday Panto returns for the 5th straight year, complete with festive music and silly songs, cheers for the heroes, jeers for the villains and a powder-puff fight to rival no other! Our own Mark Lazar is the fairy-godmother, looking marvelous in black. Best appreciated by ages 5 and up.
For ages 5 to 105, our annual panto is a big explosion of hilarity!
Mrs. Hazel Opfinder (The Dame): Mark Lazar*
Mr. Oliver Opfinder (Father): Tom Teti*
Ms. Eleanor Opfinder (Cinderella): Kim Carson*
Baroness Lucretia Loosestrife (Step Mother): Kimberly Rehfuss*
Invasia Loosestrife: Erin Weaver*
Poisianna Loosestrife: Susan McKey*
Prince Aiden of Sargasso: Jeffrey Coon*
Barnaby, The Valet: Christopher Patrick Mullen*
Rat: Chris Faith*
Squirrel: Elena Bossler
Tom Cat: Andrew Kane
Flea (Child): Maggie Fitzgerald
Director: Pete Pryor
Set Designer: James F. Pyne, Jr.
Costume Designer: Rosemarie E. McKelvey
Lighting Designer: Paul Hackenmueller
Original Music & Lyricse: Michael Osborn
Assistant Director/Choreographer: Samantha Bellomo
Sound Design: Charles T. Brastow*
Dramaturg: Elizabeth Pool
Music Director: David Ames
Stage Manager: Kate McSorley*
* Member, Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 16, 2008
PEOPLE'S LIGHT & THEATRE COMPANY
PRESENTS:
CINDERELLA
November 19, 2008 - January 4, 2009
(Malvern, PA) - People's Light & Theatre Company presents CINDERELLA, by Kathryn Petersen, with music and lyrics written by Michael Ogborn, from November 19, 2008 - January 4, 2009 on the Main Stage. Pete Pryor directs. People's Light & Theatre is located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern. For tickets call 610.644.3500 or visit www.peopleslight.org. ING is the show's corporate sponsor and TARGET is the Family Discovery Series sponsor.
Dramaturg Lee Devin says, "Pantos are exuberantly larger than life. They use familiar stories to form the basis for exaggeration, variation and topical social commentary, as well as outrageous jokes and rollicking songs and dances."
This is People's Light's fifth "Panto" style show, a tradition borrowed from England, where almost every town has a Panto during the holiday season. Pantos are a mix between a "fractured fairy tale" and a variety show.
CINDERELLA incorporates traditional Panto standards, including audience participation (in the form of cheering the heroes and booing the villains), candy passed out to audience members, and a "silly song" that inspires an audience sing-along.
"With our holiday Panto," adds Artistic Director Abigail Adams, "we've developed a tradition that both we and our audiences love. All ages get a kick out of it. Just like the best plays for all ages, there is something for everybody."
Some regular Panto cast members return this year in key roles. Erin Weaver and company member Susan McKey are the evil stepsisters, Tom Teti plays the father, Christopher Patrick Mullen is the prince's valet, and Mark Lazar is the "Grand Dame" in the role of the fairy godmother. Michael Ogborn returns as composer and lyricist and has written nine original songs.
After appearing in last year's Panto TREASURE ISLAND, Pete Pryor returns to make his directorial debut at People's Light & Theatre Company.
CINDERELLA previews on Wednesday, November 19th and Thursday, November 20th at 7pm. The show opens on Saturday, November 22nd at 7pm and runs through January 4th. Tickets are now on sale and cost $29 - $48, with special discounts available for students, seniors, and groups of 10 or more. Audiences are encouraged to join the artists after each Thursday night performance to discuss the production.
Subscriptions to the 2008-2009 Season are still available at a significant savings! See five shows for as little as $110 or choose just four shows for as little as $92. Shows include: Cinderella (November 19, 2008 - January 4, 2009); The Day of the Picnic (January 28 - February 22, 2009); A Tale of Two Cities (March 11 - May 3, 2009); Doubt: A Parable (June 3 - 28, 2009); and End Days (July 8 - August 2, 2009). For information, tickets, and subscriptions, please call the box office at 610-644-3500 or visit www.peopleslight.org.
Subscriptions to the TARGET Family Discovery Series are still available. Subscriptions for children ages 17 and under are $50 or $56--a savings of up to 34% off single ticket prices! The three-show subscription includes: Cinderella (November 19, 2008 - January 4, 2009); A Tale of Two Cities (March 11 - May 3, 2009); and Eggs (April 23 - May 24, 2009).
Special performances and discounts, in addition to discount meal packages and talk-backs with the artists are available for groups of 10 or more. For more information or to purchase group tickets, call 610.647.1900, ext. 134 or email group@peopleslight.org.
KEY BIOS
Kathryn Petersen (Playwright) is an Artistic Associate at People's Light and a member of the resident acting company. She has appeared in over sixty productions regionally, most recently appearing in Kid Simple with Azuka Theatre and The Tempest at Arcadia Stage. Kathryn is also a produced and published playwright. People's Light has produced several of her plays; most recently Arthur's Stone, Merlin's Fire--The Making of a King (2003) and then three Pantos, Jack & the Beanstalk (2005), Robin Hood (2006) and Treasure Island (2007). Kathryn is an Assistant Professor of Theater at Arcadia University and is currently pursuing an MFA in Playwriting at Temple University.
Michael Ogborn (Composer) was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, and currently makes his home in New York City. A graduate of DeSales University, he made his Off-Broadway debut in 1993 with the critically-acclaimed musical revue Box Office of the Damned, featuring then "newcomer" Kristen Chenoweth. His work has been produced at the Arden Theatre Company (Baby Case – winner of four Barrymore Awards including Outstanding Music and Best Musical of the Year - and Cafe Puttanesca), The Wilma Theater, and 1812 Productions in Philadelphia; The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.; the City Theatre in Pittsburgh, PA; the Horizon Theater in Atlanta, GA; the Diversionary Theater in San Diego, CA; Theater LaB in Houston, TX; and Radio City Music Hall in New York, NY. As a "Piano Man" he received Philadelphia Magazine's 1992 Best of Philly Award for a Cabaret Performer, a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award in 1993 for the PBS music video Soldiers in the Sky, and in 2003 the Harrington Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement given by BMI Musical Theater Workshop. He is currently at work with playwright Michael Hollinger on the musical Tulipomania, commissioned by the Arden Theatre Company. Another project in the works includes A Tour of the Ruins. Mr. Ogborn is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild Inc., the BMI Musical Theater Workshop, and the owner of Leydensong Music Co. Other produced works include Fishwives ('81), Earbeds ('83), The Vagabond Age ('84), Oh, Antigone! ('86), Pinocchio: A Real Boy ('87), C'est la Guerre! ('89), Ozone-a-thon ('96), Regalia ('97), Jungle Book ('00), Mary, Don't Ask! (''03) and The USED faces of 2004.
Pete Pryor (Director) is returning to People's Light & Theatre where he performed the role of Captain Smilenot in last year's Treasure Island. This tenth collaboration at PLTC marks his debut as a director for this company. Pete is the Co-Founder of 1812 Productions, for whom he directed the Barrymore-nominated Recent Tragic Events and The Four of Us. He is the recipient of two Barrymore awards and two Independence Foundation Fellowships. Some regional credits include: Lantern Theatre Company (Othello, Richard III); Arden (BFG); Wilma (Pillowman, Road); Theatre Exile (Rounding Third and Full Figured); Azuka (The Boys); Delaware Theatre Company (ART); Philadelphia Theatre Company (Sylvia) and PLTC (Treasure Island, Humble Boy, The Foreigner). International credits include: O'Casey Theatre Company of Northern Ireland (The Plough and the Stars). Film and television: Lebanon, The Cellar, Felix Melman, Surrender Dorothy, The In Crowd, Hack and The Starship Akuno. Last May he completed a development workshop of his first play, Beautiful Boy. He is the Artist-in-Residence at The Pathway School.
Click here to listen to a podcast interview with Pete Pryor, director of Cinderella.
Pete Pryor
Director
Pete Pryor is delighted to return to People's Light & Theatre where he performed the role of Captain Smilenot in last year's Treasure Island. This tenth collaboration at PLTC marks his debut as a director for this company. Pete is the Co-Founder of 1812 Productions, for which he directed the Barrymore-nominated Recent Tragic Events and The Four of Us. He is the recipient of two Barrymore awards and two Independence Foundation Fellowships. Some regional credits include: Lantern Theatre Company (Othello, Richard III); Arden (BFG); Wilma (Pillowman, Road); Theatre Exile (Rounding Third and Full Figured); Azuka (The Boys); Delaware Theatre Company (ART); Philadelphia Theatre Company (Sylvia) and PLTC (Treasure Island, Humble Boy, The Foreigner). International credits include: O'Casey Theatre Company of Northern Ireland (The Plough and the Stars). Film and television: Lebanon, The Cellar, Felix Melman, Surrender Dorothy, The In Crowd, Hack and The Starship Akuno. Last May he completed a development workshop of his first play, Beautiful Boy. He is the Artist-in-Residence at The Pathway School.
"A Cinderella with a Twist" by Linda Dormont, Main Line Times
"A Practically Perfect Cinderella" by Wendy Rosenfield, The Philadelphia Inquirer
"Cinderella in Fun Holiday Panto Style" by Margie Royal, CountryPressOnline.com
"If the Shoe Fits", AroundMainLine.com
"...all should be won over by this Jazz Age deviation from the panto norm. It's really the bee's knees."
The Philadelphia Inquirer
"As the Gershwins once put it, 'Who could ask for anything more?'"
Main Line Ticket
"This is an absolute delight for any age."
Chadds Ford Post
"...don't think this is typical 'children's theatre' - there is a bit of something for everyone in all the silliness on stage."
County Press Online
"Fun Cinderella Facts"
by Sara Waxman, Education Coordinator
"Slapstick in the Panto"
by Nancy Shaw, Director of Education
Congratulations to Kara Gannon, who won 4 tickets to see Cinderella and tea with Cinderella!
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