"Disenchanted! The Musical" presents modern day issues in "Spotz! on the Artist" show
"Poisoned apples. Glass slippers. Frog Princes. Who needs 'em?!"
Capital City Productions' "Disenchanted! The Musical" is a comedic retelling of classic storybook characters "that's anything but Grimm." Fairy tales' main heroines aren't happy with the way they've been portrayed in pop culture, so they're tossing tiaras aside and telling it like it is.
The show, which runs at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9-11 and also 1 p.m. Sept. 11 at 719 Wicker Lane, asks you to "forget the princesses you think you know" and come along as they set the record straight - from their perspective. Tickets cost $25 and can be purchased through the the CCP website.
Show director Natalie Eickhoff said the show deals with "the princess complex," which is the idea popular in Grimm tales that paints female characters with a surface-level brush.
"It's this old notion in fairy tales that women are only valuable if they're desirable, ditzy, insecure and sit around waiting for the prince to come," Eickhoff said. "The play is all about being strong and perfectly you, while accepting others in their uniqueness - that ends up being what 'happily ever after' is all about."
The Vaudeville-style show is made up of an all-female cast, hosted by 10 princesses - Snow White, Pocahontas, Sleeping Beauty and Hua Mulan to name a few - who bring vignettes to each character as they explore deep topics through comedic numbers.
Eickhoff said when she was given the show a year ago, she started contacting the strong female leads she knows. Snow White, played by Jordyn Schnieders, was an immediate pick for her after listening to one of Snow White's numbers.
"The first high note Snow White hits, I thought 'Oh my gosh, that's Jordyn,'" Eickhoff said. "I called her and said 'Clear your schedule, you have to be a part of this show.' That goes with all the members of the cast; I really took my time researching."
"Disenchanted! The Musical" is CCP's fifth show in its "Spotz! on the Artist" series, which brings smaller shows to the theater in between its big mainstage productions. This show has already received some recognition, acclaimed with an "Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical" nomination from Outer Critics Circle Awards and a "Best New Off-Broadway Musical" nomination from Off Broadway Alliance.
Eickhoff said despite the smaller cast, the strong female leads bring power to their roles.
"It's filled with empowered, funny, talented women. We've kind of built a sorority of sisterhood through this process," she said. "We all get along really well and work well together, and empower each other."
The show stands out thanks to its underlying messages that when discussed in a comedy can be talked about more openly "while giving you a six pack because you're laughing so much," Eickhoff said.
While the cast is belting to "All I Want To Do is Eat," for example, they're talking about the unattainable body image among princesses. Eating disorders, body positivity, racism and misogyny are also prevalent topics in the show, she said.
"It is a comedy, so we poke fun at certain topics, but there are some important topics the audience will take away," Eickhoff said. "We're living in a time where body positivity is huge, and that's one of the underlying themes: loving yourself the way you are, knowing you're perfect the way you are. That's a pretty important theme throughout the show."
Paper tickets will be available at the theater, and tables and seats will be assigned by the patron at the time of purchase. The show contains adult language and content, so viewer discretion is advised. Guests are welcome to bring their own snacks and alcoholic beverages. Snacks are also available at CCP's concession stand - they promise no poisoned apples.