'Disenchanted' heads Off-Broadway after Tampa Bay previews

Michelle Knight in "Disenchanted"

   “Disenchanted" the hilarious and whimsically subversive musical that had preview runs in Sarasota and Tampa, is going to open Off-Broadway.
   Some local people will be involved in the show. Tampa’s Alison Burns will reprise her roles as Belle, the Little Mermaid and Rapunzel, and Michael Raabe, who’s best known for his work with St. Peterburg's freeFall Theatre, will be the musical director. Both Burns and Raabe worked in the “Disenchanted” production at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts earlier this year. The show had previously played at the old Golden Apple in Sarasota. Also heading to New York from the Tampa cast is Lulu Picart, who has appeared in lots of shows for freeFall and American Stage in St. Petersburg, and Michelle Knight.
   “Disenchanted!” is set for a nine-week run at the Theatre at St. Clement's, on 46th Street at Eight Avenue. Previews start Nov. 6 and opening night is Dec. 4.
   The show revolves around princesses from Disney movies – women such as Pocahontas, Mulan and Cinderella – who are angry about the way they’re portrayed on screen as weaklings who need to be saved by men.

Is 'Disenchanted' Broadway bound? Catch this must-see musical at the Golden Apple before it goes to the Big Apple

When “Disenchanted” had its full-length, Florida premiere at the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre in October, I called the Disney-dissing musical “a laugh-out-loud joy ride of bouncy melodies goosed with plenty of snark, wit and a cleverly delivered message of female empowerment."

‘Disenchanted’ is a must-see musical

In case you missed it, the show returns to Sarasota for a month-long run on Tuesday (Feb. 28).

That same day, Town Square Productions is offering an invitation to the investment of the off-Broadway production of "Disenchanted."

An informational get-together for potential investors will be held in Orlando, where the musical originated

The event will feature appearances by Don Frantz (executive producer), Laurie Brown (associate producer), Dennis Giacino (author/composer), Fiely Matias (director) "and a few surprise guests."

“We’re so excited we can’t contain ourselves,” Giacino said when I reached him by phone this afternoon at the Town Square Productions office in New York City.

‘Disenchanted’ gives princesses fresh voices

He added, “Golden Apple Dinner Theatre is the last company we will be licensing the show to until further notice as we seek out the off-Broadway production.”


Photo by PAUL VIDELA/pvidela@bradenton.com of Alex Torres, who plays Sleeping Beauty in the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre production of "Disenchanted."

For more info on attending the potential investors event in Orlando contact RSVP@TownSquareProd.com or visit the "Disenchanted" Facebook page.

Show details: Feb. 28-March 25, Golden Apple Dinner Theatre, 25 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. Tickets: $40 for dinner and show. Information: 941-366-5454 or www.thegoldenapple.com.

UPDATED 10/16: Disney dissing 'Disenchanted' at Golden Apple in Sarasota is a must-see musical

UPDATED 10/16: Read my review "‘Disenchanted’ is a must-see musical"

Jennifer Baker plays Snow White in the Golden Apple Dinner Theatre production of "Disenchanted." Photo by Paul Videla.

The Golden Apple Dinner Theatre's staging of "Disenchanted" is a laugh-out-loud joy goosed with plenty of snark, wit and a cleverly delivered message of female empowerment.
 
Created by former Walt Disney World Resort employees Dennis Giacino (book, music and lyrics) and Fiely Matias (additional lyrics), the show gives fun, hilarious voices to the princesses locked up in the Mouse House.

Smartly directed by Kyle Ennis Turoff, the Golden Apple production stars Jennifer Baker (Snow White), Mari Bryan (Cinderella) and Alex Torres (Sleeping Beauty).

“Disenchanted” also features Dianne Dawson (Belle), Jenn Abreu (Mulan), Aileen Suseck (Pocahontas), Hilary Kraus (Little Mermaid), Helen Holliday (Rapunzel), Ariel Blue (Frog Princess) and Roberta MacDonald (Secondary Princess/Princess Badroulbadour/Esmeralda/Bitter Pixie)

Each woman shines in her respective role and in MacDonald's case, multiple roles.

My full review of "Disenchanted" will run Sunday and can be found at http://www.bradenton.com/news/columnists/wade_tatangelo/

It will run in print on front of A&E.

Read my interview with Giacino, Matias, Turoff and cast members:

"‘Disenchanted’ gives princesses fresh voices"

"Disenchanted" runs through Oct. 23.