An upcoming production at the Scera theater in Orem mixes the combines elements from the traditional Brothers Grimm fairytale with variations from the popular Disney animated film “Tangled” for a colorful and humorous performance appropriate for all ages.
The talented cast at the Scera Theater in Orem will begin performances of “Rapunzel: A Very Hairy Fairy Tale” on Monday, Feb. 18, at 7:00 p.m. Performances run every Monday and Friday night through March 8.
The production is presented by Scera’s Theater for Young Audiences, which targets its performances toward younger audiences with hour-long performances based on popular children’s tales.
Scera President and CEO Adam Robertson said he thinks the productions are a great way for kids to experience theater for the first time.
“It’s so neat to see kids experience the magic of live theater, many for the first time,” Robertson said in a press release.
The production tells the story of Rapunzel, who teams up with the handsome knight Roderick and some other unlikely friends to defeat the evil Lady Zaza. Although the production is tailored for younger audiences, Chase Ramsey, the director of the production, said the production is as much for college students as for young kids.
“The cast I have focused, as storytellers, to allow for this very wacky story to be as honest as possible while still maintaining the goofy intention of the script as well,” Ramsey said.
The story combines elements of the traditional fairytale, yet includes features from Disney’s popular adaptation, “Tangled.” Ramsey said the the end product is an interesting collaboration between the bright elements from Disney’s “Tangled” and the darker fundamentals the Grimm Brothers included.
“We wanted to take the elements that you see in the story of Disney’s ‘Tangled’ and mix them with an idea of The Grimm Brothers ideals,” Ramsey said.
The production employs set to portray the contrasting bright happy aspects and darker elements.
“We do this in elements of the set, such as the dark forest and distant tower, compared to the glamorous kingdom,” Ramsey said.
Nat Reed, the technical director for the production, designed both the set and a 20-foot dragon. Reed said that the production uses aspects of the original fairytale with happier twists, to create a fun and energetic experience for all ages.
“I know this is aimed towards younger audiences, but why might an older set enjoy the production as well? It’s funny,” Reed said. “There is humor that works for kids and adults as well. It is not a dumbed-down version for kids.”
For more information about the performances, call 801.225.ARTS. Tickets are $6 for adults and may be purchased online at www.scera.org.
