Neighbor News
Bethel Residents Featured in Musicals at Richter's Fairy Tale Theater Series July 12- August 2
Hour-long, interactive performances by young people for young people feature audience participation and show-related craft activity
Musicals at Richter (MAR) begins its 24th season of Fairy Tale Theater, a play series by and for young people, on Saturday, July 12 on the grounds of Richter Arts Center, 100 Aunt Hack Road, in Danbury.
The four-week series of shows includes: “Cinderella and The Little Match Girl”’ (July 12); “Hansel and Gretel” and “The Tencas and the Snowbank” (July 19); “The Clever Girl” and “The Sages of Chelm and the Journey to the Moon” (July 26); and “The Wizard of Oz” (August 2).
Robert Mayette of Ridgefield adapts and directs these classic tales, performed by an ensemble of young area actors. The hour-long, interactive performances include plenty of audience participation, a show-related craft activity, birthday recognitions and a visit with narrator and troubadour Alan-a-Dale, played by Mayette.
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Director Mayette explains: "We've got an especially exciting season planned! We're bringing new life to classic stories such as ‘Cinderella,’ ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ ‘Hansel and Gretel’ and ‘The Little Match Girl.’ Alongside them are less well-known but powerful tales from Chile (‘The Tencas and the Snowbank’), Eastern European Hebrew folklore (‘The Sages of Chelm’), and Arabia (‘The Clever Girl’). Every story we re-enact has engaging lessons and interactive moments for children (and a dash or two of humor for the adults). All plays were written exclusively for this season and are world premieres. I hope everyone gets their summer Saturdays started off right and comes to join us!"
The 2025 Fairy Tale Theater company of young actors includes Jacquelynn Matchen and Rachelle Matchen (Bethel); Liberty Cummings, Kalel Cummings-DaSilva, Lilly Dos Santos, Lucy Morelli, Jerry Norton, Ryann Palmer, Brisa Pierce, Vica Pierce and Lily Smith (Danbury); Lucy Palinkas (New Fairfield); Liam Fox (Newtown); Braedan Athans (Oxford); Charlotte Chambers, Katherine Hadermayer, Charlotte Mayette, Emily Mayette and Sloane Schmiedel (Ridgefield).
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Grounds open at 10:30 a.m. for the craft activity, with the show at 11 a.m. Bring blankets or chairs for seating on the lawn, along with sunscreen; the performance will move indoors in the case of inclement weather.
Tickets are $5 each and may be purchased at the door. A small snack and drink concession is available. For further information, visit the website at musicalsatrichter.org, leave a message at 203-748-6873 or e-mail info@musicalsatrichter.org.
