© UC Santa Cruz
Maintained by widener@ucsc.edu

Shakespeare Santa Cruz presents world premiere of Sleeping Beauty

Shakespeare Santa Cruz celebrated the holiday season with the world premiere of the dazzling musical version of Sleeping Beauty, which ran through December 17, at the UCSC Theater Arts Mainstage.

Micheal Beatty as Prince Revoir and Jasmine Tommaso as Beauty in SSC's 2006 production of Sleeping Beauty. Photo: Steve DiBartolomeo

Blending English pantomime with the American musical, creators Kate Hawley and Paul Whitworth have transformed the classic fairy tale into an exuberant and imaginative romp for the stage—designed to appeal to audiences of all ages.

The premiere earned praise from Shakespeare Santa Cruz’s faithful audiences, first-timers and the press. “If you haven't yet made the SSC winter fairy tale "panto" part of your holiday tradition, this is the year to begin,” a Santa Cruz Sentinel reviewer wrote. “Sleeping Beauty will charm and delight your whole family.”

Set in Freudian Vienna, Shakespeare Santa Cruz’s Sleeping Beauty is a sharp-witted comedy about a bratty teenage princess, bored with the confines of castle life, who fantasizes about the dangerous lives of fairy tale heroines. Despite the best efforts of her overbearing parents to protect her, the princess pricks herself—fulfilling the curse of a wicked fairy—and falls into a deep sleep of dreams.

The show was written by playwright and lyricist Hawley—who also penned Shakespeare Santa Cruz’s popular past productions of Cinderella, Gretel and Hansel, and Princess and the Pea—with artistic director Paul Whitworth in the director’s chair.

The production starred Joseph Ribeiro as the wicked fairy, Belladona, plus festival favorite Mike Ryan played a jack-of-all-trades bellhop named Jeepers. Michele Farr played the imperious queen. In honor of Shakespeare Santa Cruz's 25th anniversary, a number of other characters from past holiday shows were also featured. Costumes were by B. Modern, music by Adam Wernick, choreography by Terry Barto, and sets by Jedediah Ike.

Sleeping Beauty was produced in collaboration with UCSC’s Theater Arts Department. "This production included one of the most talented companies of student actors in our 10 years of producing these holiday shows," noted Shakespeare Santa Cruz managing director Marcus Cato. "It’s really a wonderful educational experience for the students to work alongside seasoned professionals and be part of the creation of a world premiere.”