A fairy tale fit for 2021 is coming to mirrors -- er, screens -- in April.
The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas' first theatrical production of the year, "Mirror, Mirror on The Wall -- A Virtual Fractured Fairy Tale," will stream at 7 p.m. April 1–4. Tickets are $7 for ASC members and $10 for nonmembers. Ticket buyers will receive a video link and viewing instructions before showtime.
"Mirror, Mirror on The Wall -- A Virtual Fractured Fairy Tale," is written by Brian D. Taylor and sponsored by Relyance Bank.
The show consists of a large cast of young performers and is inspired by classic fairy tales.
"Mirror, Mirror" begins with the Evil Queen (played by Lily Jennings) who wishes to be fairest of them all. When her Magic Mirror (Lanie Lopez, in her ASC debut) informs her that runaway Snow White (Grace Morara) is the most fair, the queen is livid. She summons great magic in hopes of finding Snow White and can now see out of all mirrors throughout the kingdom. But there's a catch: The magic also allows everyone else's mirrors to show their deepest desires.
The rest of the colorful characters and cast are Cinderella (Zoey Newcomb); Cinderella's stepmother Stoatia (Aubree Wright) and stepsisters Ermine (Chloe Hargis) and Weasetta (Addilyn Hopkins); Prince Impeccable (Briar Thompson); Prince Charming (Matthew Nguyen); Prince Dashing (Travar Ambler); Rapunzel (Madelyn Thompson); Beauty (Anna Grace Bailey); Beast (Dorian Hunter); Rumpelstiltskin (Myra Corpulis); Gretel (Rory Lake); the Fairy Godmother (Layla Hoskins); the Seven Dwarfs -- Pigsty (Aaron Huckeba), Blingy (Violet Jennings), Bouncy (Adalyn Puthoff), Glammy (Cali Reed), Sluggy (Riley Scholes), Stinky (Bailey Phillips) and Speedy (Anniston Wright); Weasetta (Addilyn Hopkins); Gasdumb (Keiren Minter); Jack (Casey Reed); Jack's Mother (Violet Myers); Butterscotch (Tenley Rodriguez); Royal Maestro (Anna Grace Stephens); Miller's Daughter (Kennedy Thompson); Gretel's Father (Will Witt); and Crying Baby (Emery Commerford, the youngest cast member, at 7 months old).
The characters can communicate with each other through their mirrors, much like Facetime.
"It's a lot of fun, and it's a really super cute take on a fairy tale," said Lindsey Collins, ASC's theater education coordinator and the production's editor. "It's definitely sticking with the current times."
To adhere to social distancing protocols, the actors come to ASC at separate scheduled times and are filmed individually. The performances are edited together, similar to a movie.
"This is the most diverse cast we have had in a long time, and a lot of these kids are making their ASC debut," said Kayla Lake, director of "Mirror, Mirror."
Lake of White Hall is a longtime ASC theater volunteer. Previous directing credits include the Grant County Community Theater's debut show "Peter Pan" in 2019 and "Simply Cinderella," "Magically Musical," and "The Fairy Tale Network" at the Cleveland County Community Theater.
"I'm passionate about children's theater because I have witnessed firsthand all of the amazing benefits: the unbreakable bonds, the sense of accomplishment, the boost of confidence, the skills acquired and so many other things," Lake said. "I love the feeling of being able to give even just a little bit of what I have received back to the next generation, and I'm forever grateful to ASC for giving me so many opportunities to do so."
Collins said that ASC plans a return to in-person performances for the rest of the season, which resumes in August with "9 to 5 The Musical."
"We will adhere to the Arkansas Department of Health capacity restrictions at the time of each production, and current capacity restrictions will drive ticket sales. As this is an ever-changing situation, ASC will alert patrons to the current protocol in place at the time of their ticket purchase, and notifications will be made to ticket holders should any changes in guidelines occur prior to a production," she said.
Masks will be required for all attendees.
The rest of the season includes ASC's biennial variety show "Razzle Dazzle," "The Miracle Worker," "Macbeth" and the double feature "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "A Seussified Christmas Carol."
Three of the productions will be held in the Adam B. Robinson Jr. Black Box Theater in ASC's new facility, The ARTworks on Main.
To purchase "Mirror, Mirror" or season tickets, visit asc701.org or call (870) 536-3375.