Oglebay Institute’s Towngate Theatre continues its children’s theater season with a production of “Law and Order: Fairy Tale Unit,” playwright Jonathan Rand’s hilarious parody of the popular TV series.
The show will be staged at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1; 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3.
Tim Thompson, Oglebay Institute’s director of performing arts, has assembled a cast of 30 talented young actors from throughout the Ohio Valley.
Set up like a TV episode of “Law and Order,” the play’s opening statement tips what the evening is going to be about:
“In the fairy tale criminal justice system, the characters from fairy tales and nursery rhymes are represented by two separate yet equally ridiculous groups: the fairy tale police who investigate fairy tale crime and the fairy tale district attorneys who prosecute the fairy tale offenders. These are their stories.”
“I love this play. It’s hilarious,” Thompson said. “It combines the conventions of the ‘Law and Order’ series with twisted situations based on children’s stories. Almost every fairy tale character you can think of is represented — Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother, the Three Little Pigs, the Seven Dwarfs, Rumpelstiltskin, the Big Bad Wolf, Pinocchio and many others.
“The show is full of pop culture jokes that will resonate with the adults in the audience. It is the type of comedy that will be enjoyed by all ages,” he added.
In addition to the entertainment factor, Thompson said the show is a learning opportunity for both actors and audiences alike.
“Theater connects children to the importance of reading and teaches skills such as empathy, creative problem solving, critical thinking and teamwork,” he said. “Our actors learn the importance of commitment and motivation, how to work cooperatively with different personality types. They gain confidence, too.”
In today’s digital world, Thompson said, it is even more important to connect with human beings in person rather than just on screens.
“Kids watch the actors working together onstage. They see that real people are behind entertainment and realize performers are not just images on TV or computer screens.
“Theater helps kids develop mentally, socially and emotionally, and they have a tremendous amount of fun along the way.”
Cast members are: Jonah Hardway, Gabriel Alig, Alex Fabrizio, Griffin Harder, Eilidh Cowen, Jean Kalb, Patrick Ingold, Taylor Andrews, Will Medovic, Savannah Springer, Emily Blatt, Audrey Kenamond, Grant Kenamond, Isaac Martin, Keaira Merchant, Chloe Humway, Josie Figaretti, Patricia Jeffers, Grace Mull, Maliah Miskiewicz, Madeline Bradshaw, Jana Lu Schodzinski, Deuce Figaretti, Flannery Muscar, Cole Tarrant, Rylin Russell, Elaina Pusz, May Devine, Arabella Ross and Lily Ulrich.
Tickets for “Law and Order: Fairy Tale Unit” are $12.50 for adults and $10 for children under 10. Purchase at OIonline.com, by calling 304-242-7700 or at the door, if available.
The show is part of Oglebay Institute’s Children’s Theatre Season, which is sponsored by the Helen J. Prince Foundation. Other upcoming shows include “The Nutcracker” in December and “Rapunzel” in early February.