Contributed by Columbia Children’sTheatre

Columbia Children’s Theatre, the Midlands’ only professional resident theatre for families and young audiences announces the mid–winter remount of last summer’s popular preview show Rapunzel . Written by the creators of the hit television series Friends , this tongue–in–cheek re–telling of the classic tale will have the whole family rolling in the aisles.

Originally produced as Columbia Children’s Theatre (CCT) season preview show last summer, many of the original cast will be back to reprise all of your favorite characters.

Erica Wood, last seen as the irascible Mrs. Lindenburgenfarfenugen–Haggandazendorf in Frosty Returns will take on the role of the Norma Desmond–esqe witch Gretta. The charming Scott Vaughan (Blue Dog in Go, Dog. Go! , James in Frosty Returns ) will re–create his tour–de–force as the Storyteller, Simon, the King, the Innkeeper, and the Wigmaker. Chris Hagans will also return to revive his role of the reluctant Prince Brian. Rounding out the cast will be Jessica Bright, who was last seen as Worm, the bully with the big heart, in Frosty Returns.

After successful productions of Go, Dog. Go! last fall and the much-acclaimed family favorite Frosty Returns , audiences began to ask about Rapunzel . Although their next offering, Puss in Boots , was not scheduled until May, CCT’s Board of Directors and Artistic Director Jerry Stevenson decided to bring her back for a limited engagement.

“We really just put up Rapunzel last summer to sort of test the waters to see if there was a market for professional family theatre in the area,”ð says Stevenson, “and frankly we’ve just been floored at the response. We’ve obviously found a niche, and we want to keep bringing Columbia the best in family entertainment.”ð

Rapunzel will run February 3–5 and 10–11 at the Booker Washington Heights Cultural Arts Center, 2611 Grant St. Show times are Feb. 3 at 7 pm, Feb. 4 at 2 pm and 7 pm and Feb. 5 at 3 pm, Feb. 10 at 7 pm and Feb 11 at 2 pm and 7 pm. Tickets are $5 at the door, beginning one half hour before show time.

Call (803) 691-4548 or visit www.columbiachildrenstheatre.com.