SEQUIM — While many children and parents are familiar with the traditional story of “Sleeping Beauty,” Olympic Theatre Arts and Sequim Ballet are giving Sequim audiences a different take on the classic fairy tale.
“Sleeping Beauty” is a collaborative performance by OTA and Laurel Herrera’s Sequim Ballet that offers “a young at heart twist on the classic tale, told with dance, poetry, and comedy,” Herrera said.
The shows run for one weekend at 7 tonight and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Caldwell Main Stage at Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave.
Tickets are $10 per person. Advance tickets are available online at http://olympictheatrearts.org/OTA/
“We’re trying something we haven’t done before,” Herrera said. “It’s going to be super funny.”
Herrera said the show features both trained ballet dancers from her Sequim Ballet studio and actors — a first for her as she is in charge of directing a cast of about 20 people.
She said they chose all their own music for the show, with some of the pieces inspired by singer, songwriter, producer and composer Ryan O’Neal, whose music they have used for Herrera’s last four ballets, and some references to pop culture artists such as Katy Perry and Mick Jagger.
Mia Sayer, cast as Sleeping Beauty, said she is excited to perform her first pas de deux on stage — meaning “the dance of two” —with Brody Andersen, playing the role of Prince Charming.
Three of Herrera’s older dancers — Kate D’Amico, cast as the “Spicy Pepper” fairy; Saige Turner, playing the role of the “Other” fairy; and Eleanor Byrne, cast as the “Morning Glory” fairy — portray some of the more comical aspects of the show through their characters.
Herrera said this show has been a work in progress since last summer and she is excited to offer several artistic elements to give the audience a variety of perspectives on a classic fairy tale with one performance.
“In my head it’s really working out well,” she said.
Dancers of Sequim Ballet, Kate D’Amico, left, cast as the Spicy Pepper fairy, Saige Turner, playing the Other fairy, and Eleanor Byrne as the Morning Glory fairy, pose for a photo to portray some of the comical aspects of the upcoming show, “Sleeping Beauty.” (Erin Hawkins/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
