STAGE TUBE: Stephen Schwartz Talks My Fairytale; Sneak Peak at PCPA's Production

PCPA Theaterfest will present the American Premiere of My Fairytale, a musical about Hans Christian Andersen directed by Scott Schwartz. My Fairytale began previews in Santa Maria August 12 and will run through August 20 before openning in Solvang's Festival Theater running from August 26 through September 25, 2011. Click below to see some clips from the show, footage from rehearsals, an interview with Stephen Schwartz and more.

The musical is an enchanted journey into the imagination of one of the worlds' greatest storytellers - it's a place of wonder, mystery and danger, and where Andersen is confronted by the characters from his fairytales. His quest is to find the Nightingale for the ailing Emperor, but he is continually kept him from his goal, being sidetracked by the fairytale characters, a boy, and a shadow.

My Fairytale was originally produced in Denmark in 2005 in honor of the bi-centennial of Hans Christian Andersen's birth. Director Scott Schwartz pointed out that this first American production, besides being presented in English for the first time, includes the introduction of puppets, some script rewrites, and additional music by Stephen Schwartz, which will make My Fairytale feel more like a world premiere production. And, it will only be seen at PCPA.

This breathtaking production is filled with a powerful score created by Stephen Schwartz, the award-winning composer of Wicked. The book is by Philip LeZebnik (Pocahontas), and it was originally created by Flemming Enevold, a famous Danish actor and singer.

Much of the accompanying music is from the original production as performed by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, which will blend with live accompaniment by Kristin Blascyk, keyboards; Dave Becker, reeds; and Jeanne Shumway, Cello.

The cast includes Kevin Cahoon who will play H.C. Andersen. Cahoon recently wrapped up a production of The Foreigner opposite Matthew Broderick in an Off-Broadway production directed by Scott Schwartz. He's also appeared on Broadway in The Lion King, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Wedding Singer. Playing Jenny Lind, the famous Swedish opera singer of the 1800s, is Lesley McKinnell who will also wear the guise of many of Andersen's fairytale characters. McKinnell has appeared in two national tours of Wicked where she was a permanent ensemble performer and understudy to Glinda. She also performed in the Hollywood Bowl production of Les Misérables. Other cast members include Erik Stein (Captain Hook, Peter Pan), Andrew Philpot (Richard Hannay, The 39 Steps), Sam Zeller (Edna Turnblad, Hairspray), and Karin Hendricks (Jane Bennet, Pride and Prejudice).

Under the direction of Scott Schwartz the artistic team includes Michael Jenkinson, Choreographer; Callum Morris, Musical Director; Tom Buderwitz, Scenic Designer; Alejo Vietti, Costume Designer; Jen ‘Z' Zornow, Lighting Designer; Walter T.J. Clissen, Sound Designer, and Christine Collins, Stage Manager.

For more information and to order tickets, visit online at www.pcpa.org