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Zippel's Princesses Premieres in Seattle on August 17th

By: Aug. 16, 2005
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Princesses, Matthew Wilder and David Zippel's Broadway-bound musical, is currently making its world premiere at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre, where it will have its opening night tomorrow, August 17th. The show began performances on August 9th and will run through August 28th; the show is expected to curtsy on Broadway in late fall/early winter of 2005.

With music by Wilder and a book by Cheri and Bill Steinkeller (producers of "Cheers," writers of "Teacher's Pet"), Princesses features lyrics by Zippel, who also created the show's concept and directs Princesses. In the show, "a group of jaded private school girls reluctantly stage a production of the beloved Victorian novel A Little Princess" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. "The show is a disaster until America's hottest action hero arrives on the scene to direct it. The boy-crazy teens are wild for him, except for one--his daughter. Will she finally have her father back, or will he rush off to Hollywood when he gets a better offer? The fresh, hip score blends contemporary pop and traditional theater tunes in this innovative musical-within-a-musical," according to production notes. The show is choreographed by Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford (Thoroughly Modern Millie).

Brent Barrett (Chicago, Annie Get Your Gun, Grand Hotel) stars as sexy movie star father Kevin Finch, while Jenny Fellner (Mamma Mia!) plays his rebellious daughter Miranda. Princesses also stars Donna English (Broadway, Ruthless) as music teacher Ms. Nibbey and Storm Newton (the film Sleepover) as Miranda's boyfriend Zachary. The show's design team comprises Tony-winner William Ivey Long (costumes), Douglas W. Schmidt (sets), Tony-winner Ken Billington (lighting) and Jonathan Deans (sound).

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Zippel (with Cy Coleman) won a 1990 Tony for Best Original Score for his City of Angels lyrics. Other Broadway credits include The Goodbye Girl, and he provided lyrical assistance for two of Barbara Cook's Broadway concerts. He provided lyrics to songs in the Disney films Tarzan and Hercules, and with composer Wilder, he penned much of the score of Disney's Mulan. Wilder has been a folk musician and a backup artist in addition to a composer, and his 1984 debut album I Don't Speak the Language boasted the hit "Break My Stride." He is also an award-winning music producer.

Produced by The 5th Avenue Theatre by special arrangement with Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley, this musical was previously workshopped The Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut. The 2005-2006 season marks the 25th anniversary of The 5th Avenue Theatre Association. The theatre, at which Hairspray received its world premiere, will also produce the upcoming Broadway-bound musical The Wedding Singer in January 2006 with Hairspray producers Margo Lion and New Line Cinema.

Tickets to Princesses range in price from $18-$70. Subscribers can purchase tickets at a discount. Tickets are available over the phone through Ticketmaster at (206) 292-ARTS (2787), online at ticketmaster.com or in person at any Ticketmaster Ticket Center as well as The 5th Avenue Theatre Box Office, 1308 5th Avenue in downtown Seattle.

For more information, visit www.5thavenuetheatre.org.





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