San Diego Rep to Present 'Princess and the Black-Eyed Pea'

SAN DIEGO REPERTORY THEATRE is proud to present, by special arrangement with producer CHRIS BENSINGER, the world premiere of THE PRINCESS AND THE BLACK-EYED PEA, a soulful musical comedy inspired by Hans Christians Andersen’s cherished fairy tale.

Set in the heart of two exotic African kingdoms, this heartwarming musical about a young princess and her search for true love combines gospel, funky rhythm and blues, tropical African world beat and soaring pop ballads. Winner of the Richard Rodgers Award for Most Promising New Musical, THE PRINCESS AND THE BLACK-EYED PEA, with a book by Kirsten Childs and music and lyrics by ANDREW CHUKERMAN, is a delight for all.

Winner of a 2008 Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award, THE PRINCESS AND THE BLACK-EYED PEA will be directed by Stafford Arima and features a cast of Broadway stars, gospel performers and an American Idol finalist. The cast features Tony Award® winning actress Lillias White, American Idol’s Sabrina Sloan, Gospel star TONEX, Broadway’s Ken Prymus JR., Josh Tower, Jennifer Leigh Warren and many more. With a charming sense of fun and play, this musical comedy features choreography by Todd L. Underwood and musical direction by Jim Vukovich. Performances begin in previews on November 23, 2008; with a Press Opening on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at 7pm and continue through December 21, 2008.

A plucky princess. A scientifically minded prince.  Bossy parents, jealous cousins, wacky bridal contestants and a dastardly heir.  These and other lively characters inhabit the colorful African kingdoms of Kheba and Torel in a delightful remake of the classic fairy tale, “The Princess And The Pea.”  Beautiful young Princess Quelie of Kheba is determined to define her own sense of “Princesshood”, and sneaks away from her domineering father King Nat to enter a forbidden dance competition in the kingdom of Torel.  Meanwhile, much to the dismay of his overbearing mother Queen Zauba, science-obsessed Prince Gallant of Torel would rather solve the mystery of an unnatural, gloomy light hovering above his kingdom than concern himself with the wedding test that will determine his future bride.  When Quelie literally bumps into Gallant upon arriving in Torel, it’s love at first sight for the two young people.  But can their love survive jealousy, misunderstanding, sabotage, control-freak parents and a sacred and legendary Black-Eyed Pea test? THE PRINCESS AND THE BLACK-EYED PEA answers those questions, and more, with wit, style, and an exhilarating score that’s not to be missed. Combining smooth R&B, powerful gospel ballads and African world beat, this world premiere production invites musical theater lovers of all ages to sing, dance and party it up – Princess style!

Featuring a cast of 15 performers and a live band, THE PRINCESS AND THE BLACK-EYED PEA will be the largest production San Diego REPertory Theatre has ever presented at the Lyceum Theatre. The cast for this incredible musical includes Tony Award® winning Broadway star Lillias White (The Life, Romance in Hard Times, Dreamgirls, Rock n' Roll: The First 5,000 Years and Carrie) as Queen Zauba; American Idol finalist Sabrina Sloan (Hairspray on Broadway, Gulls and the upcoming San Diego Musical Theatre production of Dreamgirls) as Princess Quelie; Josh Tower (Simba in The Lion King, Once On This Island and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) as Prince Gallant, Ken Prymus JR. (CATS, Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Wiz, Uncle Jed’s Barbershop and Bat Boy) as King Kemo,  Platinum-selling gospel sensation TONEX as Rolin AND Jennifer Leigh Warren (Big River, Little Shop of Horrors, Marie Christine, Hello Again and Starr Struck) as Hena. The production also features talented performers from Los Angeles and Broadway including Angela Teek, PERRY L. BROWN, Harrison White, SYLVIA MAC CALLA AND ANGELA WILDFLOWER POLK. THE PRINCESS AND THE BLACK-EYED PEA will also feature local performers Warren G. Nolan JR., LOREN LOTT, KALIF and BROOKE ASTON. Check out YouTube videos of the cast by visiting www.theprincessandtheblackeyedpea.com

Stafford Arima (Director) directed Altar Boyz which received the 2005 Best Musical Outer Critics Circle Award and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award as Outstanding Musical.  He was nominated for an Olivier award as Best Director for his West End production of Ragtime.  Additional work includes: Bowfire (PBS television special/World Tour); Candide (San Francisco Symphony); The Secret Garden (2005 World AIDS Day concert); Ace (The Old Globe); A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim (Boston Pops); Bright Lights, Big City (Prince Music Theater, PA); Abyssinia (Goodspeed Musicals); and Chef's Theater (The Supper Club, NYC).

Kirsten Childs (Author) is an award-winning playwright, performer and composer. In 2000, she won an Obie Award for her musical, The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin. She is also the author of Miracle Brothers, Wasted, Sundiata, Lion King of Mali and the stage adaptation of 19th century poem, The Highwayman, for the McCarter Theater at Princeton University. Her latest show Funked Up Fairy Tales, will be workshopped at the Manhattan Theatre Club this fall. This magical musical follows a trio of hip fairy teenagers, who must successfully guide storybook characters to a "happy ending" in order to graduate from their fairy tale academy. As a performer, she has appeared in Broadway hits such as Jerry’s Girls, Dancin’, Sweet Charity and Chicago with Chita Rivera. Kirsten was also featured in the film See No Evil, Hear No Evil with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. A graduate of New York University's Musical Theater Writing Program, she is the recipient of the Edward Kleban Award, the Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Musical Theatre Award, the Richard Rogers Award and countless others.

Beowulf Boritt   (Set Designer) designed the Broadway productions of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee for James Lapine, LoveMusik for Harold Prince and the Tony Award® winning Jay Johnson: The Two and Only.  He has also designed more than 50 off-Broadway shows and the set for Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. He has been nominated for three Drama Desk Awards and honored with a 2007 Obie Award for sustained excellence in set design.

Sam WoodHOUSE (REP Artistic Director and Producer) co-founded San Diego Repertory Theatre with D.W. Jacobs in 1976, and has since served as its Producing and Artistic Director. He has worked as a director, producer and actor on more than 125 REP productions, including It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues, the hit musical revue which played on Broadway for nine months in 1999 and was nominated for four Tony Awards®.

Performance Schedule – During Previews: Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 7pm, Tuesdays 7pm, Wednesday at 7pm and Thursdays at 8pm. After Opening: Wednesdays 7pm, Thursdays thru Saturday evenings at 8pm and Sundays at 7pm; Sunday matinees at 2pm; one Saturday 2pm matinee. Talkin' Theatre with Todd is at 7pm before the Thursday Preview and Sam's Salon is at 7pm the Thursday after Opening. There will also be post-show “Meet the Artists” session with each cast on the Wednesday and Friday evenings following each Opening.

Ticket prices: single tickets $25 - $53; active military and senior discounts available.  Student tickets are $18. Tickets can be purchased at the REP's box office, 79 Horton Plaza in San Diego, by calling (619) 544-1000 or online at www.sandiegorep.com. Single tickets will be on sale in mid-July. The box office is open Tuesday thru Sunday from 12pm – 6pm on non-performance days and 12pm - curtain on performance days. Groups of 10 or more can purchase tickets at a discounted rate.  For more information, please see our website at Your browser may not support display of this image.www.sandiegorep.com.

Subscriptions run $66-$211.  The REP offers subscribers an extensive package of benefits, including the lowest prices available; free ticket exchange privileges; discounts on individual tickets; and the opportunity to upgrade to a Premier Patron Package which features seating in the best 75 seats in each theatre venue.  Premier Patron seating also offers an additional voucher for a friend, free drink vouchers for the season and a personal backstage tour.

Now Playing at SAN DIEGO REPERTORY THEATRE: Eve Ensler’s THE GOOD BODY a delightful, yet inspirational comedy about how women view their bodies – playing from September 6-28. The REP’s Season will continue with WATER AND POWER, an award-winning play presented by Culture Clash, America’s premiere Latino comedy troupe – October 21 - November 16, 2008. Up next, is the highly anticipated world premiere THE PRINCESS AND THE BLACK-EYED PEA, a soulful musical inspired by Hans Christian Anderson’s cherished fairytale November 23 - December 21, 2008. Then discover the deeply moving drama that won four Tony® Awards, as the REP presents DOUBT: A PARABLE – January 10 - February 8, 2009. Last but certainly not least, experience the one-of-a-kind musical that revolutionized traditional opera as the REP presents THE THREE PENNY OPERA – February 28 - March 29, 2009.

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