Finally, theatre is coming back and the Royal Players and Young Players have announced five shows for the 2021 schedule.
For the first show of the year, the Young Players will present Disney’s Frozen Jr., July 15-18, sponsored by Everett Buick GMC. The enchanting modern classic from Disney is based on the 2018 Broadway musical, and brings Elsa, Anna, and the magical land of Arendelle to life, onstage. The show features all of the memorable songs from the animated film, with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, plus five new songs written for the Broadway production. The director for this production is Tanner Oglesby.
To finish what would have been the 2020-2021 season, Royal Players will perform Lost in Yonkers, August 12-22, 2021. By America’s great comic playwright, Neil Simon, this play is set in Yonkers in 1942. Bella is 35 years old, mentally challenged, and living at home with her mother, stern Grandma Kurnitz. As the play opens, ne’er-do-well son Eddie deposits his two young sons on the old lady’s doorstep. He is taking to the road as a salesman. The boys are left to contend with Grandma, with Bella and her secret romance, and with Louie, her brother, a small-time hoodlum. This play was the basis for the 1993 movie starring Richard Dreyfuss, Mercedes Ruehl, and Irene Worth. The director will be Jeremy Clay.
Disney’s The Jungle Book Kids is set for September 17-19, 2021 and will be the opener of Season 27. Adapted from Disney’s animated film and the works of Rudyard Kipling, the “man cub” Mowgli, bounds through the jungle and learns what it means to be human. Specially adapted from the classic Disney animated film, this show features a host of colorful characters and your favorite songs from the movie. The director will be Angie Neufer.
The 2021-2022 Season will also include the “Haunted Royal Theatre Tour,” in October. This became an instant favorite when it was created to allow a “production” in a Covid-compliant manner.
The Royal’s Christmas show will be Disney’s Beauty and the Beast December 2-12, 2021, sponsored by Everett Buick GMC. “Be Our Guest!” to Broadway’s modern classic, which played a remarkable 13-year run on Broadway and has been produced in 37 countries worldwide. Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature, the stage version includes all the wonderful songs written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, along with new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice. This show was nominated for nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end, and he will be transformed into his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity. Bob Bidewell will direct this show.
Because of the Royal’s “Covid break,” most of these shows are still in need of a sponsor. To learn about sponsorship amounts and benefits, email [email protected].