PVCC presents musical with twist on ‘ever after’

By The Daily Progress Staff

Published: March 27, 2008

Piedmont Virginia Community College will present “UP (Ugly Prince) and UP (Ugly Princess): The Musical’’ at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the college’s V. Earl Dickinson Building.
Kay Bethea, professor of music and theater at PVCC, wrote the original book, lyrics and music for the show. Piedmont’s production is adapted from her satirical twist on “happily ever after’’ fairy tales.
The musical tells the story of Princess Bellissima, played by Elizabeth Risk of Ruckersville, and Prince Rodrick, played by Jon Sides of Charlottesville. The prince and princess are the ugly ducklings of their families who run away from home in search of acceptance.
The student cast also includes Charlottesville residents Patience Lanier as Princess Clarissa, Alex Modic as King Harvey, Asparuh Stavrev as King Stanley, Kim Morris as Gilda and choreographer, Kristen Spatz as Queen Hortense and assistant choreographer, Christopher Wood as the Mayor and Gregory Sosnicki as the Photographer.
Jackie Wright and Virginia Rohm of Palmyra play the Ladies. Earlysville resident John Mehanna plays Prince Cecil. Aynsley Sandridge of Crozet portrays Queen Ethel. Jennifer Anne Ducharme, the Storyteller, and Amanda Kowalski, who plays Queen Alice, are from Ruckersville.
Bethea directs the show, which is suitable for adults and children.
The musical originally was performed by the University of South Carolina Summer Theatre and later was produced by Florida Summer Theatre.
Other performances will be 7:30 p.m. April 4 and 5, 2:30 p.m. April 6, 7:30 p.m. April 10, 11 and 12 and 2:30 p.m. April 13.
Tickets are $10, $8 for students and $5 for children ages 12 and younger. They’re available at the PVCC box office, Plan 9 locations and Sidetracks.
For details, call 961-5376.