Villainesses Headed for Walnut Creek!!

It’s a bird, it’s a plane…no. It’s Cruella de Ville, the Queen of Hearts and Queen Maleficent, and they are headed straight for Walnut Creek Chevron Family Theatre Festival goers this July 15th in hopes to lure local youth to the dark side. Unhappy with the way classic fairytales have depicted them, these villains are here to do a little damage control.

Actor, writer, educator and theatre enthusiast Amanda Leigh has created an original show called Villains Live to be debuted at this year’s Festival. “I think there is more of a curiosity with villains in the younger generations today,” said Leigh. “There is less fear instilled in them (youth) and more empowerment when it comes to conquering the bad guys. I think all the super hero movies making a comeback has helped the younger generation see that evil is easily taken down.”

“Being a villain is so much fun,” said Diella Hanchette Wottrich who has been playing Cruella De Vil at the Festival for five years. “There is something intriguing about these evil characters. Every year the kids come up to me and say, ‘I am not going to help you find those Dalmatians you're looking for!’ I love teasing them and telling them they must help me find those black-and-white spotted puppies for my brand-new coat!!' Some kids, alternatively, come up and tell me that they will help me find them and continue to search throughout the day for them!! It's really adorable.”

Villains Live will be performed on the second floor of the Hofmann Theatre (on the Rotunda) at 10:15, 10:55, 12:10, 1:40 and 3:10. The show strives to help audiences conclude that there are two sides to every story including that of the villain. “Yes, they did do awful things,” said Leigh, “but without them, the stories wouldn't be... stories!”

For more information about the Chevron Family Theatre Festival visit http://bit.ly/2sHggMO