'The Frog Prince' Debuts June 14 in Woodstock

WOODSTOCK, GA -- Romance awaits deep in the forest, but the road to love in Elm Street Cultural Arts Village's upcoming show will not be a smooth one.

A stubborn princess and a selfish tree frog wrangle over their divergent interests and fate of the rain forest. Along the way, the pair discover that things are not always as they seem and that love and friendship can spring up from unlikely places.

Families are invited to check out the premiere of "The Frog Prince" at Elm Street Cultural Arts Village. The show is an original work by Siobhan Brumbelow, and is based on the beloved tale by the Brothers Grimm.

“The show is similar, but not identical, to the Grimm tale," Brumbelow said. "The princess and the frog do kiss, but the tale has been re-set in a rain forest, and the behaviors of the characters are more contemporary."

The show is directed by Caity Johnson. While this is her first directing job with Elm Street, Johnson was a member of the 2016-17 RepTour company and is on the faculty for acting with Elm Street’s Collage Series. When asked about why she tackled this particular project, Johnson said “I really enjoy children's theater, and one of my specialties in grad school was updated adaptations of traditional fairy tales, so it hit all my interests.”

The cast for "The Frog Prince" is multi-generational, including Jackson Flagg, previously seen in King Arthur, last summer’s original work. Johnson indicated that the blocking is particularly complicated, with many entrances and exits, but the cast has been fantastic at working through it.

“Theatre for young audiences is very important," Johnson added. "People consistently undervalue the role of arts in kids' lives. I love that Elm Street provides so many opportunities for young artists: the camps, classes, and shows get kids involved and help keep them involved. I'm proud to be a part of it.”

The show will run 10 a.m. Wednesdays (June 14, 21 and 28) and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays (June 17-18 and June 24-25). This schedule will allow family members of all ages to enjoy the show, said Jillian Melko, Elm Street's community engagement coordinator.

The show is rated G and lasts for 90 minutes, with a 15 minute intermission. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased online. For details about Elm Street's camps, classes and shows for youngsters, visit its website.

Photo 1: Abby Lukens plays Princess Tilani in The Frog Prince.

Photo 2: Steven Riddick plays the title character in The Frog Prince.

Images via Elm Street Cultural Arts Village