New Fairy Tale Theatre Season Opens June 17

DANBURY — Musicals at Richter, Fairfield County’s longest-running outdoor summer theatre, will begin this year’s Fairy Tale Theatre, a musical play series for children ages 3 through 12, on Saturday, June 17, at 11 am, rain or shine, at Richter Arts Center, 100 Aunt Hack Road. In case of rain, performances are held inside the arts center.

Performed by an ensemble of young actors under the direction of educator Elyse Jasensky, productions this season will include Snow White and Rumplestiltskin on June 17; Cinderella, July 1; The Princess and the Pea and The Musicians of Bremen Town, July 8; and The Wizard of Oz, July 22.

Each hour-long show will be introduced by Mother Goose (Ms Jasensky) and will include arts and crafts activities, plenty of audience participation, and special surprise guests.

Featured in the Fairy Tale troupe are actors from across the region, including Diana Curcuruto of Newtown.

Danbury resident Elyse Jasensky is an accomplished performer who has previously appeared on the Richter stage in Guys and Dolls and as the indomitable Mama Rose in Gypsy.  She has worked in numerous theatres in Westchester and Fairfield counties, with credits ranging from Side By Side by Sondheim to Annie Get Your Gun and Annie.

In addition to her Fairy Tale Theatre duties this season, Ms Jasensky will be serving as assistant director for Evita, Richter’s second mainstage musical this season, opening July 6. When she is not “treading the boards,” Ms Jasensky teaches second grade and music at Maimonides Academy in Danbury.

Grounds open at 10:30 am for each 11 am show. Bring blankets or chairs for seating on the lawn. Tickets are $5 each, and may be reserved in advance or purchased at the door. For ticket reservations and further information, call the theatre’s box office at 748-6873.