Sept. 12, 2011

Theatre department to present musical “The Princess and the Pea”

The Morningside College Theatre Department will present “The Princess and the Pea” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, in Klinger-Neal Theatre, 3700 Peters Ave.

The musical follows the traditional fairy tale of “The Princess and the Pea,” where the Queen is trying to find a wife for her son, the Prince. But the Queen will not allow her son to marry unless the girl is a princess through and through. So the Queen sets up a contest to find the best princess for her son. When the storm-tossed girl of his dreams comes to take on the challenge, hilarity ensues. 

Cast members include Brittany Poss of Sioux City, Iowa, as the Queen; Eric Furness of Sioux City as Prince John; Catherine Ruddy of Minneapolis, Minn., as Princess Hannah; Athena Riesenberg of Sioux City as Prime Minister; Melissa Richter of Rock Valley, Iowa, as Head Maid; Kelsey Strohbehn of Brooklyn, Iowa, as North Wing Maid; Alex Heldenbrand of Latimer, Iowa, as South Wing Maid; Ruth Martinez of Pomona, Calif., as East Wing Maid; Courtney Ruff of Council Bluffs, Iowa, as West Wing Maid; Denise Barkley of Irene, S.D., as Royal Page 1; and Tiffany Green of Blockton, Iowa, as Royal Page 2.

The musical is directed by Michael Rohlena, visiting assistant professor of theatre. Other members of the crew are Juliene Brown of Omaha, Neb., as stage manager; Andy Curry of Urbandale, Iowa, as backstage manager; Maddie Mardesen of Elliott, Iowa, as light board operator; Haleigh Pigott of Sioux City and Michael Stern of Santiago in the Dominican Republic as stage run crew; Mandy Suing of Sioux City as costume and wardrobe run crew; Brittney Foxhoven of South Sioux City, Neb., as house manager; Aimee Little of Louisville, Ky., as assistant house manager; and Kyle Thaden of Creston, Iowa, as master carpenter.

General admission is $5. Reservations may be made by calling the Klinger-Neal Theatre Box Office at 712-274-5702 or by e-mail at theatre@morningside.edu.