On Stage: Fairy tale takes Center Stage

Lunch and a play with your kids is a great way to let your hair down this summer. Center Stage Productions will be presenting Rapunzel through June 30 at the Norris Center in Cambier Park.

Center Stage Productions is co-owned by longtime Naples residents Leslie Juriet and Cindy Mueller. The company was formed in 1993 to provide on-site theatrical entertainment. Countless country clubs and organizations, from Marco Island to South Tampa, have utilized their talent and enjoyed musical revues, murder mysteries and other programs.

Prior to Center Stage's inception, co-founder Cindy Mueller developed the popular KidzAct program (the Naples Players youth theater) at the Sugden Theatre in Naples. That experience has no doubt led Mueller and Juriet to connect with children through the auspices of their company in the form of children's programs: Get-in-the-Act Theatre and Kids Center Stage both reach out to the younger generation of theatergoers.

A lack of summer children's theater offerings in Collier County inspired the pair to provide a show for children featuring adult actors. Already actively providing a summer theater camp for children at the Norris Center, Juriet and Mueller recognized the void in local children's theater productions and decided to fill the gap.

Rapunzel is, of course, based on the classic fairy tale about the girl with extremely long hair. This highly comedic and musical take on the beloved tale has a book and lyrics written by two of the creators of the enormously popular television sitcom Friends. A possessive mother who happens to be a witch, a handsome prince and, of course, Rapunzel's hair are all part of the fun in store.

This new twist has the story opening on Rapunzel's 16th birthday. This is the promised day that she may finally leave the imprisonment of her tower. Unfortunately, the witch has a change of heart and won't hear of such a thing. Rapunzel is then discovered by a passing prince and a fun-filled chain of events is set in motion.

The talented cast features Kay Francis, Val White, Emily Morgan and Alex Duckworth as the denizens of the fairy tale kingdom.

Performances are held Wednesdays through Thursdays at 10:14 a.m. through June 30. The play lasts about one hour and 15 minutes. Cost of admission is $8 per person. Groups of 20 people or more can purchase tickets at a discounted rate of $5 each. Audience members can add a bag lunch for an additional $5 with advance notice. For more information on these performances, call Center Stage at 352-6694.

Performances are held in the Norris Center at Cambier Park at the intersection of 8th Street South and 8th Avenue South in Naples.

If the production is well received, Center Stage may consider offering additional programs and productions like this one in the future.

Center Stage Productions' Rapunzel is a great opportunity for Collier County families to experience the magic of live theater together and, besides, it promises to be "locks" of fun.