By: Richard L. Smith/Veronica Gonmiah
Get ready for a magical journey as the Aurway Repertory Theatre presents "Something Like a Fairytale," a captivating production written and composed by Lawrence Dandridge.
The show, which delves into the complexities of love, will be free for all Newark Public School students thanks to a collaboration with Superintendent Roger León and the Newark Board of Education.
"Something Like a Fairytale" is a story within a story, following a mother named Alyse who shares with her young daughter the tale of how she and the girl's father came together.
To make it more relatable, Alyse transforms their love story into a fairytale, blending soulful music with enchanting magic to mirror the realities of love in real life.
This production explores universal themes like parental pressure, love triangles, domestic disputes, and divorce while also shedding light on the African-American perspective of achieving a fairytale ending in love.
The musical journey, influenced by various genres, bridges the gap between the idealized version of love we yearn for and the often imperfect reality we encounter.
"Something Like a Fairytale" has received critical acclaim, winning six awards at the Thespis Theater Festival in 2016, including Best Original Play, Best Score, and Best Director.
It was also showcased at the National Black Theatre Festival in 2017. Recently, Aurway produced an original album of the show, available on all streaming platforms.
The talented production team includes writer/composer Lawrence Dandridge, who also choreographed and music-directed the show; assistant choreographer Sierra Sanders; assistant director Marcus Beckett; and director Veronica Gonmiah.
The creative team further includes David Heguy for Lighting Design, Brianna Selaey for Set Building, Nicole Petrick, and Jeffery Osborne for Props and Set Painting.
"Something Like a Fairytale" will be performed from November 4th to 19th at the Central High School Auditorium, 246 18th Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103.
The stellar cast includes Chasity as Princess Alyse, Eden Hall and Nyla Baxter (double cast) as Nicole, Martin Carpenter as Prince Donovan, Jordan Owens as James, Demetrius Kee as King Rupert, Amber Brown as Queen Linda, Troi Gaines as King Daniel, Veronica Gonmiah as Maggie, Reiut Cohn and Shay Colon (double cast) as Allie, Kazoani Gonmiah as Lisa, Marquise Neal, Nasir Roper, Jay Quddus, Dante Maurice Folson, Nile Christopher Polk, Haneefah James, and Irley Vallejo.
This theatrical experience promises to be a must-see for Newark Public Schools students, offering them a unique opportunity to enjoy "Something Like a Fairytale" free of charge, thanks to the generous collaboration between Aurway Repertory Theatre and the Newark Board of Education.
