Children’s museum to produce new play

The Island Now

The Long Island Children’s Museum has commissioned a new musical, “Princess Frog – A Musical Fairy Tale,” to complement the exhibit “Once Upon a Time….Exploring the World of Fairy Tales,” currently in residence at LICM.

Award-winning songwriter Lena Pennino-Smith has been tapped to create a contemporary retelling of the classic Italian fairy tale The Princess Frog.  The new musical will run for 14 performances in the LICM Theater during November and December.  The commission is made possible with the support of the New York Council for the Humanities.

“The performing arts have been an integral activity at the Long Island Children’s Museum since it opened in 1993,” said LICM President Suzanne LeBlanc.  “Commissioning a new production is the next step in the Theater’s evolution and reinforces the dynamic synergism between the Museum’s exhibits and its stage.”

Fairy tales are adapted over time as they are re-told and shaped for audience relevance. 

The “frog bride” story is a popular literary trope found in numerous European cultures; including one in the Brothers Grimm collection.

Twenty-first century families will easily relate to Pennino-Smith’s modern fairy tale that features three squabbling brothers, who happen to be princes, one frustrated (Queen) mother, three magic rocks and an enchanted frog. Live action, music and puppetry are used to tell this new version, which blends traditional literary elements with features of the local wetlands environment.

Dramaturg Don Rebar will work with Pennino-Smith to provide cultural and historic context for the re-interpretation, while also developing materials for family audiences, including an activity guide, character profiles and reading lists.  These materials will be available in hard copy, as well as through the Museum’s website (licm.org).

The creative partnership between the Children’s Museum and Lena Pennino-Smith has evolved over several years.  As founder, songwriter and lead singer in the Happy Clam Band, she first appeared in the LICM Theater for the Museum’s popular “Saltwater Stories” program.  

LICM Theater Manager Jim Packard next approached her to develop original songs for Spring Break concerts complementing the residency of a traveling exhibit, “Secrets of Circles.”  The songs were shaped into an original musical revue called “Full Circle.”  

The collaboration deepened with the presentation of her next creative production, Happy as Clams: The Musical” for both family and school audiences.  The musical production, which promotes the protection of Long Island sea life in the Great South Bay, has become a strong addition to the Museum’s theater school visits for elementary schools.

Performance dates for “Princess Frog – A Musical Fairy Tale” have been selected to coincide with holiday schedules to allow multiple generations to enjoy the theater experience together.  Performances will be offered leading into the Thanksgiving holiday week, Saturday, Nov. 21 and Sunday, Nov. 22 and during the December school break, Sunday, Dec. 27 through Thursday, Dec. 31.  Performances on all dates will take place at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The exhibition “Once Upon a Time: Exploring the World of Fairy Tales” was developed by The Magic House, St. Louis Children’s Museum in partnership with the St. Louis Public Library.  

The exhibit immerses children and families in seven fairy tales from around the globe. Through large-scale books and interactive activities, visitors are introduced to new stories and reacquainted with familiar ones.

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