What happens when the Big Bad Wolf and the Wicked Witch are brought to trial? Find out when “Fairy Tale Courtroom,” written by Dana Proulx, comes to the stage at Glendale’s Spotlight Youth Theatre Friday, Feb. 19 through Sunday, Feb. 28.
It seems the two villains have been doing their best to keep the general public from living happily ever after. The trial unfolds with testimony from such witnesses as Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, the Three Little Pigs and others, including the wolf and the witch.
Aimed at ages 6 to 17—but enjoyable for all—the comedy is directed by Brenda Goodenberger, a recent recipient of the BroadwayWorld Phoenix Award for best director of a play (youth production) for “Ramona Quimby” at Spotlight Youth Theatre, for which she also won an ariZoni Award in the same category. A few of her recent directing projects include “This Way to Broadway,” Disney’s “Aladdin, JR.” and Disney’s “The Little Mermaid JR.”
“I absolutely love working with kids!” says Goodenberger. “As a mommy and as a director, this show spoke to me because there are so many opportunities for youth of all ages to have their moment in the spotlight.”
In addition to her theater work, Goodenberger runs a daycare center—and she and husband, Ken, have nine children of their own.
In “Fairy Tale Courtroom,” she works with a cast of 38 kids, many of whom are enjoying their very first theater experience. “I partnered these kiddos up with other cast members who have been in numerous shows to teach them the ropes, to make them feel welcome and to encourage that love of theater that has been a driving force in my life,” says Goodenberger. “Who knows? Maybe one of these theater babies will grow up to direct youth theater one day!”
Goodenberger says that her vision of the show was to let the young actors truly find their characters rather than to adhere to a preordained vision: “It worked great—and we now have the added fun of seeing two opposing lawyers literally playing cat and mouse.”
Lily Swope, a ninth-grader at Northern Academy in Glendale, takes the part of the Witch in “Fairy Tale Courtroom.” She was most recently seen playing Mother in “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” at Spotlight and also has been seen there in “Rugrats: A Live Adventure,” “Honk! Jr.” and Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland Jr.”
Talya Ginsberg, who plays the Wolf, has also appeared as Greta in “Witness for the Prosecution,” an Actors Café production of Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre and as Verges in “Much Ado About Nothing” for Greasepaint Youtheatre.
Joining Goodenberger and the talented cast is a seasoned creative team that includes Bobby Sample, set design; Trey DeGroodt, hair and makeup and Josh Hontz, sound and lights.
One thing the play teaches young viewers is that we should get the facts instead of jumping to conclusions, says Goodenberger. “We should give people, witches, wolves, whatever…a chance to have their side of the story heard before judgment is cast. What a great message to teach our young viewers!”
“Fairy Tale Courtroom” is unusual in that it allows the audience to choose the ending. So which is it? Guilty or not guilty? Only you can decide.
What you need to know
- Times/dates: 7pm Fri, 2pm & 7pm Sat & 2pm Sun Feb 19 through Feb 28
- Cost: $12
- Location: Spotlight Youth Theatre, 10620 N 43rd Ave, Glendale
- Contact: 602-843-8318 or spotlightyouththeatre.org