The Frog Prince

by Martha Hill Newell

Music by James Jerritt

4 characters plus one non-speaking dancer. One set, a clearing in the forest. One hour. Four songs, three dances, scored for piano . $ 6.50

As producers of children's theatre know, a good small cast musical is rare indeed. Especially if that musical has a popular title, a single set, and simple costumes. In this version of The Frog Prince, the familiar tale of the frog who loves a princess takes on a dramatic new element--a wicked witch who takes the form of a mysterious dancing snake. The snake terrorizes the countryside and wreaks havoc when she puts a spell on a handsome prince, changing him into a frog. To break the spell, the frog must find a princess who will give him a kiss.

How he finds that princess, and ultimately saves his people from the snake witch, makes up a plot that has delighted children (and their parents) wherever The Frog Prince has played across the country. The appeal of spells and enchantments, of handsome princes and beautiful princesses, faithfully told, belongs to every age. And of course, in the ending so satisfying to every child in your audience, he marries the princess and they all live happily every after.