On this page, you’ll see a comprehensive lineup of all events and shows happening at Raleigh Little Theatre! Our production season of plays runs from July to June of each year, but we also have events which include volunteer functions, fundraisers, concerts, movies, festivals and more.
If you’d like to read more about the 2019-20 Season: Now/Then, please visit our Season Announcement page. We invite you to become a Season Member so you don’t miss out on sold-out shows and get the best seats at the best price.
And if you’re looking for our previous productions, visit our Show Archive.
Our goal is to create a welcoming, inclusive, and relaxed environment. Sensory-friendly performances are designed especially for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, sensory sensitivities, or other disabilities.
**New shows added February 27, 28, 29, and March 1!** Reminder: If you had tickets to the Thursday 2/20 performance that we cancelled, please check your email for information on how to receive a refund or exchange. You may also contact the box office at (919) 821-3111 or boxoffice@raleighlittletheatre.org regarding ticket refunds and exchanges. The nefarious Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos. Horton must protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, and he must also guard an abandoned egg that’s been left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. The powers of friendship, loyalty, family, and community are challenged but ultimately emerge triumphantly!
Places Please! It’s show time! Come see the RLT performance troupe “RLT Players To Go” as they present The Snow White Variety Show by Brian D. Taylor. This show has all the fun of just about every TV show genre you can imagine and is jam-packed into this wild and fast-paced comedy! Audience members will become the live studio audience on a live talk show called, “Real Talk with Fairytale Legends.” The seven dwarves tell the story of Snow White as the Fairytale Players bring it to life.
Our goal is to create a welcoming, inclusive, and relaxed environment. Sensory-friendly performances are designed especially for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, sensory sensitivities, or other disabilities.
Mowgli grows up believing he’s as fierce a wolf as any of the members of his pack. When he learns he is actually a human, he must discover how to reconcile these very different identities. In this action-packed adaptation of the classic adventure story, Mowgli must decide whether to remain with the pack or return to the human world from which he was born.
Join us for the annual arts festival benefiting Raleigh Little Theatre, featuring a jury-selected lineup of visual artists, food trucks and live entertainment. This unique outdoor event takes place in the grounds of RLT. Want to showcase your work at Art in the Garden? Artist Applications are currently open for all mediums! Learn more and apply here.
Walter Lee Younger hopes to use his father’s life-insurance money to open a liquor store with two partners. His mother, with the support of Walter’s pragmatic wife, Ruth, and independent sister Beneatha, instead uses part of the money as a down payment on a house in an all-white neighborhood. Family tensions and prejudice they face form this seminal American drama. The Younger family’s heroic struggle to retain dignity in a harsh and changing world is a searing and timeless document of hope and inspiration.
Who will be our 2020 Diva? Join us for a cabaret performance full of glitz, glam and giving! Divas! is a competition between some of the fabulous performers who grace the stage of Raleigh Little Theatre. Each performer competes to be the Diva of the Year by raising the most money.
The Raleigh Symphony Orchestra performs a concert version of a Meredith Willson's The Music Man in RLT's beautiful outdoor Stephenson Amphitheatre. The production will be conducted and directed by Jim Waddelow, Artistic Director of the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra. More information coming soon!
In a not-so-distant future, a terrible water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets. The citizens must use public amenities regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging admission for one of humanity’s most basic needs. Amid the people, a hero decides that he’s had enough and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom!
Our goal is to create a welcoming, inclusive, and relaxed environment. Sensory-friendly performances are designed especially for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, sensory sensitivities, or other disabilities.
**New shows added February 6, 7, and 8!** Fifteen-year-old Christopher has an extraordinary brain; he is exceptionally intelligent but ill-equipped to interpret everyday life. When he falls under suspicion for killing his neighbor’s dog, he sets out to identify the true culprit, which leads to an earth-shattering discovery and a journey that will change his life forever.
Join RLT as we announce our upcoming season LIVE at Raleigh Brewing Company’s Taproom! It’s a free event from 6-7pm on Monday, February 3. Can't make it? We’ll also live stream the announcement on our RLT Facebook page.
Celebrate the rich and diverse season of African American theater in the Triangle! The Triangle Friends of African American Arts are bringing together several performing arts organizations to showcase the wonderful African American plays and musicals that will hit the stages in 2020. This special evening will include dramatic readings, songs, and scenes from upcoming performances. Hosted by Mike Williams of The Black on Black Project.
Cinderella is celebrating its 36th year at RLT in 2019! This musical comedy is a holiday sugarplum for the whole family. Just the right mixture of comedy and romance can add the sparkle of magic to your holiday season. This visually stunning musical combines elegant costumes and scenery with singing, dancing, conniving step-relatives, and resourceful fairy folk. This version of Cinderella is performed in the style of a British Panto. It's the perfect family outing during the holiday season, with the Royal Ball taking place on Christmas Eve. Join the cast in singing "We Wish You a Merry a Christmas," and come celebrate the holidays at RLT!
You are cordially invited to RLT's annual Winter Holiday Party! Join your fellow RLT volunteers for food, drink, and general merriment. Get your picture taken with Cinderella's fireplace and participate in a holiday cookie contest - we hope to see you there! If you would like to participate in the cookie contest, visit the SignUpGenius page for more info!
For everyone who’s always wanted to runaway to the theatre, Raleigh Little Theatre will hold its twice-yearly volunteer open house on Wednesday, November 13 at 7:00pm on the RLT main stage.
Our goal is to create a welcoming, inclusive, and relaxed environment. Sensory-friendly performances are designed especially for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, sensory sensitivities, or other disabilities.
Join us for a benefit concert to support sending Ligon GT Magnet Middle School’s Jazz Ensemble to Chicago in December for the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. The Broughton and Enloe High School Jazz Ensembles will join Ligon at the concert to support and highlight jazz education in Wake County.
Charles Schulz’s beloved comic comes to life in Clark Gesner’s classic musical and the whole gang is here! Bossy Lucy is hopelessly in love with piano prodigy Schroeder who doesn’t give her the time of day, perfectionist Sally is still mocking blanket-toting Linus, Snoopy is in the doghouse, and “blockhead,” himself, Charlie Brown, is in rare form.
Based on the true story of the Jena Six; six Black students who were initially charged with attempted murder for a school fight after being provoked with nooses hanging from a tree on campus. This bold ensemble drama examines the miscarriage of justice, racial double standards, the crisis in relations between men and women of all classes and, as a result, the shattering state of Black family life. Blood at the Root employs strong language, racial slurs, and symbols of violence to accurately depict the story of the Jena Six. Parental discretion is advised.
Raleigh’s favorite celebration of homegrown music returns for its fifth year in the beautiful Stephenson Amphitheatre and Raleigh Rose Garden at RLT. This annual festival features a total of eight live performances on two stages, local food and drinks, art vendors, a kids zone and more!
The Raleigh Symphony Orchestra performs a casual pops concert in RLT's Cantey V. Sutton Theatre. The theme of this concert is Legends of the Musical Stage and guest soloists include Tina Morris-Anderson and Rachel Elizabeth Stenbuck. Music Director Jim Waddelow's program also includes highlights from Broadway shows including "Evita," "Chicago," "Showboat" and "The Sound of Music."
**EXTENDED: Tickets now available September 5-8!** Monty Navarro, a distant heir to the D’Ysquith family fortune sets out to speed up the line of succession by using a great deal of charm…and a pinch of murder. Monty’s murderous romp is filled with unforgettable music, non-stop laughs and doomed heirs who meet their ends in the most creative and side-splitting ways.
Join us this summer as we present five FREE outdoor movies on Thursdays in July and August! All movies will be held in the Stephenson Amphitheatre next to the Raleigh Rose Garden.
Antigone, defying her uncle Creon's decree that her brother should remain unburied, challenges the morality of man's law overruling the laws of the gods. The clash between her and Creon with its tragic consequences have inspired continual reinterpretation.
Stage Combat Academy of NC and Raleigh Little Theatre will be hosting a 3-Day Intimacy for the Stage Workshop led by Intimacy Directors International co-founder Tonia Sina and Intimacy Director Dan Granke. During this workshop, you’ll get an overview of numerous aspects of this work. We encourage all roles in the profession (actors, directors, stage managers, etc) to attend.
Celebrate the 2018-2019 season! It's an evening of volunteer awards and Cantey Awards for actors. Afterward, catch up with friends at the reception in the Sutton Lobby.
Due to mature content and adult themes, Pippin is recommended for ages 15 and up. Meet Pippin, a young prince who longs to find passion and adventure in his life. To prove his loyalty to his distracted father, King Charles, Pippin goes on a death-defying journey to look for his purpose. He makes a grave mistake by killing his father to take over the throne. In the pursuit to right a wrong, Pippin struggles to decide whether he should settle down and pursue a peaceful life or continue to make magic with the dazzling troupe of performers.
Experience forbidden love, fierce family loyalties, and the ruthless feud between the Sharks and the Jets through the iconic music of "West Side Story" Symphony Concert! Featuring the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra in RLT's Louise "Scottie" Stephenson Amphitheatre.
The male heirs of the Baskerville line are being eliminated one by one. To find their ingenious killer, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson must brave the desolate moors before a family curse dooms its newest heir. Watch as the intrepid investigators try to escape a dizzying web of clues, silly accents, and elaborate disguises. Full of humor, horror, and plenty of stage magic, this kooky and spooky caper will have you howling with laughter.
Join us for the annual arts festival benefiting Raleigh Little Theatre, featuring a jury-selected lineup of visual artists, food trucks and live entertainment. This unique outdoor event takes place in the historic Raleigh Rose Garden on the grounds of RLT.
Due to popular demand, 2 performances have been added to Mar 30 - Mar 31! Meet Ziggy, a shy boy who would rather stay at home and watch television than explore the island of Jamaica. Over the course of his onstage journey, with some help from his friend Nansi, he realizes that the real adventures can be found outside, amid the birds and jungles and beaches. Their worldly adventure is enlivened by the fantastic songs of renowned Reggae artist, Bob Marley.
Sensory-friendly performances are designed especially for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, sensory sensitivities, or other disabilities. Our goal is to create a welcoming, inclusive, and relaxed environment.
For everyone who’s always wanted to run away to the theatre, Raleigh Little Theatre will hold its twice-yearly volunteer open house.
Due to popular demand, 5 performances have been added from Feb 28 - Mar 3! Sneak a peek into the Top-Secret Personal Beeswax Journal of the outspoken and lovable Junie B. Jones. It’s Junie B.’s first day of first grade, and things have changed: Junie’s friend, Lucille, doesn’t want to be her BFF anymore. Also, Junie has trouble reading the blackboard and she might need glasses. This is a delightful adaptation of Barbara Park’s best-selling books. They are brought to life in a genuinely comical musical.
Sensory-friendly performances are designed especially for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, sensory sensitivities, or other disabilities. Our goal is to create a welcoming, inclusive, and relaxed environment.
This year we’re doing something a little different - announcing our upcoming season LIVE at Raleigh Brewing Company’s Taproom (3709 Neil Street)! It’s a free event from 6-7pm on Thursday, February 7, and we’ll simultaneously stream the announcement on the RLT Facebook page. RSVP here on Facebook.
Measure For Measure contains depictions of sexual assault and may not be suitable for all audiences. Vienna is beset with brothels and loose morality, and it’s up to the Duke to provide some divine intervention. Shakespeare’s comedy centers around the fate of Claudio, who is arrested by Lord Angelo, the temporary leader of Vienna. Angelo lusts after Claudio’s sister, Isabella, an aspiring nun, and gives her an ultimatum: give up her chastity or her brother dies. Her decision ignites an exploration of agency, abuse of power, and the intersection of virtue and sin in one of Shakespeare’s great plays.
Celebrate the rich and diverse season of African American theater in the Triangle! The Triangle Friends of African American Arts is bringing together several performing arts organizations to showcase the wonderful African American plays and musicals that will hit the stages in 2019. This special evening will include dramatic readings, songs, and scenes from upcoming performances. Hosted by Mike Williams of The Black on Black Project.
This musical comedy is a holiday sugarplum for the whole family. Just the right mixture of comedy and romance can add the sparkle of magic to your holiday season. This visually stunning musical combines elegant costumes and scenery with singing, dancing, conniving step relatives, and resourceful fairy folk.
The Volunteer Recognition and Appreciation Committee, in conjunction with the Staff of Raleigh Little Theatre, cordially invites you to the annual Winter Holiday Party! Join your fellow RLT volunteers for food, drink, general merriment, and participation in a holiday Cookie Contest - we hope to see you!
**Additional Performances Added, Nov 1- 4** Journey to the land of Narnia. Discover the magic and mystery of Aslan, the great lion, his struggle with the White Witch, and the adventures of four children who inadvertently wander into an old wardrobe. This story of love, faith, courage, and giving, with its triumph of good over evil, is a true celebration of life.
Sensory-friendly performances are designed especially for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, sensory sensitivities, or other disabilities. Our goal is to create a welcoming, inclusive, and relaxed environment.
For everyone who’s always wanted to run away to the theatre, Raleigh Little Theatre will hold its twice-yearly volunteer open house.
France’s fight for equality and freedom propels itself to modern times with this bold, brave, and blisteringly funny new work about feminism, legacy, and standing up for one’s beliefs. Four beautiful, uncompromising women are reimagined as the heroes of the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror in this passionate & empowering comedy.
Take advantage of the great prices on vintage hats, fun costumes, and other assorted pieces and accessories. A great resource for school theatre departments, flea market shoppers, and Halloween costume shoppers.
This late night comedy show, presented on the set of RLT's "The Revolutionists”, is curated and hosted by comic Erin Terry, and features Brett Williams, Rose Higgins, Brittany Spruill, Elisse Thompson, and Al-Nisa Lawson.
*Re-scheduled to Saturday, September 29. The doors will open at 1pm and the first band will perform at 1:30pm.* The Raleigh, North Carolina-based band The Connells return to the stage with Dillon Fence and The Mayflies USA in the Stephenson Amphitheater. Presented by the Cat's Cradle.
*Re-scheduled to Sunday, September 23 in the Cantey V. Sutton Theatre.* The Raleigh Symphony Orchestra performs a casual pops concert in Raleigh Little Theatre’s Cantey V. Sutton Theatre. It's Raleigh's first outdoor classical music series in many years, and this concert is family friendly! Lastly, you won't want to miss a program featuring music from your favorite movies from the 80's to today.
Run extended! 4 performances added Sept 6 - Sept 9! When disco diva, Deloris Van Cartier, witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place that the cops are sure she won’t be found: a convent! While struggling through the restrictions of her new lifestyle, she uses her unique disco moves and singing talent to inspire the choir, but in doing so, she jeopardizes her cover. Filled with powerful gospel music, outrageous dancing, and a truly moving story.
*Sister Act has been postponed til Aug 9* Join us this summer as we present five FREE outdoor movies on Thursdays in July & August! All movies will be held in the Stephenson Amphitheatre next to the Raleigh Rose Garden.
This epic musical is about wishes, family, and the consequences of the choices that we make. A childless baker and his wife endeavor to lift their family curse by journeying into the woods, where they encounter familiar faces including Rapunzel, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and more enchanted fairy-tale creatures.
Celebrate the 2017-2018 season! It's an evening of volunteer awards and Cantey Awards for actors. Afterward, catch up with friends at the reception in the Sutton Lobby.
Bernard is planning a romantic weekend with his mistress in his charming converted French farmhouse, while his wife, Jacqueline, is away. He has arranged for a Cordon Bleu cook to prepare gourmet delights, and has invited his best friend, Robert, along to provide the alibi. It’s foolproof. What could possibly go wrong?
Run extended! 4 performances added May 31 - June 3! Advisory: Blood Done Sign My Name is recommended for mature audiences and features adult language. Parental guidance is suggested. In this world premiere ensemble version, Mike Wiley brings to life the recollections of author Timothy Tyson surrounding the 1970 murder of Henry “Dickie” Marrow in Oxford, NC, and the events that followed.
We invite you to our first Sensory-Friendly Performance! Sensory-friendly performances are designed especially for individuals with autism spectrum disorders, sensory
The folly of the 21st century collides with the madness of Wonderland in this new adaptation that remains fairly faithful to Lewis Carroll’s original tale. Alice is a texting, tweeting, and googling girl of the modern digital era, but she finds herself in the Wonderland of old.
Join the African American Cultural Center of NC State and Raleigh Little Theatre for a conversation with Eddie McCoy, a longtime activist and historian from Oxford, NC, followed by a screening of the film “Blood Done Sign My Name.” Meet us at 6:30 pm in Witherspoon Student Center, Sankofa Room. 2810 Cates Ave., Raleigh, NC on the campus of NC State University.
Exactly like nothing that you’ve ever seen before, not even in a book! This fun, family show follows the adventures of Jack, a young boy with his head in the clouds and his nose in a book of fairy tales.
For everyone who’s always wanted to run away to the theatre, Raleigh Little Theatre will hold its twice-yearly volunteer open house on Wednesday, Mar 21 at 7:00pm on the RLT main stage. (Come win some cool merch too!)
Run extended! 4 performances added March 1-4! The meek floral assistant, Seymour Krelborn, stumbles across a new breed of plant that he names “Audrey II” after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down-and-out Krelborn, as long as he keeps feeding it BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s out-of-this-world origins and intent toward global domination!
Advisory: What We're Up Against is recommended for mature audiences and features adult language. Parental guidance is suggested. Performance added: Saturday, January 20 at 3:00 PM Set in a highly competitive architecture firm, this play is an explosive and hilarious look at the complicated battle of the sexes raging across Cubicle Land. A funny, yet insightful, view of what it means to be female in a male-dominated career and one woman’s response when she tires of slamming into the glass ceiling.
Celebrate the rich and diverse season of African American theater in the Triangle! The Triangle Friends of African American Arts is bringing together several performing arts organizations to showcase the wonderful African American plays and musicals that will hit the stages in 2018. This special evening will include dramatic readings, songs and scenes from upcoming performances.
This musical comedy is a holiday sugarplum for the whole family. Just the right mixture of comedy and romance can add the sparkle of magic to your holiday season. This visually stunning musical combines elegant costumes and scenery with singing, dancing, conniving step relatives, and resourceful fairy folk.
It’s 1950, and new colors are being added to the Red Scare. Two U.S. State Department employees, Bob and Norma, have been tasked with identifying sexual deviants within their ranks. There’s just one problem: both Bob and Norma are gay, and have married each other’s partners as a carefully constructed cover-up.
Join Raleigh Little Theatre & NC State Libraries for a free screening of "The Lavender Scare" at the James B. Hunt Jr. Library on the campus of NC State on Oct 23 at 7:30 PM. This event will happen in the Hunt Library's Auditorium.
One day in class, Grace Campbell discovered that there has never been a female president. “Where are the girls?” she asked, as her third-grade teacher rolls out a poster of all 44 U.S. presidents. Frustrated by the lack of female faces in the White House, Grace decides she wants to be president and inspires a school election.
We’re back for year three of Groove in the Garden in the Stephenson Amphitheater and Rose Garden! Tons of great live music, local food trucks, vendors and more will all be on hand to make our annual garden party one of the most fun days of the year. Suitable for all ages. A portion of the proceeds from this year’s music and arts festival will benefit Girls Rock NC, an organization in central North Carolina that works to empower girls, women, & folks of marginalized genders—through creative expression—to be confident and engaged members of their communities.
It's a Movie, It's a Costume Party, It's gonna be fun! We hope you can attend the first annual Volunteer Appreciation Halloween Movie Event.
Ever wondered what youth classes are all about at Raleigh Little Theatre? Come experience it first-hand at our Youth Classes Open House from 1-4pm. Drop in at the top of every half hour to sample our classes for ages 4-18 year olds, meet some of our teaching artists and education staff and have fun! Please be dressed for play and wear close toed shoes.
Three performances added: September 15 - 17! A moving and celebratory musical play in which hats become a springboard for an exploration of Black history and identity is seen through the eyes of a young black woman who has come down South to stay with her aunt after her brother is killed in Brooklyn.
Join us this summer as we present four FREE outdoor movies on Thursdays in July & August! All movies will be held in the Stephenson Amphitheatre next to the Raleigh Rose Garden.
Marooned and left to die on a remote island, Prospero can command spirits, create apparitions, and manipulate the elements. By using his magic, he assembles his enemies to take revenge on them, and in the process, awakens in Miranda, his teenage daughter, her first experience of love.
Celebrate the 2016-2017 season! It's an evening of volunteer awards and Cantey Awards for actors. Afterwards, catch up with friends at the reception in the Sutton Lobby.
Advisory: “Avenue Q” is recommended for mature audiences. It features adult content, including language, drinking and nude puppets. Parental guidance is suggested. Recent college grad, Princeton, moves into a shabby New York apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. Along with his new friends, Princeton struggles to find a job, date, and discover an ever-elusive purpose in life. Filled with gut-busting humor and a delightfully catchy score, not to mention puppets, this truly unique show has quickly become a favorite for audiences everywhere.
Written by George Brant, Grounded is the story of a hotshot fighter pilot who has to give up flying due to an unexpected pregnancy. She is assigned to fly drones instead, and must juggle the dual realities of killing terrorists by day and going home to her family at night. This production was originally produced by Sonorous Road Productions, stars Michelle Wells, and is directed by Jerome Davis.
Written by Chapel Hill playwright Mike Wiley and originally produced by Cape Fear Regional Theatre, this play investigates the effect of deployment on the families who are left behind by weaving together the often-overlooked stories of real North Carolina military families. Our production is directed by Deb Royals.
Arts Access presents "A Series of Fortunate Events". Join us at RLT for the Theatre Showcase, one of the five talent showcases featuring artists with disabilities in film, music, theatre, literature, and visual art.
Advisory: "A Piece of My Heart" contains adult situations, language, and descriptions of violence that may not be suitable for children under 13. Parental guidance is suggested. Written by Shirley Lauro, a powerful, true drama of six women who went to Vietnam: nurses, a Red Cross volunteer and a USO country-western singer. The latter is booked to entertain the troops by an unscrupulous agent. Follow each young woman’s story before, during, and after her tour in the war-torn nation. It was named “The most enduring play on Vietnam in the nation,” by The Vietnam Vets Association.
When James is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion, which results in a tremendous peach. The peach launches James on a journey of enormous proportions. He finds himself among human-sized insects with equally oversized personalities, and he embarks on a dangerous voyage. Thanks to James’ quick wit and creative thinking, the residents learn to live and work together as a family.
Join your fellow RLT volunteers and their families in the Rose Garden for NCSU's Howling Cow ice cream & toppings, games, and an all 'round good time. The Volunteer Recognition and Appreciation Committee, in conjunction with the Staff of Raleigh Little Theatre, cordially invite you to the annual Ice Cream Social.
A young girl dreams about taking flight in the makeshift airplane that she has built in her backyard. After a huge storm, she finds an elderly woman who looks and sounds like a bird, but who just might be Amelia Earhart. The mysterious lady has taken up residence in the cockpit. Using live sound and puppetry, this play reminds us that, with a little imagination, anything is possible.
Brighton, England, 1963. Francis Henshall finds himself employed by small-time gangster Roscoe Crabbe. Roscoe is in town to collect a fee from his fiancée’s gangster father. However, Roscoe is really Rachel, posing as her own dead brother, and she is in love with Stanley Stubbers (her brother’s killer). Stanley, in turn, becomes our hero’s other “guvnor.” How long can Francis keep “Roscoe” and Stanley apart, and will he ever have time to eat dinner?
The Civil War is over. Throughout the South, slaves are being freed and soldiers are returning home. In one home, the annual celebration of Passover is celebrated by a young Confederate officer, who has been severely wounded, and two former slaves. However, the pain of enslavement will not be soothed by this tradition. Deeply buried secrets from the past refuse to be hidden forever, as the play comes to its thrilling conclusion.
This musical comedy is a holiday sugarplum for the whole family; just the right mixture of comedy and romance to add the sparkle of magic to your holiday season. A visually stunning musical combining elegant costumes and scenery with song, dance, conniving step-relatives and resourceful fairy-folk.