Nancy loves everything fancy, from the clothes she wears to the way she speaks. Join Fancy Nancy and her friends, Bree, Rhonda, Wanda, and Lionel as they get ready for their first school recital. Everyone is super-excited! Nancy and Bree know they would be perfect mermaids, but Nancy is stuck playing a dreary, dull tree. Through singing, dancing, and a little help from her grown-up friends, Nancy discovers that being fancy comes in many forms – all it takes is imagination. In this sparkling musical, Fancy Nancy learns that by working together, everyone can shine!
Walnut Street Theatre for Kids encourages families to read together and discover a whole new level of imagination when they see books come to life onstage. Thousands of local students attend WST for Kids performances and experience live theatre for the first time as part of school trips. Fancy Nancy: The Musical has special student matinee performances March 26th, March 27th, April 9th and April 10th. The Walnut takes pride in bringing families together, introducing students to live theatre, and beginning a creative conversation through reading and the arts.
Fancy Nancy: The Musical is based on the popular book series by Jane O’Connor. This year marks the 10th anniversary of her series that has sold over 20 million copies. Her first Fancy Nancy book was published in 2005 and spent 100 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list. Inspired by her own childhood, and her inner desire to be fancy, O’Connor has created a sensation, publishing over 65 Fancy Nancy picture and storybooks, novelettes and activity books. A mother of two boys, her favorite part of the ‘Fancy’ craze is seeing everyone all dressed up in their finest for book readings and musical events. Adding to O’Connor’s stories is illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser, whose images lead kids through Nancy’s colorful world of playtime and dress-up. Glasser began her career as a soloist in the Pennsylvania Ballet, and now enjoys the popularity of her illustrations for children’s books including Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move. Glasser, who says she does her best Fancy Nancy illustrating when wearing her lace socks, was the 2013 Children's Choice Illustrator of the Year Award-winner for Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet.
A recipient of the coveted Kleban Award, Susan DiLallo adapted Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet for the stage through her creative script. DiLallo, along with award-winning lyricist and composer Danny Abosch, wrote the shows lyrics. Abosch, whose music has been featured on the TV shows Dance Moms and Last Call with Carson Daly and in the films Waiting in the Wings and Missed Connections, also created Fancy Nancy’s up-beat musical score.
Doylestown native Ellie Mooney brings the entire fancy spectacle to life as Director and Choreographer. She says, “It’s easy to love a little girl like Nancy. From her tiara to her sparkly shoes, everything about her is Fancy. Bringing her to life from the page to the stage in this playful and colorful world has been such fun. Kids will love her imagination and adults will be reminded of how great it was to play a game of dress-up.” Mooney’s directing and choreography credits include A Kid’s Life (Off-Broadway and National Tour), Mulan Jr. (Ohana Arts), Mean Girlz R Bullies 2 (Walnut’s Touring Outreach Program) and was associate director and choreographer for I Love a Piano (three National Tours and Japan). She was most recently seen on stage at the Walnut in Mary Poppins, with additional credits including 9 to 5: The Musical, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, The Music Man and Amadeus. Mooney is also a teacher at The Theatre School at Walnut Street Theatre. Mark Yurkanin (Stinky Cheese Man, A Christmas Carol, Pinkalicious) joins the production as the Music and Vocal Director.
From playtime in the living room, to Nancy’s colorful underwater recital, Scenic Designer Jenn Callaghan creates a stage fit for any kid’s fantasy. Callaghan is the Walnut’s Properties Apprentice and is making her Walnut debut as Scenic Designer with this production. Turning Nancy and her friends into fashionistas are Walnut’s Costume Apprentices Sara Lindsey and Kayla Speedy. The Walnut welcomes back Sound Designer Ryan Peavey (A Christmas Carol, Pinkalicious) and Lighting Designer J. Dominic Chacon (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice).
The cast of Fancy Nancy: The Musical are all members of The Theatre School at Walnut Street Theatre. They have most recently been seen in WST for Kids’ production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. In the title role of Nancy is Alanna Smith, alongside Brianna Pope-McBride as Nancy’s best friend Bree. The funny and talkative Lionel is played by Quinn Lashinsky, and Rhonda is played by Alex Eltzroth. Jamie Beth-Weist joins the cast as Wanda and Nancy’s Mom.
The media sponsor for Walnut Street Theatre for Kids is Courier Post. Tickets are only $14-$16 with group discounts available for groups of ten or more. Study guides are available for teachers and school groups on the Walnut’s website. For tickets and information, please call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787. Tickets can also be purchased online at Ticketmaster or by visiting the Walnut’s website at www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org.
