'A Little Princess' debuts 'A Little Princess' debuts (August 27, 2004)

TheatreWorks stages world premiere of beloved children's book

By Julie O'Shea

After months of anticipation, TheatreWorks will open "A Little Princess," a new musical based on the Frances Hodgson Burnett children's novel, this Saturday at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts.

The buzz for the show is big, with regional theater boards gushing about the long awaited arrival of Brian Crawley and Andrew Lippa's latest work. What's more: Broadway reportedly has an eye on it, and if things go well in Mountain View, the musical could end up hitting the New York theater circuit relatively soon.

"I'm totally ready for it. There's been talk of that for years," said Crawley, who penned the musical's book and lyrics, while Lippa composed the score.

Staging the first run here on the Peninsula is "just a strategic kind of thing," Crawley added. "They like to take it out of town and work out all the kinks before it hits the New York critics."

Bringing "A Little Princess" to Mountain View, however, happened somewhat by accident. Initially, when Crawley and Lippa were first approached about doing the show, it was supposed to be geared toward an Australian audience, with the lead character being the father, not the little girl.

Needless to say, a lot has changed since then. For one, the story will remain focused on the adventures of Sara Crewe, the show's precocious heroine who goes from riches to rags during her stay at a prep school in Victorian England after her father is reported dead.

In addition, Crawley decided to begin his "Princess" in Africa and not in India, the setting of Burnett's 1909 classic. He also opted to change the ending all together, but promises loyal Burnett fans won't be disappointed.

Four years ago, "Princess" director Susan H. Schulman and Tony award-winning scenic designer Heidi Ettinger, who did the sets for this production, had just finished staging another show together in Australia when producers there asked the duo if they had anything else in the works. Schulman and Ettinger promptly proposed adapting "A Little Princess" into a musical. The Aussies immediately loved the idea, but as time wore on, the deal to produce the show in Australia fell through.

Schulman and Ettinger commissioned TheatreWorks veterans Lippa and Crawley to write the musical, which soon found a spot on the Silicon Valley company's 35th season lineup.

"You always want to do the first (run) in a very nurturing environment, and we thought this was it," said Schulman, who directed "The Secret Garden" on Broadway.

Theatergoers "are going to love the music," Schulman said. Just as easily, though, audiences are going to fall in love with 15-year-old Mackenzie Mauzy, who plays the show's young heroine.

More than 300 girls auditioned for the part of Sara Crewe before Mauzy, who's been acting since she was 5, was selected for the role.

"She just got it. She just knew it," Schulman said of her lead. "Not too many girls can convincingly do period (pieces.) They don't have the history."

Mauzy, however, "had a style about her that was very elegant," the director said.

The actress, who was reluctantly trying to do homework during a rehearsal break last week, said she was delighted she was picked for the part.

"It's really great to originate a role," Mauzy said. "Sara's very strong willed and compassionate. I like the character. She's very cool.

"It's a great show for all ages," she added. "I love doing this."

E-mail Julie O'Shea at joshea@mv-voice.com

Information

What: TheatreWorks presents "A Little Princess," a new musical by Brian Crawley and Andrew Lippa, based on the book by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Where: Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St.

When: Opens Aug. 28 at 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays 8 p.m. Saturdays at 8 p.m. with additional 2 p.m. performances Sept. 4 and 18; Sundays at 2 p.m. with additional 7 p.m. performance Aug. 29; Aug. 31 and Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m.; 7 p.m. only for Sept. 12 "Visual Voice" audio-described performances are available Sept. 17-18 at 8 p.m. and Sept. 19 at 2 p.m.; Closes Sept. 19.

Cost: $20-$48

Call: 903-6000 or visit theatreworks.org

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