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Below the bright lights of Broadway, in the depths of the historic Sovereign Theatre, an acting troupe of mice rehearse their new musical. When the theatre is threatened by demolition and their diva Adelaide disappears, it will take all paws on deck to fulfill the time-honored tradition: the show must go on! Filled with singing, dancing, and show biz lore, The Great American Mousical is a sharp and witty tribute to life in the theatre that celebrates the two most glorious words in the English language: musical comedy!

• Music by Zina Goldrich
• Lyrics by Marcy Heisler
• Book by Hunter Bell
• Based on the book by Julie Andrews Edwards and Emma Walton Hamilton
• Scenic and Costume Design by Tony Walton
• Choreographed by Christopher Gattelli
• Directed by Julie Andrews

BACKGROUND:  Julie Andrews returns to Goodspeed to direct the brand new musical The Great American Mousical at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn.  A stellar team of Broadway luminaries form the creative team for this smart and funny tribute to Broadway musicals, including Zina Goldrich (Music) and Marcy Heisler (Lyrics) who both received Drama Desk Awards for Dear Edwina, Hunter Bell (Book) who was nominated for a Tony Award for [title of show],   Tony Walton (Sets and Costumes) who has received an Oscar, Emmy and 3 Tony Awards, Richard Pilbrow (Lighting) veteran of Broadway and London’s West End, along with Christopher Gattelli (Choreographer) who recently won a Tony Award for his thrilling work on the latest Broadway hit Newsies.  It will be the “event of the season” and a show that anyone who enjoys a Broadway musical will love.

THEATRE:  The Norma Terris Theatre
33 North Main Street
Chester, Conn. 06412

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:  November 8-December 2, 2012

• Wed 2:00pm & 7:30 pm
• Thurs 7:30 pm
• Fri 8:00 pm
• Sat 3:00 & 8:00 pm
• Sun 2:00 & 6:30 pm

Click here to buy tickets:

Julie Andrews’ Treasury for All Seasons: Poems and Songs to Celebrate the Year

From the cold of winter to the new hope of spring, the brisk fall to the steamy summer, Caldecott Honor illustrator Marjorie Priceman’s vibrant watercolor paintings ring in every month of the year, bringing each season to joyful life.

Featuring verse from favorites like Walt Whitman, Jack Prelutsky, and Langston Hughes and poetic lyrics from the likes of Cole Porter and Oscar Hammerstein, plus heartfelt introductions by Julie Andrews describing favorite family holiday moments, this is the perfect collection for families to share together.

Available in [Hardcover]

[Audiobook, CD, Unabridged] [Audio CD]

2. Learn about our modern-day princesses and what causes they support. To view a preliminary list, go to The Very Fairy Princess or Julie Andrews Collection.

3. Read princess stories. Here are a few suggestions:

Picture Books for Younger Princesses

• Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots? by Carmela LaVigna Coyle and Mike Gordon
• Not All Princesses Dress in Pink by Jane Yolen
• The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
• The Princess and the Pea, by Lauren Child
• The Princess Knight by Cornelia Funke
• The Twelve Dancing Princesses (Mulberry books) by Marianna Mayer

… and of course, The Very Fairy Princess, The Very Fairy Princess Takes the Stage and The Very Fairy Princess: Here Comes the Flower Girl by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton.

Chapter Books for Older Princesses

• The King’s Equal by Katherine Paterson
• The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye
• The Plain Princess by Phyllis McGinley
• Princess Academy by Shannon Hale
• The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

4. Watch princess movies! Here are a few ideas:

5. Sleep like a princess! Pick up a Very Fairy Princess nightie or pajama set from Books to Bed. Make a simple princess canopy out of tulle to hang over your bed, and place a lavender sachet underneath your pillow for the full effect. (It’s best to forego any peas under the mattress.)

6. Present someone with an honorary award for something special, just like princesses do. You can download a “Very Fairy Princess Certificate of Outstanding Sparkle” from the Julie Andrews Collection and fill in the blanks, or you can make your own for “Outstanding Service or Contribution to… “ (our home, school, the family, the arts, etc.) Ask the honoree to kneel, then dub them gently on each shoulder with a wand as you present it to them.

7. Be charitable. Pick a charity or cause you are passionate about, such as a local animal shelter, food kitchen or literacy program, and make a donation or offer to volunteer.

8. Practice a royal wave – hold your arm out straight, bend it at the elbow, then with a relaxed, open palm, rotate your wrist side-to-side lightly, as you would if you were screwing in a light bulb.

9. Perfect your curtsy. The curtsy (which originates from the word “courtesy,”) is a gesture of respect (the male equivalent is a bow.) Princesses usually curtsy when greeting or taking leave of someone (especially the King or Queen) and prior to dancing with a partner.

Here’s how to do it correctly:

• Lower your head respectfully.
• Take hold of your skirt with both hands and hold it out sideways just a little bit. (If your skirt is too narrow, then hold your hands out to the side, palms upward.)
• Bend slowly as you lift your right foot and place it behind your left foot.
• Keep bending your knees with one foot forward, and the upper body straight, eyes lowered.
• Rise up slowly.

10. Wear a tiara to breakfast (or lunch, or dinner or tea!)

11. Download a copy of the free Very Fairy Princess app to your iPhone or iPad. Customize your own wand, and upload a photo of yourself to crown with a tiara and send to friends and family.

12. Bake a castle cake, princess cupcakes or crown cookies. You can find recipes and instructions online, or pick up one of Barbara Beery’s many princess cookbooks, such as the Pink Princess Cookbook or Pink Princess Party Cookbook.

Sing or play princess songs/music. Of course, there are scores to choose from in the Disney Princess canon, and here a few other ideas:

• “Princess” – Elton John
• “Princess” – from A Man of No Importance, Stephen Flaherty/Lynn Ahrens
• “Opening for a Princess” and “Happily Ever After” – from Once Upon a Mattress, Mary Rodgers/Marshall Barer
• “I Wonder What the King is Doing Tonight” – from Camelot, Lerner & Lowe
• “The Prince is Giving a Ball” and “Impossible” – from Cinderella, Rodgers and Hammerstein
• “Your Crowning Glory” – from The Princess Diaries 2, Lorraine Feather, Lawrence Grossman
• “To Be A Princess” from Barbie’s The Princess and the Pauper, Megan Cavallari/Amy Powers
• “Very Nice Prince” and “On the Steps of the Palace,” from Into the Woods, Stephen Sondheim
• Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Swan Lake by Pyotr Tchaikovsky
• Soundtrack from The Princess Bride, Mark Knopfler

14.  Play princess games. You can choose board games, such as Pretty, Pretty Princess; Disney Princess Monopoly or Memory and Kiss the Frog, or play princess games online at . You can also go to Julie and Emma to download an assortment of Very Fairy Princess coloring pages, memory games, mazes and word searches .

15. Put together a bouquet of ‘royal’ flowers or roses. Some ideas:

Flowers: Princess Feather, Princess Flower, Queen Anne’s Lace, Queen Anne’s Thimbles, Queen of the Meadow, Royal Bluebell.

Roses: Crown Princess Margareta, Crowning Glory, Crystal Palace, Dancing Queen, Fairy Queen, Fire Princess, Gracious Queen, Her Majesty, Prince Charles, Princess Alexandra, Princess Alice, Princess Of Wales, Princess Royal, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mother, Royal Celebration, Royal Occasion, Royal Gold, Royal Salute, Royal William, Rose Royalty

16.  Make your own family crest. Draw the shape of a shield and write your last name in the center. Choose a motto, such as “Let Your Sparkle Out,” or “Family First,” and write it under your name. Select two to four family values, such as loyalty, respect, honesty, courage etc. and two to four symbols (animals, shapes, items from nature etc.) and place them around or above and below your name and motto. Color it in!  Alternatively, here are two fun websites that allow you to design your own family crest using their templates for free:  Make Your Coat of Arms or A Family of Crests

17. Make a princess collage. Search through old magazines and catalogues for pictures of anything princess-related. Consider everything from beautiful gowns, castles, horses, jewels, etc. to Cut or tear them out and paste them together on a large sheet of paper. Add stickers, jewels, sequins, feathers or other decorations

18. Design or build your own castle. You can build one from Legos, blocks, stones or sand. You can draw one from scratch or color one in from a coloring book. You can write out a description of your castle – what color it is, how many towers and rooms it has, etc. -  or you can make one online, at Your Child Learns.

19. Princesses are patrons of the arts. Attend a play, musical, concert or other arts performance – and dress up for it! You can also put on a show or recital of your own for your family and friends. Make up your own princess story, or do your own version of Cinderella or even The Very Fairy Princess. Set a time for the performance, and make a poster and programs for your audience members, telling them the name of the show, who the performers are and what roles they will play. Set up chairs for your audience, then ask them to sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

20. Princesses are very thoughtful. Make someone smile with a kind statement or gesture as many times a day as possible. Do small favors for loved ones and offer to help wherever you see a need.

21. Cultivate someone else’s inner sparkle! Send a home-made thank you note, birthday greeting, get well or just-because-I-love-you card to a friend or family member. Write, “You sparkle when…” and then fill in what you particularly admire or appreciate about that person.

22. Step out in style. Princesses always dress stylishly, even when they’re not attending a ball or on official duty, and each has a signature look that is uniquely her own. Choose clothes that express who you are and reflect your confidence and creativity. Of course, always remember that a princess’s best accessory is her smile!

23. For older princesses who might want to take princess style a step further, study and experiment with Hime gyaru – a fashion style from Japan that draws inspiration from Rococo France and European royalty. The literal translation is “Princess Girl”.  Girls who enjoy the style often attach the “hime” suffix to the end of their name in Japanese, rather than the traditional chan/san, thereby indicating they are a princess, i.e. Keiko Hime = Princess Keiko.

24. Princesses are very mindful of their posture. Improve yours by imagining you are wearing a crown at all times, or that you have a string attached to the top of your head pulling you up straight. Another good exercise is to put a book on your head and walk gracefully without letting the book fall.

25. Sharpen your ballroom dancing skills! Younger princesses can practice with Mom, Dad, a sibling or even a favorite teddy bear.  Ask parents or grandparents to teach you how to waltz. Older princesses might sign up for a ballroom dancing class, and learn how to dance beautifully and gracefully with a princely partner. (Just remember to be home by midnight!)

26. Practice sitting like a princess. When princesses wear skirts or dresses, they cross their legs at the ankle, with both legs angled to the side and one foot tucked gracefully behind the other.

27. Polish up your manners and your social graces. At gatherings, show interest in others. Be the first to start a conversation by asking people about themselves, their travels etc. At meals, keep your hands on your lap between courses and never put your elbows on the table.

28. Learn how to step into and out of a carriage (or car) with grace: Turn your body slightly sideways, and step in with the foot closet to the carriage. Bend forward slightly and lower yourself onto the seat. Draw your outside leg in after you. You can also keep both legs together and sit first, then draw them up and in after you. Do the reverse when exiting.

29. Learn the words to a Royal National Anthem – or, make up your own. Here are the words to the English anthem, “God Save the Queen”:

God save our gracious Queen
Long live our noble Queen
God save our Queen
Send her victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
God save our Queen!

30. Believe in yourself! Only then can you truly let your sparkle out for all the world to see!

Announcing the new Very Fairy Princess free app for iPhone and iPad! Young princes and princesses can cultivate their sparkle with the Very Sparkly Wand feature: Choose from three colors and sounds and add a little sparkle to anything you wish with just a flick of the iPhone or iPad. They can also see themselves as the princes or princess they truly are with the Sparkly Photo feature, which offers a choice of three crowns added to a photo taken with the app or uploaded from your photo library. You can then email, post, or tweet your picture for all your friends and family to see! There’s also information about the series, of course, and a gallery of images and captions from the books.

Click here to find out more: The Very Fairy Princess for iPhone

Christine Davenier’s whimsically elegant illustrations include lush garden scenes and plenty of wedding flowers in this spirited follow-up to The Very Fairy Princess and The Very Fairy Princess Takes the Stage.

Click here to purchase

“Throughout my career as an actress and author, I’ve encouraged children to use their imaginations and dream big,” said Julie Andrews. “Joining Disney and Target to create National Princess Week is an extension of my work — a moment in time for children to celebrate their individuality and let their inner sparkle shine.”

Throughout National Princess Week, Target will showcase a variety of products designed to engage every princess, including:

– 10th Anniversary release of a very special two-movie collection featuring two modern-day fairy tales, “The Princess Diaries” and “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” — starring Julie Andrews and Anne Hathaway, and available for the first time ever on Blu-ray™.

– Target guests will also find Julie Andrews’ “The Very Fairy Princess: Here Comes the Flower Girl!” co-authored with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton, and published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. It is the latest publication in their critically-acclaimed No. 1 New York Times best-selling “The Very Fairy Princess” children’s franchise. The book follows a little girl, Geraldine, through her adventures readying for her aunt’s wedding and the magic that happens when she helps others.

– Fans of Disney’s beloved princess characters will find an array of themed merchandise at Target stores and Target.com. Items include Blu-rays, books, toys, bedroom décor, games and more, inspired by Disney’s classic animated films including “Beauty and The Beast,” “The Princess and The Frog,” and “Tangled,” starting at just $5. Guests can view the full selection of products by visiting Target.com/Princess.

“Disney and Julie Andrews have inspired the imaginations of generations of children and families,” said Casey Carl, Target’s senior vice president. “We’re excited to bring that magic to Target guests everywhere and offer them an opportunity to create a princess experience through re-released Blu-rays, books, toys and other merchandise.”

Poetry Anthology Teachers Guide

As a young girl growing up in Tours, France, Christine Davenier loved listening to her older sister read fairy tales aloud. But she frequently found herself wondering, What does the princess’s beautiful dress look like? or, How exquisite are her jewels? Christine was left to her own imagination, for the books had few illustrations. So it comes as little surprise that today, Christine embraces her career as an illustrator. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to create the illustrations I dreamed about seeing as a child,” she says.

When Christine was fourteen, she received her first box of watercolor paints, a gift from her grandmother. That was the beginning of many afternoons spent painting together in her grandmother’s garden. “My grandmother was an extraordinary woman,” Christine says. “Even though she worked in an office all her life, she was an artist through and through. She shared everything she knew about color—in painting and in life. Her wisdom and talent still inspire me today.”

Christine lives in Paris, France.

Gerry’s sparkle radiates from the page once more through Christine Davenier’s whimsically elegant illustrations in this spirited, ballet-themed follow-up to The Very Fairy Princess.