The Emperor’s New Clothes…
About The Emperor’s New Clothes…
A normal day at the park becomes so much more when a young girl gets swept away into four of Hans Christian Andersen’s famous fairy tales: The Princess and the Pea, The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Nightingale and The Ugly Duckling.
I inherited a 1904 book of Andersen’s Fairy Tales from my mother, it was one of my favorite book of stories when I was a kid. Some of the stories are very funny, and many are magical. I read them over and over, and imagined I was one of the characters in the stories I loved. The link between the four I chose to dramatize, is a girl who magically finds herself a character in each of them. Being a writer can sometimes fulfill a long ago dream!
– Barbara Zinn Krieger, Writer
This show is about transformation and the experience of losing yourself in a good story. The main character begins the play having forgotten how magical, mysterious, funny, scary, and uplifting a great story can be. She travels through three of Andersen’s famous fairy tales – The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Nightingale, and the Ugly Duckling – and comes back home with a new awareness that if you look around you, the possibility for stories is everywhere.
Hans Christian Andersen wrote thousands of tales, many of which we know off by heart to this day. My hope is that this show, like a good story, is enjoyed by everyone who comes to see it, regardless of age. As a reviewer once said of Andersen’s book, Wonderful Stories for Children, this play is full of life and fancy; a book for grandfathers no less than grandchildren.
– Adrienne Kapstein, Director
Show Credits
Adapted for the Stage by Barbara Zinn Krieger
Devised and Directed by Adrienne Kapstein
Original Music by Charles Greenberg
Starring:
- Ayla Bellamy
- Tali Custer
- Emmanuel Elpenord
- Laura Hankin
- Nadav Wiesel
What Audiences are Saying about The Emperor’s New Clothes…
Made for a Great Conversation
The stage direction was outstanding! The 4 fairy tales were woven and seamlessly together and we loved the integration of modern everyday references into these timeless tales. We also enjoyed meeting the actors after the show. We truly loved this show and were grateful to spend time together as a family watching these thought provoking story tales. They made for great conversation among us afterward.
— NYC MomHe was Belly Laughing the Whole Time
We had a great experience! I was more excited to bring my 5 year old to his first taste of theatre than he was but he was belly laughing the whole time. Awesome!! Before bed he asked “mommy, how do you write a play!?” Thanks for keeping the spirit of theatre alive for our little ones!
— NYC MomMy Daughters were Captivated!
What a creative and beautiful retelling. My daughters were captivated. The moment it ended, one asked if we could watch it again! I loved the underlying message of getting off your phones to read stories!
— NYC MomMy 6-year old and I Thoroughly Enjoyed It!
Lovely show with some amazing acting and very creative features! And, filled with great and kind humor. Just wonderful. My 6-year old and I thoroughly enjoyed.
— NYC MomInventive, Intelligent Children’s Theater
This was the most inventive, intelligent children’s theatre piece I have seen in ages! Bravo!
— NYC MomOne of Best Family Shows in NYC for Christmas 2018!
The Emperor’s New Clothes — Midtown West
Saturday, November 24 through Saturday, December 22
Ages 5 to 8
The kid-lit lovers at New York City Children’s Theater bring a quartet of Hans Christian Andersen tales to life: The Princess and the Pea, The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Nightingale and The Ugly Duckling. This hour-long performance offers a great introduction to the rich stories of the 19th-century Danish author. Arrive early for pre-show crafts and stick around afterward for photo ops with the cast.
“Transcends Pure Entertainment” – The NY Times
“The Emperor’s New Clothes, at the Clurman Theater, is as devoted to making children reflect as to making them laugh. Adapted by Barbara Zinn Krieger and devised and directed by Adrienne Kapstein, the play begins in the present in Central Park, where a girl, intent on texting, sits down next to Andersen’s famous statue. The statue (Emmanuel Elpenord) stirs to life…The Emperor’s New Clothes and More Magical Stories transcends pure entertainment…it is as poignant as Andersen might have wished.”
— Laurel Graeber, The New York TimesMade for a Great Conversation
The stage direction was outstanding! The 4 fairy tales were woven and seamlessly together and we loved the integration of modern everyday references into these timeless tales. We also enjoyed meeting the actors after the show. We truly loved this show and were grateful to spend time together as a family watching these thought provoking story tales. They made for great conversation among us afterward.
— NYC MomHe was Belly Laughing the Whole Time
We had a great experience! I was more excited to bring my 5 year old to his first taste of theatre than he was but he was belly laughing the whole time. Awesome!! Before bed he asked “mommy, how do you write a play!?” Thanks for keeping the spirit of theatre alive for our little ones!
— NYC MomMy Daughters were Captivated!
What a creative and beautiful retelling. My daughters were captivated. The moment it ended, one asked if we could watch it again! I loved the underlying message of getting off your phones to read stories!
— NYC MomMy 6-year old and I Thoroughly Enjoyed It!
Lovely show with some amazing acting and very creative features! And, filled with great and kind humor. Just wonderful. My 6-year old and I thoroughly enjoyed.
— NYC MomInventive, Intelligent Children’s Theater
This was the most inventive, intelligent children’s theatre piece I have seen in ages! Bravo!
— NYC MomOne of Best Family Shows in NYC for Christmas 2018!
The Emperor’s New Clothes — Midtown West
Saturday, November 24 through Saturday, December 22
Ages 5 to 8
The kid-lit lovers at New York City Children’s Theater bring a quartet of Hans Christian Andersen tales to life: The Princess and the Pea, The Emperor’s New Clothes, The Nightingale and The Ugly Duckling. This hour-long performance offers a great introduction to the rich stories of the 19th-century Danish author. Arrive early for pre-show crafts and stick around afterward for photo ops with the cast.
“Transcends Pure Entertainment” – The NY Times
“The Emperor’s New Clothes, at the Clurman Theater, is as devoted to making children reflect as to making them laugh. Adapted by Barbara Zinn Krieger and devised and directed by Adrienne Kapstein, the play begins in the present in Central Park, where a girl, intent on texting, sits down next to Andersen’s famous statue. The statue (Emmanuel Elpenord) stirs to life…The Emperor’s New Clothes and More Magical Stories transcends pure entertainment…it is as poignant as Andersen might have wished.”
— Laurel Graeber, The New York Times