What character do you play? How would you describe your character in three words?
Marie-Catherine Le Jumble de Barnesville, Baroness d’Aulnoy. Three words for that long title! Fierce. Dedicated. Courageous.

Why is this play important right now?
Women still fight for agency and equal recognition for work. Much more than just equal pay, which in 2018 is an embarrassing divide to still be bridging. The message about expression through art and ownership of stories is also one that we certainly have in the forefront today, as those not represented on stages and screens are finally having breakthrough moments and finally being able to tell their stories.

People should go see this play because...
Fairy tales are part of our fabric, and we all have different experiences with their place and meaning in our life, most often childhood. Seeing their origins and finding true heroes (or heroines!) will have the audience reflecting on these experiences with a new perspective. Plus- puppets!

What is your favorite fairy tale?
My favorite fairy tale is more of a folk tale—"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". I love the darker tales and that Gothic aesthetic, and colonial American history fascinates me.

What character do you play? How would you describe your character in three words?
I’m Henri, and in rehearsal the other day my three words were “she’s a bitch.” So I followed the brief! But I’d say she’s strong, aggressive, and...well, a bitch.

What has the rehearsal process been like so far?
Fun! It’s been a couple of years since I’ve worked on a show, so there’s a bit of a learning curve. Especially when there’s puppets involved. I know how I learn well enough to figure it out, but it’s a bit uphill. I’m enjoying it, though. Feels good to flex the muscles!

What is your favorite fairy tale?
I've always been drawn to "Beauty and the Beast." I like the eerie quality of Jean Cocteau's film, and the intelligence and independence of Belle in the Disney version. The ultimate sacrifice of trading your own life/happiness/freedom for that of a loved one (exhibited by Belle near the beginning and the Beast at the end) have always drawn me to this story.

What character do you play? How would you describe your character in three words?
I'm playing Charlotte - instinctive, dramatic, playful.

People should go see this play because...
Have you ever wondered how fairy tales were really supposed to end? Do your eyes roll back in your head when you hear "happily ever after"? Do you crave stories with rotting corpses, cursed children, and skulls being cleaved in two, all wrapped up with the pink, sparkly ribbon of a French corset? Then this play might be right up your alley.

What character do you play? How would you describe your character in three words?
Jeanne in Scene 1 - eager, impressionable, innocent; Jeanne in Scene 3 - confident, sophisticated, self-reliant

People should go see this play because...
It's a story you probably haven't heard. I think it might surprise and educate audience members about these women that history has seemed to overlook. Also because puppets.

What has the rehearsal process been like so far?
We've been doing the essential blocking, scene and character work, but we've also been learning puppetry. We started out with learning the basics (breathing with the puppet, moving it in the space, etc.), and with every rehearsal, we dig deeper into the actual scenes with the puppets. It's been really fun to see how they and those scenes come to life. David has created beautiful puppets that bring a magical element to the story that I think will be enjoyable for audiences.

What character do you play? How would you describe your character in three words?
Charles Perrault - intelligent, mysterious, crafty. Plays the game.

People should go see this play because...
It's a great ensemble piece with a fantastic cast.

Describe this play in three words.
Fierce. Stylish. Timely.

What is this play about?
I think the play is about choice. The women in our play are faced with a landscape that does not allow them freedom to pursue their interests (love and career) in a meaningful way. It's interesting to see these women make the choices that they do when they are put into situations that are fairly oppressive.

Why is this play important right now?
Unearthing these women's stories is an important step in recognizing the tremendous contributions that women have made to the arts and world. Understanding what they accomplished and how they were dismissed/forgotten from history is significant.

Describe this play in three words.
Champagne. Puppets. Friendship.

What is this play about?
To me, this play is about the power of storytelling - how the stories we tell ourselves and each other shape our lives, hopes, and communities.

People should go see this play because...
Women have been writing stories for as long as humans have been telling them, and it's inspiring to learn about the work they were doing at a time when it's easy to believe most women were meekly reading by the fire. These women led brave, difficult, adventurous lives and hopefully this play does justice to their spunk and determination!

Why is this play important right now?
It's easy for cultural evolutions to last for a brief moment, a flash in the pan. Lasting change depends on changing the stories we tell. Whose experience is centered? Who has agency, and voice? This play reflects on the power of reshaping old stories to amplify the voices of people who have been marginalized -- as well as offering a cautionary tale about how easy it is to return to the old way of telling stories. Those narratives run deep, and they are difficult to extract. This play sheds light on those dark unconscious places and challenges everyone to reexamine what stories we are drawn to, and why.

What is your favorite fairy tale?
Lately, I've been reading all kinds of wonderful stories about women pirates like Cheng I Sao, Mary Read, and Sadie the Goat. By nature, piracy has always been a mix of fact and legend, which becomes even more true for women. I love reading these stories and trying to decipher what was real and what is mythology.

What is this play about?
Fierce French ladies trying to be everything they want to be but "The Man" keeps getting in their way.
 
People should go see this play because...
How often do we get to watch a group of women interact in a way that is funny, intelligent, frivolous, bawdy, and powerful all at once? How often do they get to do it with beautiful costumes, puppets, and a dash of magic? Almost never. Thankfully, this play is here to fill that void.

What is your favorite fairy tale?
"Cinderella." I always loved the transformation and the magic and the spectacle, along with the idea that love/the purity of heart always win in the end. And, I always wanted to wear that dress and THOSE SHOES!!

What is this play about?
At its heart, our play asks: How may a strong, independent individual live the life they dream and make their voice truly heard in an oppressive and patriarchal system that's determined to bring them down? Even though this play is based on real-life historical figures from the 17th century, it feels like it could be taking place in 2018.

Describe this play in three words.
Fairy tales. Feminism. Puppets.