The Christmas Princess facts for kids

The Christmas Princess is a funny play for kids. It was written by Arthur M. Jolly. It first opened in Los Angeles in December 2005. A company called YouthPlays, Inc. publishes the play.

It's a modern fairy tale. It mixes ideas from old European stories, like those by the Brothers Grimm, with Japanese folklore. Many schools and local community theatre groups enjoy performing The Christmas Princess.

Performances of The Christmas Princess

The very first show opened on December 2, 2005. It was performed by The Coop Theatre Company in Los Angeles. Robert Miano was the first actor to play King Heironymous.

More Shows and Famous Actors

The play was performed again in 2007 at the Black Box Theatre. Paul Messinger directed this show. Monica Juodvalkis created the dances. A famous TV and movie actor, Erik von Detten, played the handsome Prince. This was his first time acting on stage.

In December 2009, the play returned to the 3rd Street Promenade Playhouse. One actor, John Frank, played in all three Los Angeles shows. He first played the Jester, then the Bear, and finally King Heironymous.

Other groups have also performed the play. These include the Fremont Civic Theatre, the Magnolia Arts Council in Arkansas, and the Muskegon Civic Theatre in Michigan.

What Happens in The Christmas Princess?

The story begins with a jester, who isn't very good at his job! He introduces a make-believe kingdom. A cold queen and a grumpy king, King Heironymous, rule this land. They have a daughter, a very beautiful but spoiled princess. Her parents want her to marry a handsome, but not very smart, prince on Christmas Day.

The King tells the Jester he must make him laugh by Christmas Day. If not, the Jester will be sent to a dungeon.

The Princess's Plan

The Princess doesn't want to marry the prince her parents chose. She wants to find a way out of the wedding. So, she dresses up as a maid. She goes to ask Watt the Witch for help. The Witch tells her to find three magical gifts. These gifts will help her escape the wedding.

Things get tricky when the handsome prince arrives a day early. He sees the Princess dressed as a maid. He thinks she is the real princess and falls for her!

Adventures and Surprises

While the Princess is on her journey, she meets a handsome but poor woodsman. She also faces a scary bear and an even scarier dragon! Meanwhile, the Jester tries to keep the King from finding out the truth.

On Christmas morning, the Princess has found her magical gifts. But they are not as magical as she thought! The King and Queen discover the Maid and the Prince. Then, they find out the Woodsman and the Prince are not who they seem. In the end, just like in classic fairy tales, everyone lives happily ever after.