Sleeping Beauty and Her Winter Knight Take the Stage in TUTS’ Holiday Show

SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT, presented by Theatre Under The Stars, has incredible lineup of stunning stars of stage and television

Take in the talented cast of SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT with Broadway star and Tony Award winner, Debbie Gravitte, as Carabosse, the evil fairy, Broadway and Seinfeld star John O’Hurley as “The King of Houston”; star of Disney’s Teen Beach Movie, Garrett Clayton, as “The Prince of River Oaks”; star of Disney’s Best Friends Whenever, Lauren Taylor, as “Princess Aurora”; American Idol’s, Vonzell Solomon, as “The Good Fairy,” from Henry Danger on Nickelodeon, Ben Giroux, as “Silly Billy,” and from the National Tour of HAPPY DAYS, Jeff Sumner as “Nanny Tickle.” 

SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT tells the story of Princess Aurora who is cursed by an evil fairy, Carabosse, and of the handsome Prince who is on a quest to save his Sleeping Beauty before it’s too late.

An updated version of the classic Grimm fairytale, in the style of a traditional British family Panto, SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT is a singing and soaring winter adventure that features family-friendly magic, with a comedic twist, dancing (with So You Think You Can Dance alumni), a live pony, interaction with the audience and contemporary music from Jessie J’s “Domino” to John Legend’s “All Of Me”, Pharrell Williams “Happy” to Survivor’s “Eye of The Tiger” and more.

SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT runs December 12 – 24, 2017 in Sarofim Hall at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

Meet Humphrey School of Musical Theatre student, Abriel Coleman of the Children’s Ensemble, who will be making her TUTS Mainstage debut in the show:

1. Share how you got into theatre and what type of training have you had up to this point?     My parents said I basically always sang around the house and in church programs.  I started taking ballet class at 4 years old.  I fell in love with ballet! My  teacher, Mrs. Bonnie Cokinos recognized this really early on and pushed me to excel.  I started performing in local classical ballet productions at 5 years old.  I have been very blessed to have had amazing performance opportunities through my local dance studio, Bonnie Cokinos School of Dance.  I’ve studied under amazing Master Teachers and Choreographers at Regional Dance America, and even received a scholarship to study with Joffery Ballet.  But as I got older, I wanted to do more than just ballet.  So a couple of years ago, I auditioned for Little Mermaid Jr. a the Beaumont Community Players and was cast as a Mersister, Andrina, and the rest, as they say, is history.

2. Talk about some of your past performances.     I have had the awesome opportunity to perform as a principal dancer with Beaumont Ballet Theatre’s production of Cinderella, as the Fairy Godmother.  I was even featured in our local paper, which was weird!  In addition, I have been fortunate to perform a piece choreographed by Sean Carmen of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company.  He’s also from Beaumont and trained with Miss Bonnie.  Just a month after my acceptance into HSMT, I was cast in the JTF performance of Legally Blonde! It’s been a whirlwind ever since! I performed at the Miller Outdoor Theater for the very first time in the TUTS/HSMT production of Once On This Island.  I was cast in iTheatrics Westside Story High School, in New York this summer, and not even Hurricane Harvey could stop me from performing American Idiot with HSMT/Conservatory! 

3. What led you to work at TUTS in the Children’s Ensemble?     I just wanted to get out of the ballet box. So I asked my parents if I could study acting, singing and continue my dancing.  My mom said that I had to do the research and present the options to her and my dad.  Oh, and they gave me a distance parameter; no farther than Lake Charles or Houston.   I discovered TUTS/HSMT online and signed up for the audition in August 2016.

4. How do you feel about being about to debut in the show this year?   Oh my gosh! I am so excited, and I have to admit a little nervous about debuting on the main stage!  I mean from little Beaumont, Texas and I get to work with a Tony Award winning actress, not to mention the other amazing cast members!  Who does that?! I can’t even begin to express how grateful I am.

TICKET INFORMATION:

Special offers are available including opportunities for groups and Family 4 Packs for $99. Additionally, a limited quantity of Golden Tickets are available as an add-on feature.  A Golden Ticket allows the ticketholder (children only) a special on-stage experience during the production.

For more information, contact the Theatre Under The Stars Box Office at 713-558-TUTS(8887) or visit www.TUTS.com.

photos by V. Sweeten unless otherwise noted