A Library holds many secrets and tales between pages of parchment and ink. A magical book transports Scheherazade to a world where fairy tales come to life. She is confronted by the angry Sultan and she pleas for his grace. A book! She convinces the Sultan that she will tell him a story and perhaps spare her life.
Meeting Aladdin
Her first story introduces us to Aladdin who is chased through the Marketplace filled with a cast of characters, as he steals a golden magical lamp. Aladdin unleashes a powerful Genie who grants 3 wishes. As wishes are not granted without trials, Aladdin must reveal what's behind three doors to fulfill his wish of a treasure-filled Cave of Gold.
The Cave of Gold
The Genie has an idea and calls for Sinbad and the thief, who just happens to have found a treasure map. Aladdin reviews the map to the treasure, and plot and plan how they are going to unlock the doors of the Cave of Gold. After several attempts… “Success!” The doors open, revealing a beautiful cavern of shimmering jewels.
Sinbad and the Ocean Depths
Aladdin reminds Genie, there are 2 more wishes. Genie then calls for Sinbad who may know a way to find more riches. We land on the deck of Sinbad’s ship traversing on a sea voyage. The tempestuous seas rise up and Rogue Wave sends the sailors overboard into the dark waters. Thankfully, a few mermaids were about to lend a helping bubble to send the sailors back to land.
The River, The Night and the Dark Forest
Turing the page, the sailors move on, but the 1st Mate is stunned and entranced by a River Nymph. A good energy forms to protect the first mate. Deeper in the forest, a sneaky sprite casts a spell on lantern and one of two sisters fall victim to a deadly light from the lantern. The sister, grieving, is visited by a goddess of light who helps bring the darkness of The Night.
We step into The Dark Forest. The goddess brings back the good energy, the spirits from the Tree of Life, whose timeless wisdom speaks of destiny, grief, and love. Despite the light in the dark, a Wolf prowls near.
~ Act Two~
Shadows and the Wolf
Into the Wolf's den, we see a glimpse of the power of the pack as a wayward deer barely makes it out. As the story continues, we find dear Scheherazade unknowingly more inside the story, then the storyteller. Stalked by hungry wolf pups, a shadowy figure creeps past carrying a lantern. As light begins to fade, the Shadows and The Big Bad Wolf prowl and hunt our heroine down. Will she make it out? The Sultan arrives just in time to help her and they escape. Wolf stumbles upon its next victim, Lil’ Red Riding Hood, though she proves to be a formidable foe.
Down the Rabbit Hole
Managing to escape from Wolf, Lil’ Red follows a white rabbit down the rabbit hole. A funky vortex drops her into the middle of a psychedelic glow-in-the-dark party (which you are all invited to) hosted by the Queen of Hearts. The Cheshire Cat has a bit of fun and we weave in and out of stories.
Witness the tangle of good and bad energy deep in the vortex. Mischief and Harmony come into balance. Slipping further into the stories we journey to a grand palace.
Mirror, Mirror and The Fairest One of All
A golden mirror appears and a narcissistic evil Queen who demands that she is the fairest, though her reflection disagrees. Pulled into the mirror, Cinderella is the beautiful step-daughter who is forced to be a maid to her evil step mother and stepsisters. How might she escape this life?
Cinderella
A Fairy Godmother hears the sad tears of Cinderella and brings her bluebirds to help cheer her up. Magically, she creates a beautiful flock of peacocks to escort Cinderella to the ball. The Fairy Godmother takes Cinderella to the enchanting Peacock Garden filled with gorgeous tales, where she is transformed into an elegant young lady, ready to fulfill her destiny. However, she must be on her way before the clock strikes 12.
The Banshee
Midnight, the darkest hour. The road home for our duo, the Sultan and Scheherazade, is paved with unexpected danger as they cross paths with an eerie and terrifying creature carrying a lantern. With a fierce scream, the creature is revealed to be the sister from the forest, now twisted into a Banshee who almost ends our heroine's life.
A Dream of Home
The Banshee has placed Scheherazade in a deep sleep. In a Dream, the kind spirits return to show her the light and she awakens from her slumber to see the Sultan. 1001 tales later and she has saved her own life and the two have fallen in love. The Library doors open and all of the tales seem to come to life, and they lived happily ever after.
THE NIGHT - KIRAH The CHESHIRE CAT - AL-ANQA RUSALKA (RIVER NYMPH)- TASCHEN STEP FAMILY- QUEEN BASTET, JAELYNN, LINDSEY McCORMICK THE SEA WAVE - FIRELY - Taraneh and Boudicca BELLADONNA BANSHEE - CALLIXTA STARR
OPENING ACT ARTISTS
DC SALIMPOUR COLLECTIVE SAHARA DANCE COMPANY
STAGE MANAGER: Barbara Castellion SET DESIGN: Kenny and Jen West
SPECIAL THANKS TO... The musicians and song makersare the voice of our dance. Special thanks to Jillina's Bellydance Evolution and Aziza who kindly leant their original music for a few pieces: