Children’s Theatre of Charlotte Presents Grey Seal Puppets’ “Salsa Cinderella” and 30^th Anniversary Exhibit

The Grey Seal Puppets return to Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s stage with “Salsa Cinderella”, a brand-new performance with a spicy twist (Jan. 19-20, Wachovia Playhouse). This classic tale of love and footwear is re-told with Latin American flavor and an original musical score by Charlotte composer John Alexander that will have you dancing in the aisles.

With their trademark whimsical storytelling and exquisite puppet design, the Grey Seal Puppets re-imagine the familiar characters of “Cinderella” as ingredients in a jar of salsa! Cinderella and the Prince are both peppers who love to dance. Cinderella’s stepsisters become Onionah and Garlicka, pushy tourists from out of town. And Cinderella’s fairy godmother is a tomato, a crucial ingredient in any story – or salsa.

Taco the mouse narrates this tale of a stubborn Prince who refuses to change the way he dances, despite the many exciting styles practiced in his kingdom. At the big Palace Fiesta, Cinderella must inspire him to try something new, while she in turn learns that a certain amount of tradition can be a good thing. And a dazzling array of rod puppets and shadow puppets join the quest to find the foot that fits a simple sandal made out of a tortilla chip. This show is sure to delight the salsa fan in everyone! 

The Grey Seal Puppets celebrate their thirtieth anniversary this year, and ImaginOn is pleased to host a retrospective look at the work of these talented puppeteers. “Grey Seal Puppets: 30 Years of Whimsical Behavior” will run from January 11-21, with an exhibit opening on January 11 from 6:00-7:30 pm. Over 30 characters from past stage and on-camera performances will be displayed in the Wachovia Playhouse lobby, along with puppeteers’ anecdotes and stories.

Performance times and dates are as follows:  

Fri., January 19             7:30 pm

Sat., January 20           11:00 am

Sat., January 20            1:00 pm

Sat., January 20            3:00 pm  

Performances will be held in the Wachovia Playhouse at ImaginOn, 300 East 7^th Street .  Front Orchestra tickets are $12; General Admission tickets are $10. For tickets to the production, call the Children’s Theatre Box Office at 704-973-2828 (10 am-5 pm, Mon.-Fri.) or visit our website: www.ctcharlotte.org.  Recommended for ages 5 and up.