The Disney’s Descendants franchise has taken the tween and teen scene by storm ever since the first movie aired on Disney Channel in July of 2015. It has since grown to three movies (with a fourth movie recently announced), an animated short, several spin-offs and books, chart-topping hits, and a successful stage musical version. The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati (TCT) is presenting the stage version DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS: THE MUSICAL at the Taft Theatre October 8 – 17, 2022. This is actually the third time they’ve tried to mount the show, due to the pandemic.
“After two postponed productions, thank you for giving us a third chance to present DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS: THE MUSICAL for you and your family!” says TCT Artistic Director, Roderick Justice.
Justice also serves as the Stage Director and is thrilled to be bringing it to life. He states, “DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS: THE MUSICAL teaches us being picture perfect is not realistic, that redemption IS possible, and we can be whoever we CHOOSE to be. Most of all, it underlines a hard truth: We all make mistakes, and second chances are incredibly important.”
This show features a cast of nearly 30 actors. There are over 90 individual costumes on stage throughout the musical. In total, there are 600 pieces that the costume team must keep track of – the most ever featured in a TCT production! When you attend the show, you may notice a few familiar items surrounding the stage. Scenic Director, Nate Bertone, incorporates a sort of “I-Spy” game into the façade.
“My concept for the set of Disney’s Descendants is to take the idea of the Museum of Cultural History, which is a huge part of the movie, as well as the location of Auradon and put those two together in one magical, mystical creation,” says Bertone.
Bertone adds, “We created a world essentially of objects that might have been in the Cultural History Museum in different Disney movies. We have probably 15 to 20 different ‘I-Spy’ elements hidden throughout the set.”
Here is the show synopsis if you are not familiar: It is present-day, and in the kingdom of Auradon, all of Disney’s beloved heroes and royalty are living happily ever after, safe from the terrifying villains and troublesome sidekicks they have banished to the magic-free Isle of the Lost. That is until Ben, the benevolent teenage son of Belle and King Adam (The Beast), offers a chance of redemption for the trouble-making offspring of the evilest villains. Mal, Evie, Jay and Carlos – the children of Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Cruella De Vil, and Jafar – are welcomed to Auradon Prep to attend school with the children of their parents’ sworn enemies. Now entering a completely foreign world and way of life, the four Villain Kids have a difficult choice to make: should they follow in their parents’ wicked footsteps or learn to be good?
Showtimes for DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS: THE MUSICAL include: Saturday, October 8 at 2 p.m., Saturday, October 8 at 5 p.m., Sunday, October 9 at 2 p.m., Friday, October 14 at 7 p.m., Saturday, October 15 at 11 a.m., Saturday, October 15 at 2 p.m., and Sunday, October 16 at 2 p.m.
ASL interpretation will be offered on Saturday, October 8 at 2 p.m. As of August 17, 2022, for TCT’s 22-23 MainStage shows at the Taft Theatre, there are not any restrictions for entry. Masks are welcome, but not required.
Bring the kids to the Taft Theatre for DISNEY’S DESCENDANTS: THE MUSICAL. Tickets are on sale now at thechildrenstheatre.com/shows/descendants.