PA Shakespeare Festival kicks off its first children’s production of the 2025 summer season with a modern version of the Grimms’ fairy tale “The Princess and the Frog Prince.”

On stage through Aug. 2 in the Schubert Theater, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, Center Valley, the classic tale has been written for the stage by Jason King Jones, PSF Artistic Director.

The fresh spin on the familiar story follows a basketball-loving princess who’d rather shoot hoops than wait around for Prince Charming. Caught between slam dunks and her six royal sisters’ matchmaking efforts, her world turns upside down when her game ball takes an unexpected plunge into a mysterious well.

There she meets a talking frog (Ryan Plunkett), a prince under a magical spell. As a friendship sparks between the princess and the frog, the duo dishes out assists, keeps it real with family and learns that being true to yourself is the greatest win of all.

With music, magic and major attitude, “The Princess and the Frog Prince” proves that sometimes your perfect match is the teammate you least expect and that happily ever after looks different for everyone.

The show has puppets created by 2025 Cedar Crest College graduate Angel D’Andria. in her debut at the PA Shakespeare Festival. She designed and made puppets for the Frog Prince and the Cat, Mr. Sniffles (Ian Higgins).

D’Andria previously created the Sandworm and Roasted Pig for Civic Theater of Allentown’s 2025 student show, “Beetlejuice Jr.,” and created and performed as the puppeteer for Milky White in Munopco Music Theater’s 2024 production of “Into the Woods.”

D’Andria’s work was seen in PSF’s production of Mel Brooks’ “The Producers,” in which she made pigeon puppets for a musical number.

The cast includes Alison Ansorg, Maya Jean Marino Cappello, Jamir Fisher, Shawn Laub, India Proffit, Isabella Stevens and Sophia Twohig.

“The Princess and the Frog Prince” is directed by Jessica Bedford with choreography by Bella Lucano, original music by Pax Ressler, scenic design by Marie Laster and costume design by Amy Best.

Children can get a front row seat with on-stage carpet seating. Seating is first-come, first-serve.

Attendees can meet the show’s actors for autographs and photos after each performance.

The July 12 performance is relaxed for patrons with sensory and communication differences.

The July 26 performance has audio descriptions for patrons who are blind or visually-impaired and American Sign Language interpretation for patrons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.

The show is 50 minutes with no intermission.

“The Princess and the Frog Prince,” 10 a.m. July 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, Aug. 1, 2; 10 a.m., 2 p.m. July 29, 31, PA Shakespeare Festival, Schubert Theatre, Labuda Center for the Performing Arts, DeSales University, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley. 610-282-9455, https://pashakespeare.org/

“Curtain Rises” is a column about the theater, stage shows, the actors in them and the directors and artists who make them happen. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com