Robert Munsch's The Paper Bag Princess
Dates: November 29 - December 7, 2024
Play adaption by Alissa Watson
Directed by Randi Edmundson
Book a performance at the UFV Performance Studio
Book a performance at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre (Dec. 5 & 6 only)
**NEW DATE ADDED! The Chilliwack Cultural Centre is now showing a third performance on Friday, December 6 at 7:30 pm! Book your tickets before they sell out!
Please see below for more box office details
The highly anticipated play, The Paper Bag Princess, directed by Randi Edmundson, will be performed from November 29th – December 7, 2024. This will be the first production of UFV Theatre's 2024-2025 season and this year we are proud to be in partnership with the Chilliwack Cultural Centre, who will be hosting two performances in their Rotary Hall Studio Theatre.
Presented by the UFV SOCA Acting and Production Classes, The Paper Bag Princess is a fun and silly adventure about a Princess that saves a Prince from the smartest and fiercest dragon in the whole world! As a part of Theatre for Young Audiences, this play presents lessons in being true and confident in your self, and introductions to feminism by challenging gender roles and expectations. Based on the popular and beloved children’s book, The Paper Bag Princess © 1980 Bob Munsch Enterprises Ltd (text) and Michael Martchenko (art), published by Annick Press.
Unless otherwise indicated, performances will be held in the Performance Studio, Building D, 105, Abbotsford Campus, University of the Fraser Valley, 33844 King Road.
Cost: $5 for students, $10 for adults
Opening night: Friday, November 29th at 6:00 pm. [SOLD OUT]
Regular performances:
*Saturday, November 30 at 12:00 pm (Low Sensory Performance) [SOLD OUT]
Saturday, November 30 at 3:00 pm [SOLD OUT]
Thursday, December 5 at 6:00 pm (at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre) {SOLD OUT]
Friday, December 6 at 6:00 pm (at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre) {SOLD OUT]
**Friday, December 6 at 7:30 pm (at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre)
Saturday, December 7 at 3:00 pm [SOLD OUT]
*This year UFV Theatre is providing a Low Sensory Performance at 12pm on November 30th for patrons that are on the autistic spectrum, have sensory sensitivities, or other social and cognitive disabilities. Please contact soca@ufv.ca for further information and/or if you have specific accessibility requirements in regard to seating.
Please be advised that early reservations via Eventbrite are encouraged for productions at the UFV Performance Studio, as seating will be extremely limited. All bookings can be made through Eventbrite and seat registration ends 2 hours before the performance start times.
Refund Policy: Refunds up to 2 days before the event. Eventbrite's fee is non-refundable.
Contact soca@ufv.ca for inquiries.
Meet the Director
Randi Edmundson | Director
Q. Tell us about your Theatre experience and your role as the director in the upcoming production The Paper Bag Princess.
A. "My work in theatre has been incredibly varied over my career thus far - from design to performance to producing to directing. My absolute favourite style of performance is puppetry, which naturally means I work a lot with young audiences. That experience led me to directing The Paper Bag Princess here at UFV!
Q. Why was the play The Paper Bag Princess chosen for this year’s production?
A. "I chose this adaptation of The Paper Bag Princess because it’s a great example of contemporary Canadian Theatre for Young Audiences. It was adapted for Manitoba’s Prairie Theatre Exchange in 2020, making it an exciting new addition to the scene. It’s fun, fresh, and has great, flexible roles for women and non-binary performers. It asks the actors to embrace their silliness, but also investigates important themes like embracing your own unique perspective and talents."
Q. Can you tell us what makes this production unique, what types of performance techniques will be explored, and how will multimedia be integrated?
A. "Even though many theatre artists get their first professional jobs in Theatre for Young Audiences, it’s a genre that is often neglected in post-secondary training. Theatre for young audiences is a critical part of our arts and culture ecosystem - we don’t usually think about it, but audiences of young people are future artists and supporters of the arts, and, with our performances, we have the power to inspire them to use their creative voices. Kudos to the team at UFV for wanting to share this fun and important performance style with their students!"
Q. What do you want audience members to take away from this production?
A. "Audiences can expect larger-than-life performances, high-stakes adventure, punchy design, and lots of great Robert Munsch references. For the kids, there are opportunities for audience engagement, a tight 50-minute performance, and plenty of goofiness. I hope that those familiar with The Paper Bag Princess enjoy this clever adaptation and that those new to Robert Munsch will be delighted by what has become a classic in so many Canadian households".
Q. Can you describe the types of opportunities students have working in this production, (such as the stage manager, costume/hair makeup), and what are the types of skills that students are learning and building on during this production?
A. "I have been amazed by the enthusiasm and talent of UFV’s theatre students! They are taking on all kinds of responsibilities in this production, from performance to stage management and design to working backstage. It takes SO many people to make a play come to life, and students are involved in every step of the process, practicing skills like teamwork, organization, and communication, and gaining confidence in their own creative problem-solving and expression. What I love most about theatre is how every new project provides opportunities to learn new skills and gain new perspectives - we all work together towards solutions that bring the story to life".
Q. Finally, can you share with us what makes you passionate about Theatre and Performance?
A. "I was a very shy and artsy child, and my experience in theatre helped me gain confidence in my own creative ideas and my own unique voice. That’s one of the reasons I’m so drawn to working with young audiences. Confidence in yourself, even when facing enormous challenges, is at the heart of The Paper Bag Princess; to me, theatre is the perfect tool for sharing this message".
Meet the Cast
Ensey Smith | Playing Elizabeth
This is Ensey’s first production with UFV, and they are beyond thrilled to be able to bring Elizabeth to life for you all. They have adored putting this production together with fellow cast, crew, and the director, and will be forever grateful for the support and friendship of the team during some particularly difficult days. They hope you enjoy the show and can’t wait to bring such a classic kid’s book to the stage!
Sukhsagar Singh | Playing Ronald
"Hey everyone! I am Sukhsagar (Sukh) playing the role of the charming Prince Ronald in The Paper Bag Princess. I am enjoying working on this play with this amazing production. I am currently in third
semester of the Theatre Major diploma at UFV . This is my first time being on stage as an actor and
am loving how things are working out. I think that I will be a great actor one day!"
Alex Simpson | Playing Dragon
"I am playing the Dragon in The Paper Bag Princess. I'm a mature student returning to full-time university, after a decade long break, to pursue my degree in Integrated Studies. My goal is to have a minor in English and Theatre. I haven’t been on the stage in many years and am enjoying the process of being part of a production again. I'm an avid equestrian. When I’m not in class I spend most of my time riding or coaching other riders."
Amritpal Singh | Playing Fairy Godmother
"What a thrill! Being cast as the Fairy Godmother in The Paper Bag Princess is the highlight of the year for me. This is my first year at University and I couldn’t have imagined a better start to my journey. I’ve been passionate about theatre for as long as I can remember. But apart from some street plays to my name, I have a rather sparse experience if compared to my peers. I was a bunch of nerves when I started the course, but our director, Randi has helped me enormously and I can’t articulate enough how much I owe my comfort on stage to her. I can go on about her patience, her kindness and her ever so wise feedback. The story is a classic but is impressively fresh. The characters are all nuanced and are all played perfectly by my castmates. The witty dialogues, the many moments of comic brilliance and the deliciously talented cast and crew add to the joy of theatre. The character of Fairy Godmother spoke to me the moment I read the script. The charm of Godmother’s flamboyance and eccentricity is hard to escape. I have some big shoes to fill, undoubtedly. The experience so far has been unbelievably pleasant and fun. I’m indescribably grateful and happy to be a part of the production".
Noah Hughlett | Playing Elizabeth's Dad (The King)
Noah Hughlett is thrilled to be part of The Paper Bag Princess at UFV, where he is completing his first year. With a passion for storytelling, he has embraced the role of Elizabeth’s Father to explore the balance of regal authority and heartfelt connection. Noah brings prior experience in performing and improv, along with a love for voice acting, to every role. Outside the theater, Noah enjoys spending time with his dog, playing video games, and making meaningful connections with almost everyone he meets on and off the stage.
Mae Labiste | Playing Marg & Ronald's Mom
"Hello. I am playing the role of Ronald’s Mom and Marg in The Paper Bag Princess. While I am currently in my second year at UFV, I still love to draw in my free time and send out pen pal letters, as well as play games. My current favourite game is Baldur’s Gate. Team Karlach all the way! This is my first time in a play at UFV and I can’t wait to have a fantastic time with everyone."
Jessica Blanchard | Playing Julia & Bird Puppeteer
"Hey there! My name's Jessica Blanchard and I am playing Julia in this year's fall production of The Paper bag princess! I am super excited to be able to explore this character and grow along with her, as well as work with our lovely director and cast in making this production exceed expectations (which are already quite high). This production will mark my 11th show over the last 6 years, and I only wish to continue to do more amazing shows in the future. Some of the things I do outside of theatre is read (I love books), bake, watercolor, crochet, and finally work. Please enjoy watching the show, as I will heavily enjoy preforming in it!"
Mehakdeep Singh | Playing Benjamin & Sir Puffy the Pompous
"My name is Mehakdeep. You can call me Mehak or Mack for short. I am 21 and pursuing my dreams of exploring in different curriculums. I am playing the role of Benjamin and Sir Puffy in The Paper Bag Princess. The most enjoyable part of the production is that it requires everyone’s participation. We get to know our peers while learning. I am in my last term and hopefully will continue to pursue my dreams. I took THEA 220 in one of my past terms. It was for stage management, which is interesting and helped me broaden my horizons in theatre. Although I wish to participate more in theatre, I have reached the end of my time at university. I got to know a lot of cool people and work on amazing productions."
Meet the Production Team
Marie Brideau | Stage Manager
"Hi, I’m Marie! I am the Stage Manager for The Paper Bag Princess. I am very new in the theater world, but now that I've entered, I can’t seem to get enough. Last year I helped in front of house, and this year I thought I'd try my hand in the whole process. I’m a Visual Arts major specializing in sculpture. While getting my degree, I work part time in farmers markets, and in detailing. I intend to learn and practice each role in the theater industry."
Samerpreet (Sam) Singh | Assistant Stage Manager
"I am enjoying every moment of this class; I like to gain knowledge wherever I can. I’m Currently in my second year at UFV. I work part-time at Dairy Queen, and am a full-time tennis coach and player. I was also Assistant Stage Manager in last winter's production of Rhinoceros. Theatre gives me some peace of mind, similar to which I find while playing tennis. Having theatre also helps me keep balance in my student life."
Bren McPhee | Costume Designer
Bren is thrilled to be joining the crew as the Costume Designer for this production of The Paper Bag Princess. Bren has been acting for many years and has recently developed a passion for exploring all aspects of theatre. He recently showcased his talents as one of the directors in the 2024 UFV Director’s Showcase. Bren enjoys writing plays and plans to pursue a career as a high school drama teacher after graduation.
Avrey Jantz Krahn | Hair & Makeup Designer
Avrey is a fourth-year student at UFV in a BA with a Major in Theatre. She is in charge of Hair and Makeup Design for the Paper Bag Princess. She has always loved playing around with hairstyles and makeup, so she truly enjoys the opportunity to help these characters come to life. She has choreographed pieces in Matilda and helped visualize an all-dance adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. She hopes to continue working in the entertainment industry as part of productions in both film and theatre. Avrey loved working on this production with her peers and felt lucky to be working on this adaption of a childhood favourite.
Eden Verster | Costumes & Hair/Makeup Assistant
Eden Is a Fourth-year student at UFV. She is in the BA program and is majoring in theatre. She is excited to be the costume and hair & makeup assistant and the production's understudy. She has enjoyed getting to learn the ropes of the production side of running a show, as she is usually acting when in a production. Right now, she is taking five courses while also working at a daycare. Some previous theatre highlights were playing Cinderella and Pugsly Addams in her high school musical theatre productions of Cinderella and The Addams Family Musical, she was recently in the university’s production of Rhinoceros, playing the Café Proprietor. She hopes to become a kindergarten teacher and take her passion for theatre and make it part of her teaching as a way to make education more engaging through song and dance.
Abigail (Abby) Hansen | Props Master
"I am super excited to be the prop master for The Paper Bag Princess! Although I am currently a full-time student, theatre has been a massive part of my life for over a decade. I have mostly been on stage during that time, so it’s been fun going behind the curtains, designing and crafting unique pieces for this show."
Ashleigh Henczel | Head of Puppets
Ashleigh (they/them) is part of the production team as the Head of Puppets. They were in theatre from a young age and continued into high school. They spent some time in the workforce before coming to UFV where they rediscovered their love for theatre. They are very excited to be involved with their first UFV theatre production.
Makenna Russell | Sound Designer
"My name is Makenna and I am the Sound Designer for The Paper Bag Princess. My role has been gathering all the sound effects and music that plays during the performance. While working on this production, I’ve learned how to use new computer programs I hadn’t used before. I can now say I have that knowledge, thanks to Jared Raschke, the Technical Coordinator. When I’m not at school, I enjoy reading, going to the movies, and spending time with my friends and family. Previously, I was a stage manager in my grade 12 high school musical theatre production. I learned so much about being a backstage hand and how to work as a team, as well as being able to read cues in the tech booth. Going forward I am excited to see where my time in the theatre will take me."
Jackson Peters | LD Assistant & Operator
Jackson is the assistant lighting coordinator for this production. He's enjoyed taking the colours and shades from the classic children’s book and exploring how to throw them onto the stage to bring the books environment to life. Jackson is studying at UFV, while working a part-time job. This is his first time working in a big theatre project without any prior experience working in theatre. His goal in theatre is to pursue a career in theatre tech and voice-over work.