Once Upon A Mattress
Directed by Sharon Moran
September 2002

Based on the fairy tale of The Princess and the Pea, Once Upon a Mattress was originally written by Mary Rodgers (daughter of Richard Rodgers) and Marshall Barer as part of an adult summer camp. The original one-act version was so well-received that they decided to expand it into a full-length musical.

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Hansel and Gretel
Directed by Mary Ryzuk
October 2002

Hansel and Gretel is a classic tale enjoyed across the world. The story tells of the plight of a young brother and sister abandoned in a forest by their wicked stepmother. They are led by a magic bird to a little house in the forest. The house belongs to an evil witch who wishes to eat the children. Clever thinking enables the children to kill the witch and escape.

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The Family Deli
Written and Directed by Mary Ryzuk
December 2002

A rich poignant family story told with humor and warmth. Set in a Jewish Delicatessen on the lower East Side of New York City shortly after World War II, it follows an evening in the life of the family that runs the deli by day and lives “upstairs” by night. How can the 11 year old son, Martin, learn all about “life and death”, and “heaven and hell”, and “angels and blood” and “math and sports” from a family that can't seem to do anything but argue. And then, on this night, of all nights, when the family seems to be emotionally pulling apart even as it is coming together again, there is the mystery of the old Italian man who sits in the corner of the dali all day and night and refuses to leave.

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Annie
Directed by JoAnn Oakes
April 2003

Annie's a peppy orphan whose life at the New York City Municipal Orphanage has grown intolerable, thanks to the gin-guzzling matron Miss Hannigan. Enter billionaire Oliver Warbucks, who has decided to invite a lucky orphan to his home for the Christmas holidays. Warbucks and Annie hit it off and he decides to offer a reward to whoever can find her parents. Miss Hannigan, who has inside information on Annie, concocts a wicked plan to collect the reward using her crooked brother and his dimwitted girlfriend as accomplices. But the scheme is foiled, Warbucks adopts Annie, and along the way, Annie meets a faithful dog and inspires FDR's New Deal

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Little Red Riding Hood
A Ryzuk and Ryzuk Original Musical
Directed by Sharon Moran
June 2003

Beautiful music and lots of fun grace this classic Grimm's tale. Grandma is ill in the other side of the forest. Little Red Riding Hood is anxious to visit her. This will be the first time she is permitted to visit her granny alone. So, with warnings from Mother and Aunt Lee “not to talk to strangers on the way,” it's off to Granny's house to bring her a basket of goodies...and who does Little Red Riding Hood meet on the way? None other than the Big Bad Wolf himself!

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Steel Magnolias
By Robert Harling
Directed by Annette Winter
August 2003

This Off-Broadway hit captures the charm and idiosyncrasies of Southern womanhood, and is set in Louisiana on the wedding day of one of its favorite patrons. Sweet Shelby, a young and pretty diabetic, enjoys sharing her excitement with the other women who meet regularly to chat and gossip about men, marriage and the latest hairstyles. And together, the women form a sense of community that is both warmly good-natured and delightfully real. While Shelby's mother ponders whether the all-pink wedding motif will make "the sanctuary look like it was hosed down with Pepto-Bismol," and Shelby suffers a slight diabetic attack, we see a tenderness emanating from the spirit of these indomitable women.

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