The bawdy, silly, and immensely entertaining adult pantos by Britain’s Tom Whalley have become a popular holiday season tradition at PrideArts, and the company will continue this tradition with its fourth Whalley panto – RAPORNZEL. Like its PrideArts predecessors JACK OFF THE BEANSTALK, SLEEPING WITH BEAUTY, and THROBBIN WOOD, RAPORNZEL will fracture a famous fairy tale with unimaginable R-rated puns, pop songs, and audience participation, all adding up to an outrageously good time. RAPORNZEL will be directed by Claire Hart Proepper of Laughing Stock Theatre, the Evanston based theatre company specializing in Commedia dell’arte. The Italian tradition of Commedia dell’arte, which flourished in the 16th Century, was an influence on the genre of British pantos in its use of improvision, exaggerated characters, slapstick comedy, and audience participation. Proepper’s experience in performing and directing Commedia dell’arte makes her uniquely qualified to bring the anarchic humor of Whalley’s panto to life. RAPORNZEL will open to the press on Monday, November 24, 2025, at 7:30 pm, following previews on Friday, November 21 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, November 23 at 3:00 pm. and will play through December 14.
Bryan Fowler (of SLEEPING WITH BEAUTY) will appear as the dashing Prince Ride-Her, who with the help of the Hairy Fairy Dandruff, played by Jeremy Cox (of SLEEPING WITH BEAUTY), comes to rescue Rapornzel from the tower in which she’s been imprisoned. Dave Kelch, a veteran of many productions with Piccolo Theatre, will play Rapornzel’s father, King Merkin. Rapornzel will be Hannah Efsits, apparently willing to walk on a wilder side in RAPORNZEL than she did as a cast member of last year’s THE HOUSE WITHOUT A CHRISTMAS TREE by Griffin Theater. Peter Moeller (Nebula’s PARADE) will be the local hairdresser, Dame Fanny Follicle, who along with Prince Ride-Her, Hairy Fairy Dandruff, and her dim son Pascal, attempts to rescue the fair maiden. Charlotte Harris (THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER, with St. Sebastian Players) will play Pascal. Gina Cioffi will be the evil Mother F**ker, who kidnaps Rapornzel.
The production team, in addition to Proepper as Director, includes Alex Rembold (Music Director), Jean Wildest (Choreographer), Shawn Quinlan (Costume Designer), Lea Davis (Lighting Designer), Katelyn Montgomery (Props Designer), Jonathan Berg-Einhorn (Scenic Designer), Val Gardner (Sound Designer/Engineer), Philip Soulides (Fight Choreographer), Lawrence Jacquan (Stage Manager), Conri Connell (Assistant Stage Manager), Jackson Mikkelsen (Lead Electrician), and Aubrey Pierce (Technical Director).
RAPORNZEL will be performed at the Hoover-Leppen Theatre in Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, Chicago. Tickets are $35 for regular performances, $25 for previews. Seniors and students receive a $5 discount off all performance prices. Tickets and more information at www.pridearts.org.
LISTING INFORMATION
RAPORNZEL
By Tom Whalley
US PREMIERE
Directed by Claire Hart Proepper
Music Direction by Alex Rembold
Choreography by Jean Wildest
November 21–December 14, 2025
Recommended for adults 18+
Previews Friday, November 21 and Sunday, November 23 at 3:00 pm
Press Opening Monday, November 24 at 7:30 pm
Regular run November 24–December 14, 2025. No shows November 27 or 28
Curtain times Thursdays–Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 3:00 pm
Hoover-Leppen Theatre in Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, Chicago 60613
Tickets $35 for regular performances, $25 for previews. Seniors and students receive a $5 discount off all performance prices. Tickets and more information at www.pridearts.org.
773-661-0770
An adult pantomime by Tom Whalley, author of last season’s THROBBIN WOOD. Many years ago, the King and Queen of a far off kingdom were blessed with a baby girl with long, magical, downstairs hair. One day the jealous witch Mother F**ker kidnapped the child and locked her in a tower, selfishly squandering her merkin magic for herself. With the help of local hairdresser Dame Fanny Follicle, her thick as s**t son Pascal, the dashing Prince Ride-her and the Hairy Fairy, will Rapunzel ever come out? Recommended for ages 18+
BIOS
Claire Hart Proepper (Director) is the Executive Director of Laughing Stock Theatre, the Evanston-based company specializing in Commedia dell‘Arte. She directed the company’s New Works Festival earlier this year and has performed in several productions. Claire had a passing academic awareness of Commedia dell’Arte from her undergraduate experience at the University of Virginia but it wasn’t until she was cast as Colombina in AT YOUR SERVICE at the Bristol Renaissance Faire shortly after graduation that she discovered her passion for the art form. She went on to direct the Commedia troupe at the Bristol Renaissance Faire for four years and has directed and choreographed with Piccolo Theatre in Evanston and Pride Films and Plays in Chicago. She has also performed in ROMEO AND JULIET and THE IMPORANCE OF BEING EARNEST for Center Stage in Lake Forest. When not performing, directing, choreographing, or at work she is usually sleeping or binge-watching procedurals. She also enjoys skiing, reading fantasy literature, and eating good food with friends.
Tom Whalley (Author) is the author of nearly 20 “pantomimes” in the British tradition. The majority of the scripts are contemporary takes on traditional fairy tales, but suitable for general audiences, while others, like JACK OFF THE BEANSTALK, SLEEPING WITH BEAUTY, and A-LAD-IN, are strictly for adult audiences.
Jay Españo (PrideArts Artistic Director). Born in Manila, The Philippines, he joined the prestigious Tanghalang Pilipino’s Actors Company in 1998, where he trained with acclaimed Filipino director Nonon Padilla. He acted in several commercials, television series and films. Since moving to the Chicago area, Jay has worked with storefront theater companies such as Silk Road Rising, Prologue, Ghostlight, Halcyon, and PrideArts, where he has directed A NEW BRAIN, [TITLE OF SHOW], GIRLFRIEND, GAY CARD, TOMMY ON TOP and the THINGS I NEVER COULD TELL STEVEN. At City Lit Theater, he directed the world premiere musical AZTEC HUMAN SACRIFICE. He has played the role of the King in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I with various theater companies in the US and in Canada.
ABOUT PRIDEARTS
PrideArts tells queer stories on a variety of platforms, including both live and virtual performances. Since its founding in 2010, PrideArts has had several chapters, including operating as an itinerant theater for their first six seasons, the developer and primary tenant in the Pride Arts Center from 2016 to 2024, and its current residency in the Hoover-Leppen Theatre in Center on Halsted.
The company produces full seasons of plays and musicals, as well as events including cabaret, and more. The company has earned 39 Jeff Awards and nominations, and six nominations in the 2019 ALTA Awards from the Alliance of Latinx Theater Artists of Chicago. Programming has reflected the diversity of queer communities by including work made by and illuminating the experiences of women, gay men, transgender people, and BIPOC.
PrideArts is supported by Illinois Arts Council, a State Agency; City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Alphawood Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Arts Work Fund, Driehaus Foundation, The Saints.
PrideArts is a member of, Northalsted Merchants Association, League of Chicago Theaters, Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, Lakeview East Merchants Association. For more information and to donate, visit www.pridearts.org or call 1.773 661-0770.