‘Fancy’ events to hit Orange County
by Hannah Madans, Orange County Register
Children’s book series “Fancy Nancy” is having some very fancy events in Orange County.
The book series, written by Jane O’Connor and illustrated by San Juan Capistrano resident Robin Preiss Glasser, has sold more than 28 million copies.
The series recently entered into a deal with Disney Junior. As part of the deal Disney Junior will make an animated series, expected to air in 2017, and create merchandise.
Glasser has not strayed from her Orange County roots, though, and still helps out with a variety of events in the area.
MUSICAL AT THE CHANCE
May 29 to June 7 the Chance Theater will host a musical adaptation of “Fancy Nancy.”
The musical is based on “Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet.” After the shows the second weekend Glasser will host a “Fancy Nancy Tea Party Reception.”
Chemers Gallery will be selling Glasser’s artwork at all the shows. The sales will benefit Chemers and the Chance.
Director and choreographer of the production, Kelly Todd, is encouraging guests to dress up for the show. She said the show, and Nancy, are appealing to many girls right now.
“There’s definitely a culture right now of these little girls loving the princess idea and so Nancy is very relatable to them,” Todd said. “She’s also so warm and loving and has a run of the mill family which a lot of girls can relate to. She teaches girls that they can always bounce back from hardships with their families.”
The musical is just one of many shows the Chance is doing for a younger audience. The Chance has also recently started doing special shows for children with autism. For these shows the music is not as loud and the theater is not darkened.
For the “Fancy Nancy” relaxed show, Glasser will be inviting Costa Mesa resident Audrey Presby. Presby has Down syndrome and is a fan of the “Fancy Nancy book series. Glasser has drawn Presby’s likeness in two “Fancy Nancy” books.
A FANCY TEA PARTY
On June 14 the Junior League will host a tea party based on “Fancy Nancy and the Wedding of the Century.” Girls will come in wedding dresses or their fanciest attire. Glasser will be in attendance in a bedazzled wedding dress as well.
Around 450 people are expected to attend the event. It is expected to raise $20,000 to $25,000 for the Junior League, according to event chair Christina Markl.
She added that beyond being a chance to dress up, the tea party also serves as a bonding experience for a lot of women.
Alex Uhl, owner of Whale of a Tale bookstore and close friend of Glasser’s is also helping with the event.
Uhl said she is thankful that Glasser has helped so much with the event, and with her store.
“She does so much. It’s beyond comprehension how much she gives back to the community,” Uhl said.
Uhl added that Nancy is a great character for the Junior League to feature in its tea party because she teaches kids so much.
“She’s a character that follows her passion. She makes herself fancy, and the book has a lot of good vocabulary,” Uhl said. “The books are about finding the elegance in everything, and the tea is about finding the inner child in all of us.”
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