About the Play:

The Frog Prince is a play for young audiences by David Mamet. The author turns his considerable talents to the age old children's story of the prince who is turned into a frog and can only be restored to his original form by a willing kiss. The old tale is given a decidedly contemporary sensibility that appeals to adults as well as to children.

The Frog Prince is a funny, dark and modern reinterpretation of the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale by one of America's best playwrights. An arrogant, young prince falls under the spell of a mysterious peasant woman after picking flowers. Transformed into a frog, the prince must find a pure and honest woman to kiss him of her own free will. He attempts to befriend a young milkmaid with the help of his loyal page, in an attempt to break the spell. What ensues is a journey of self-discovery and independence, and the portrayal of the importance of friendship. Edgy and unexpected this story goes beyond teaching a simple moral lesson to posing the question, "what would you do?".

The Frog Prince was first presented in 1982 as a one-time-only staged reading at The Goodman Theatre in Chicago. It was premiered in 1985 Off-Broadway as part of Ensemble Studio Theatre's annual one-act Marathon. It had a well-received revival in 1997 at the 78th Street Theater Lab in Manhattan and has become a popular choice for young audiences.

Cast: 2 female, 2 male

What people say:

"An amazing work that maintains both the quaint wonder of an old fairy tale and the jazzy flow of a contemporary comic sketch... In Mamet's treatment, this familiar tale is a tender and witty account of the prince's education, from spoiled snob to loving friend. Through adversity, he learns the value of devotion and bravery, and becomes a sadder, wiser and better person because of it." — Chicago Tribune

"...while his adaptation of The Frog Prince is certainly a contrast to much of his work, it is no less provocative and perhaps even more haunting... This is not to say, though, that children 5 and older will not love the bittersweet story." — The New York Times

About the Playwright:

David Mamet is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and an Academy Award-nominated screenwriter as well as a director, novelist, poet, and essayist. He has written the screenplays for more than twenty films, including the Oscar-nominated The Verdict. His more than twenty plays include the Pulitzer Prizewinning Glengarry Glen Ross. His other awards include a Tony Award, an Academy Award, two OBIE Awards, two NYDCC Awards, and Outer Circle, Society of West End Theatre, and Dramatists Guild Hall-Warriner Awards.