Abby Novak (from left), Aubrey Brinkley, Christina Maggitas and Maria Dunbar perform in “The Frog and the Princess.”

Staff report

THOMASVILLE — South Georgia Ballet and South Georgia Ballet Conservatory proudly present “The Princess and the Frog,” an original dance production at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Cairo High School auditorium.

An abbreviated performance featuring SGBC’s youngest dancers will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday.

The ballet, tap and jazz show is based on the Disney version of the classic children’s tale, “The Frog Prince,” written by the Brothers Grimm. As in the original story, the heroine, Tiana, is fearless and kind, and she continues charming the audience in this dance rendition created by Melissa June and Alison Bundrick of South Georgia Ballet.

The ballet opens in 1913 New Orleans at the home of Big Daddy La Bouff, a rich sugar baron. His precocious young daughter, Charlotte, and her best friend, Tiana, along with some of their friends, are intently listening to Tiana’s mom, Eudora, read the story of “The Frog Prince.”

Charlotte finds the story romantic, while Tiana proclaims she would never kiss a frog. Charlotte imagines herself as the Princess who might kiss the Frog and break the spell, while Tiana is forced to play the Prince. Little do Charlotte and Tiana know how fate will intervene in their lives later in the story.

As time passes, Tiana and Charlotte both grow into beautiful young ladies with big dreams, while Tiana dreams of owning her own restaurant and spends almost all of her time waiting tables at the local café. Charlotte dreams of true love and meeting her Prince Charming.

This particular evening, the café is buzzing with excitement as Charlotte’s dad has just been named King of the Mardi Gras for the fifth year in a row. Musicians, high society socialites and Charlotte’s friends have all gathered at the café in hopes of catching a glimpse of the visiting Prince Naveen of Maldonia.

Naveen arrives in New Orleans determined to better his financial situation. His funds have been cut off by his parents so Naveen is forced to marry a rich Southern belle. It soon becomes obvious that Charlotte is the perfect candidate. “Big Daddy” La Bouff and Charlotte host a masquerade ball in Naveen’s honor, and Charlotte is certain she will snag herself a Prince.

Meanwhile, Naveen and his valet Lawrence run into Dr. Facilier, a voodoo witch doctor. Inviting them into his emporium, Facilier convinces the pair he can make their dreams come true. However, neither man gets what they are expecting: Naveen becomes a frog, while Lawrence is given a voodoo charm that disguises him as “Naveen.” Facilier intends for Lawrence to marry Charlotte, after which he will kill La Bouff and claim his fortune. The men make a deal with Facilier unleashing the Shadows and Spirits of the underworld to do his bidding.

At the masquerade ball, Charlotte and Tiana both dance with Naveen in hopes of catching his favor. Tiana believes Prince Naveen could help her realize her lifelong dream of owning her own restaurant, and Charlotte is desperate for her true love and her Prince Charming. Little do they know that he is really an impostor.

Not knowing that he is really Lawrence, Charlotte accepts his proposal. The wedding is set for the day of the Mardi Gras parade atop Big Daddy’s float as the King of the Parade. Tiana is devastated and runs to hide her disappointment. She makes a wish upon the evening star, Evangeline, and magically the star appears to seemingly grant her wish.

She is startled to then see a frog, the real Naveen, and believing only way she can make her wish come true she kisses the frog, but instead of Naveen turning back into a human, Tiana is turned into a frog herself. Horrified by her green, slimy appearance, Tiana escapes to the bayou to hide followed by Naveen.

Meanwhile, Dr. Facilier makes a deal with the voodoo spirits, offering them the souls of the people of New Orleans in exchange for soul-seekers to aid in finding the frog Naveen.

At the bayou, Tiana and Naveen meet Louis, a trumpet-playing alligator who longs to be human, and Ray, a Cajun firefly. Louis and Ray offer to lead Tiana and Naveen to the good voodoo priestess, Mama Odie, who they believe can undo the curse. Along the way, they encounter a whole host of delightful characters from the bayou that keep them entertained during their travels. Ray introduces all of them to his relatives and reveals to Tiana that he is in love with one very special firefly, Evangeline. Tiana, Naveen and Louis don’t have the heart to tell Ray that his Evangeline is really a star. As Ray professes his love for Evangeline, Tiana and Naveen begin to develop feelings for each other.

As their journey continues, they encounter a trio of hunters planning to catch and eat Tiana and Naveen. They manage to outwit the Cajun bumpkins, and Ray leads them on through the bayou to Mama Odie’s treehouse. Just before they arrive, the four are threatened by Dr. Facilier’s shadows and are almost captured until Mama Odie comes to their aid and scares away the Soul Seekers.

Once they arrive at Mama Odie’s, the eccentric voodoo priestess explains that Naveen must kiss Charlotte before midnight of the Mardi Gras parade to break the spell and return them to their human form. They quickly return to New Orleans to try and find Charlotte before the clock strikes 12.

Searching through the festive Mardi Gras parade, the characters happen across Dr. Facilier’s parade float with Charlotte and “Naveen” atop the float preparing to marry. Desperate to turn human, Naveen hops onto the float to kiss Charlotte, but is captured by the “Naveen” impostor, Lawrence. Ray tries to save him, but is overtaken by Dr. Facilier, who fatally injures him. The frog Naveen succeeds in capturing the voodoo amulet around the phony “Naveen’s” neck.

Dr. Facilier quickly captures Tiana and holds her hostage in exchange for his amulet. Realizing that he truly loves Tiana, the frog Naveen risks everything by jumping off the float and breaking the amulet in attempt to break the spell. Angered voodoo spirits claim Dr. Facilier himself as payment for his debts and drag him into the voodoo spirit world.

As the parade ends and crowds depart, Tiana, Naveen and Louis realize their friend has been mortally wounded. The friends gather to comfort Ray as they witness him slipping away to meet his love Evangeline in the sky.

After Ray’s funeral, Tiana and Naveen realize their love for each other, and the two decide they are content to live together as frogs. They return to the swamp and are wed by Mama Odie. As the two take their vows, Tiana becomes Princess of Maldonia, and their kiss breaks the spell, restoring them both to human form. The entire bayou celebrates the marriage of Tiana and Naveen.

Maria Dunbar stars as Tiana, the determined, kind heroine. Dunbar, a senior at The Scholars Academy, has danced with South Georgia Ballet for eight years. Dunbar will attend Florida State University, where she has been accepted into its prestigious dance program.

Other seniors starring in the show are Abby Novak and Sydney Clanton, who also attend The Scholars Academy. Novak will play the charming role of Louis, the trumpet-playing alligator. Clanton will dance the role of Charlotte, Tiana’s best friend.

In addition to the original storyline, the production will also feature cutting-edge technology with regard to stage sets and special effects. Instead of painted backdrops, the dance will be performed against projected images as backdrops. There are more moving pieces and parts than ever before along with a multi-media background of projections, lights and sets. The technical element plays a key role in the performance.

Said Melissa June, artistic director, “This show will be non-stop, top- notch entertainment from the moment the curtain opens until the final bows. I am blown away at the immense talent that will be gracing the stage. We are known for our ballet technique, but this show has highlighted just how versatile these dancers are. Between the spectacular staging, costumes, sets and choreography, the audience will leave wanting to come back and see it again and again.”

Reserved seating is available. To purchase tickets, call 229-378-ARTS (2787) or visit southgeorgiaballet.org. Tickets range in price from $8 to $15.