The Emperor’s New Clothes

The Emperor’s New Clothes, a new musical specifically designed for children, is based on Hans Christian Andersen’s well-known fairy tale about a vain ruler whose egregious pride is eventually deflated by the cunning of two “tailors” and the naiveté of a child. The Emperor becomes so obsessed with his appearance, that he squanders the empire’s riches on expensive outfits. With the help of two peasants posing as the world’s most capable clothing designer and tailor, the wise Empress devises a plan to break the Emperor of his selfish fixation. The “designers” pretend to create clothing that is invisible to all but the most ethically worthy people in the kingdom. The Emperor and all of his yes-men of course claim to see the non-existent beautiful garments, lest they admit their incompetence. But as fate would have it, narcissism gives way to inevitable humiliation, thanks to a young, honest child. The production features lavish and fittingly gaudy costumes, charming choreography and several catchy, aptly titled songs, such as “Out of Thin Air,” “State of Affairs,” “The Naked Truth” and “Birthday Suit.”