It's "Sleeping Beauty," but a different take on the fairy tale about a princess cursed by an evil fairy to sleep for 100 years, before being awakened by a handsome prince.

This "Sleeping Beauty" is a family-friendly show done in a traditional British theater style called Panto, and staged in the historic playhouse at Abrons Arts Center on the Lower East Side.


What You Need To Know

  • "Sleeping Beauty" is a production staged in the historic playhouse at Abrons Arts Center on the Lower East Side
  • The family-friendly show is done in a traditional British theater style called Panto
  • Abrons Arts Center is part of Henry Street Settlement, the social services agency that has been around for more than 130 years
  • "Sleeping Beauty" is the third in a series of Panto productions at Abrons from writer Mat Fraser and producer/director Julie Atlas Muz

Abrons is part of Henry Street Settlement, the social services agency that has been around for more than 130 years. Panto performances are a holiday tradition in the United Kingdom and embrace slapstick, buffoonery and audience participation.

“For the last 300 years, all British theaters have, during holiday time, had the Pantomime. It’s the highest selling show of the year and normally most theaters budget about a quarter of their annual budget for the Panto,” said Mat Fraser, who wrote the show and also plays drums in the pit band.

Fraser’s wife, Julie Atlas Muz, is producer and director of the show. It’s the third in a series of Panto productions at Abrons. She said she’s been proud to bring the British tradition to the Lower East Side. Fraser said Panto is a family tradition.

“Both my parents were in Panto. I, like most British actors, first experienced the theater watching a Panto. It’s so much fun writing and then drumming, my other passion, so I’m about as happy as I can be right now,” Fraser said.

The couple, who were married on the stage of this historic theater in 2012, hope the shows are a place of love and acceptance and community.

"I hope our audience will leave happy and inspired. I hope our audience will laugh so hard their belly hurts,” Atlas Muz said.

Fraser said they hope to have created a genre called American Panto, with some new New York cool about it.