We celebrate our 25th year of the Ohev Players by presenting to you Disney's Descendants. In contemplating the show for this year, it was our highest priority to feature our young actors who have not graced the Ohev stage since before the pandemic when we performed Wonka. We could not have selected a show that is more fun to perform - and who knew it had such appeal? Kids love it!
"Descendants" may not be a household name except for avid Disney Channel fans and parents of tweeners. For those hearing of this movie for the first time (I was one as of 3 months ago), "Descendants" is a Disney Channel movie trilogy with catchy pop style music and an abundance of fun dance choreography that tells the story of the children of famous Disney Villains. These kids, along with their evil parents, have been banished to an island called "Isle of the Lost" due to a spell cast by the Fairy Godmother. Fairy Godmother, along with other Disney heroes and their kids, live on an island called "Aurodon", which is ruled by The Beast and Belle, and eventually their son Ben. The movie features 4 kids of Disney villains: Mal (daughter of Maleficent), Evie (daughter of the Evil Queen from Snow White), Jay (son of Jafar), and Carlos (son of Cruella DeVille). They live a villanous life on the Isle of the Lost until Ben decides that the kids of the villains deserve a chance to live the good life with the heroes. He brings the 4 title characters over to Aurodon to integrate them into Aurodon society.
6.6 million viewers and a 90% Rotten Tomato score later, Disney created this official stage musical version of the "Descendants" that merges the movie trilogy into one story. The musical includes songs from all three of the movies.
A special thank you to my right-hand man, producer Barry Dratch, and my left-hand lady, stage manager, Shelley Rosen, who have worked tirelessly on everything behind the scenes. To put on a show of this magnitude, it takes a village. Thank you to my village of Ohev Players, including our musical director, Dani Shylit, our choreographer, Pamela Rosenbaum, production staff, volunteers, parents, and everyone else who have generously given their time to make this production a reality. There are more of you than I can fit on this page (you know who you are). And of course, thank you to Barbara Glickman and the staff of Ohev Shalom who made every effort to accommodate our needs to allow this community to come together and present joy.
On a personal note, I am so proud of the entire cast for their efforts in learning difficult choreography, harmonies, and blocking, to take the show to the next level. It is incredible for me to see my wife, Danielle (Maleficent/Belle), and my daughter, Shira (Mal/Dance Captain) shine on stage. For Shira, this is her final performance as an Ohev Player before beginning her career at the URI School of Pharmacy in Rhode Island this August.
Michael Schwartz
