Rochester, N.Y. - Sound the royal trumpets! The Queen of Play requests your presence at the Royal Ball at the National Museum of Play at The Strong on Saturday, March 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, March 3 from 1 to 4 p.m. Come dressed in your most regal attire, meet Her Majesty, and be whisked away to a royal court for a weekend of live music, pageantry, and courtly dancing.
On Saturday only, get caught up in the magic of Rochester Lyric Opera's production of Vittorio Giannini's, "Beauty and the Beast," a one-act opera for the whole family at 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m.
All weekend long:
- Enjoy sprightly dance tunes and soaring melodies from Nonesuch Early Music Ensemble. Ensemble performers include Mitzie Collins on hammered dulcimer and percussion instruments; John Heyer on the hurdy-gurdy, hammered dulcimer, and recorder; and Roxanne Ziegler on Celtic harp and small percussion instruments.
- Meet and receive autographs from illustrator Nancy Wiley (Little Red Riding Hood and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) and author Douglas Whelan (Bladewielder Academy). Wiley is a Rochester-based and nationally recognized doll artist and painter; Whelan is a sophomore at Webster Thomas High School.
- Try on real chainmail (and see how heavy it is!), enjoy a "feast" at the royal banquet table, and receive a bejeweled gift from The Fairy Godmother.
- Create your own majestic attire and adornments, including crowns, scepters, and family crests.
- Improve your hand-eye coordination with Nerf "archery" in Sherwood Forest or tend to the dragons and unicorns in the Folkmanis puppet corner.
- Stop by Rapunzel's Hair Salon to have your hair braided.
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Contact: Susan Trien, 585-410-6359, strien@thestrong.org Shane Rhinewald, 585-410-6365, srhinewald@thestrong.org