Disney princess fans pack Show Me Center

Hundreds of little princesses in shiny tiaras and glittering gowns waited outside the Show Me Center on Saturday with parents and grandparents to see "Disney Live! Three Classic Fairy Tales." More than 25 Disney characters were in the new stage production from Feld Entertainment, the producers of Disney on Ice. About 2,600 tickets were sold for the two afternoon performances.

The Kirby family of Doniphan, Mo., drove more than two hours to see the first performance.

"The princesses are like magic," said Gracen Kirby, 7.

Haley Wiedman, 11, of Belle Rive, Ill., also made a two-hour drive with her family in hopes of seeing Snow White.

"I like to watch the stepmom because she's so jealous," Wiedman said. "I like to see how Snow White gets out of it."

Wiedman didn't have long to wait. The production opened with the classic characters Goofy, Donald Duck, Minnie and Mickey Mouse embarking on an unexpected quest to find a magical storybook hidden in Mickey's attic. Then the four friends turned the pages, magically bringing to life the tales of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast.

When the first story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs came to life, the wicked stepmother came out among fog and lightning bolts, commanding her servant to kill Snow White. The audience cheered for the heroes as they conquered evil in all three classics.

In addition to the well-known story lines, characters sang and danced to classic Disney songs like "Bibbidi Bobbdi Boo," "Heigh Ho" and "Be Our Guest."

Tonya Chamberlain of Cape Girardeau took four grandchildren and one daughter to the second performance, leading them in, all holding hands. Jahyrion, 7, was fascinated with all the children's costumes outside the building.

"I'm wanting to see the princesses, too," Jahyrion said.

Also attending the second performance was Kailey Tiemann, 6, her sister and a friend.

"It was her birthday this week, and she wanted to see the princesses," her mother, Kathy Tiemann, said. Kailey attended "Mickey's Rockin' Road Show" at the Show Me Center last year, Tiemann said. "I think she's going to love this one because it's the classics."

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