Review: CPHS Princess Tea - Mulan's Camp of Courage
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Today marks the fourth consecutive year that I have attended the Cedar Park High School Choir's annual Princess Tea, and it was just as magical as ever! From the Chinese dragon photo station to the red lanterns on the stage and the tables, the high school theater was transformed into ancient China. Mulan hosted this year's concert of princesses and heroes for Mulan's Camp of Courage. Although the boys of the Pitch Black choral group had astounding harmonies and many comedic moments, they took even more of a backseat than previous years to the princesses of the evening who were performed by the Seasons. The show consisted of well-known Disney songs loosely woven together by a competition of courage led by Mulan.
The biggest surprise characters of the evening were Princess Leia and Han Solo of Star Wars fame. Although they didn't perform a solo number, there were lots of fun quips about the time they spent on other planets. Leia surprised everyone with her recipe for chocolate cupcakes, which apparently comes in handy no matter what planet you're on. This year's show didn't have as much inter-kingdom traveling as previous years and took place in Mulan's home country of China. During the first scene, the boys ran off to explore the Great Wall of China and only came back a few times, primarily for a lovely interlude of "When She Loved Me" right before the intermission. The rest of the time, Mulan led the princesses in a statue competition, drawing contest, and relay race while hyping them up with energetic Disney hits like "Zero to Hero" and "I'll Make a Man Out of You."
My favorite performance of the evening was "Be Out Guest," an ensemble dance number that everyone participated in, even the "Fairy Godmother" who runs the events. The choreography was excellent. The whole group sounds incredible when they all harmonize together as Soundwave. The other stellar ensemble number was "Remember Me" from Coco, which was performed in both Spanish and English. This was the second to last song of the show in which the group bid everyone farewell until next year, which can't possibly come quickly enough. Some of the princess solo numbers included "Part of Your World," "Belle," "I See the Light," "Once Upon a Dream," "For the First Time in Forever," and "How Far I'll Go." For many of these songs, the princesses came out into the audience to dance with eager little girls who wore matching costumes.
In addition to the stellar choreography and beautiful harmonizing, this is a great show to experience as an audience member. Each table is themed after a different princess, and the performers encourage participation from the attendees. For the statue game, the audience was tasked with calling out the name of each princess who moved. The "Kingdom Dance" was performed as an interactive dance number like in previous years as the princesses invited enthusiastic children to join them for the dance. There was also an audience competition to look for a treasure chest that was hidden on one of the tables. After the show, the performers stuck around in the lobby for photos and autographs. I got my picture taken with "Ariel," who was incredibly sweet and complimented me on my appearance.
As I left CPHS Princess Tea, I couldn't help but feel enchanted by the magical evening I'd just experienced. The talented performers, stunning costumes, and immersive theming all combined to create an unforgettable event that delighted audiences of all ages. Whether you're a Disney devotee, a fan of musical theater, or simply looking for a fun and family-friendly activity, the Princess Tea is an event not to be missed. Mark your calendars for next year's show and get ready to be transported to a world of wonder and enchantment!
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