Review: CPHS Princess Tea - Pocahontas's River of Memories

Pocahontas's River of Memories is the fifth consecutive Princess Tea I attended for the Cedar Park High School Choir. This school really knows how to put on a show! Every year, the auditorium is transformed into a magical fairytale castle, where talented students come out to perform an original musical packed with familiar songs from various animated movies. The girls' choir, The Seasons, and the boys' choir, Pitch Black, dress up as iconic characters and create a unique script each year for those characters to perform along with interactive games for the children in the audience, who attend dressed as their favorite prince or princess.

Every show is different and features a unique princess host. This year's Princess Tea was hosted by Pocahontas, but the Mad Hatter quietly stole the show minutes into its opening. When Pocahontas presented the princes and princesses with a magic river containing memories dating back to their ancestors, he began panicking that Alice might forget him someday. To try to preserve her memories, he removed a magic bubble from the river that caused all of the princesses to begin forgetting important events and people from their lives each time their partners touched it. They relieved their panic over the sudden memory loss by singing beautiful songs and harmonies.

 

The biggest standout performances of the evening were "Just Around the Riverbend" from Pocahontas, performed by the girls of The Seasons, and a medley of songs from Aladdin performed by the boys of Pitch Black. Both songs included solos and harmonies from various members of the star-studded fairytale cast, presenting a unique arrangement that stands out from the orchestral versions in the films. The biggest show-stopping solo was "Once Upon a December," from Anastasia, a song I recently learned to play on piano. What made this number unique is that it started in the audience, allowing participation from the excitable little princesses attending the show, and then swooped onto the stage in a fully choreographed waltz that was nothing short of magical.

Like in previous years, each table was themed after a different princess and covered in beautiful props and iconography representing that princess. I was seated at the Anna table this year, which had blue mittens on it. The two tables that stood out ot me the most were the ones with Cinderella's coach and Belle's books wrapped in roses in a stunning display. Grandmother Willow took center stage in the entry hall, along with a waterfall-themed photo spot for partygoers to share their experiences at the event. The traditional castle entryway and thrones surrounded the entrance to the auditorium, and the stage was topped with dreamcatchers and feathers to signify Pocahontas's culture. After the show, the cast came out for photos and meet'n'greets with the overly enthusiastic audience.

I feel very fortunate to live close enough to be able to attend this magical event every year. Each show brings a new story, a new cast of fun characters, and a new chance to experience princess dreams. This year, Pocahontas's River of Memories featured a high-stakes story filled with fun antics and mesmerizing harmonies from the Cedar Park High School Choir to the tunes of eleven beloved Disney songs. If you live in central Texas and love princesses, this is a must-see event. I can't wait to find out what they'll do next year!