The Red Shoes by Hans Christian Andersen is one of the world's most famous fairy tales. It's about a ballerina who puts on an enchanted pair of ballet slippers— and can't stop dancing...and can't take them off.

Jack Dyville has modernized the story by using a pair of red gym shoes—sneakers—"sneaks" —instead of ballet slippers. A greedy entrepeneur can control the shoes with a voice-activated remote control. When he finds a beautiful young woman, Karen, who has dreamed of being a dancer, he tricks her into putting on the Red Sneaks. When he says "Dance" to the remote, she dances, and she can't take the shoes off until he gives the command. As her talent agent, he anticipates making a fortune.

It is not necessary for the actress playing Karen to be a trained ballerina or possess the ability to perform technical dance movements. Modern dance patterns and simple choreography work very well.

Here is one of those rare musicals that can be performed by children or by adults. The premiere production by Youth Education On Stage had a cast of children age 8 to 16 and two adults. (The role of Rocco was performed by a teenage girl in the premiere.) The staging can be simple, as suggested in the Production Notes of the script, showing how the set changes can be made quickly and easily. It can also be given a magnificent mounting. Such facilities as revolving stages and spacious flylofts can be put to spectacular use.

Lawrence Wankel's original music fits the plot like a—well, like a well-made pair of shoes. The cast may be fairly small (some doubling is possible) or as large as your stage will hold.

Karen eventually gets out of the Red Sneaks with the help of some caring friends. But your audience will never forget the magic of this riveting play.

Two acts; The simplest set is a unit set with lighting focusing on one of 3 acting areas; Place, New York City area; Time, Present.

The premiere production by Youth Education on Stage had an all-child cast. "This can certainly be an enjoyable production for a teenage cast and a young audience."—Holly Duval, Opera for Youth Journal.

Also by Dyville: Barabbas, A Country Christmas Carol, Gulliver's Travels