The Twelve

Youth Theatre at the U brings The Twelve to Kingsbury Hall on Friday, March 19, and Saturday, March 20, 2027. It's a new original musical written and directed by Penelope Caywood, and it's built in the tradition of contemporary ensemble musicals—emotionally driven and still in active development. The production features a large cast and an original score being written specifically for this show, this stage, and this company.

The story takes the fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses and moves it into a kingdom where everyone is watched, ranked, and expected to perform perfection on demand. By day, the twelve sisters smile for the cameras; by night, their shoes are mysteriously destroyed, a secret that eventually raises suspicion at court. At its heart, the show asks what happens when young people stop accepting the systems handed to them and start asking who those systems actually serve.

Because it's an ensemble piece, much of the weight sits with the group rather than a single lead. The original score is being written for this specific production, so you're hearing it as it's being shaped for the stage. It's a Youth Theatre at the U production, and the cast is large enough that the ensemble nature of the show really comes through.

There are two performances: Friday, March 19, at 7 PM and Saturday, March 20, at 11 AM. Tickets run from $18 to $27 including fees, with youth tickets available for $13 including fees. Both shows are at Kingsbury Hall, 1395 Presidents' Circle, on the University of Utah campus.