Editor’s note: In the printed version, we said the princess was younger. The troupe reworked the script, so the princess is of age.
Riddled with foul language and adult content, anyone walking into “Twisted” expecting a Disney-style fairytale might be in for a shock. When Aladdin sings “Take Your Clothes Off” to a nineteen-year-old Princess Jasmine, it becomes clear this isn’t a family show. But Robinson’s theater group, Troupe 2660, took that challenge head-on. After more than four years without a musical, they chose this bold, satirical retelling of Aladdin as their return to the stage.
The decision to tackle a full musical came from Jessie Dorsey, ASL teacher and the troupe’s new director. Since “Legally Blonde” in 2021, the group had only done smaller productions and competition pieces. With barely any budget, the idea of staging something this ambitious seemed unlikely. Still, Dorsey pushed forward.
“Despite all of our challenges, not having very much funding or uninterrupted time in the space, dealing with finicky text systems, having to sew our own costumes and build and paint our own set and everything, we still pulled out a really truly incredible show,” Dorsey said.
Beyond the financial strain, scheduling added another layer of difficulty.
“Due to a lot of scheduling conflicts, we lost a significant amount of rehearsal time (30 cumulative hours) and the time crunch was very difficult to make work, but I feel like we were able to,” said Jules Navarte (’26), who played Ja’far.
Despite the chaos, rehearsals often sparked meaningful moments.
“I enjoyed seeing my kids start to trust my direction and believe in themselves. They are all emerging artists and each and every person on and behind that stage has something special with them,” Dorsey said.
Creating that kind of environment isn’t easy. It takes intention and care to build a cast culture that feels safe and inclusive.
“I love this cast. With all the environments I have been in prior, this feels much more welcoming and inclusive, and that’s something I really appreciate,” Navarte said.
The show itself demanded flexibility from everyone involved. Script changes and creative problem-solving became part of the daily process.
“It (then) became such a collaborative experience with the cast and myself to completely rewrite the scripts to make it our own while still honoring the original intentions of the playwright. It was a great exercise in collaboration and devised theatre,” Dorsey said.
Along the way, improvisation brought the production to life in unexpected ways.
“My favorite part is probably during “Happy Ending”, when I twirl onstage as a ghost. I love being able to improvise that dance and it’s just a really poignant moment in the show,” said Moira Patterson, who played Scheherazade.
Not every surprise was left to chance. Some creative touches were planned from the start to add detail and depth.
“I placed certain elements within the direction and choreography that I thought would make the overall musical feel more genuine in the world of the play. For example, if you follow some of the actors’ tracks in how they move on stage, there’s actually a Hidden Mickey in the blocking,” Dorsey said. “I love adding small elements like that to make everything feel more cohesive and more like we are actually living within that imaginary world.”
Although “Twisted” leans heavily on humor, the cast made sure its message didn’t get lost.
“Even though this is a comedy, Ja’far’s final monologue has a strong kernel of truth that I really hope everyone takes home. In the theatre, believing you can is such an important part of what actors put forward, and being able to impart that dedication to others is such a great part of the performing arts that I wish I got the opportunity to do more,” Navarte said.
For others, the takeaway was more personal and heartfelt.
“I hope the audience remembers that just like the princess in the show, they all have the power to make a real change in the world by being kind and loving one another,” Patterson said.
Putting on a show like this isn’t easy. But for this cast and crew, the process was just as meaningful as the final performance.
“Start somewhere. Make mistakes as you go but never forget that the art that you are going to make in collaboration with your cast and designers is important, and only you can make it,” Dorsey said.
