New Clothes for the Naked July Festival

Everyone knows the story of "The Emperor’s New Clothes,” a fable told across many cultures over the years but most commonly associated with the tale by Hans Christian Andersen. The story of an arrogant and selfish leader who is easily duped by a group of swindlers has become a symbol for the hypocrisy and self-delusion that have defined the persona of some politicians or other celebrities. So what does a beloved children’s tale have to do with the Naked July Festival? The answer rests with two new original plays that will premiere at the National Pastime Theater this summer—The Emperor’s New Clothes, adapted by Keely Haddad-Null, and The Tumultuous Tale of the Tragically Transparent Tunic, adapted by David Denman.

In a bold new adaptation created for the Naked July Festival, The Emperor’s New Clothes tells the story of a mayor of Los Angeles, a power-hungry leader whose administration is tainted with scandal and corruption. Like Andersen’s foolish and gullible emperor, this mayor is an easy target for the scheme of a self-serving tailor and ends up standing before the people he professes to serve wearing only a “garment” that he believes can only be viewed by enlightened people like himself. But this time, the leader is not the only one to be blinded and exposed by his own conceit—his wife and advisors also have appointments with the tailor in this modern adaptation of the classic tale.

Under the direction of Carolyne Anderson, the bold and confident cast is coming together quickly while facing a dauntingly short rehearsal schedule. Some of the cast members are new to the Naked July Festival while others performed in shows last July and are also appearing in other Festival shows this summer.

So what will you see when you come to watch The Emperor’s New Clothes on the National Pastime stage? Are you enlightened and sophisticated enough to see the grandeur of the “clothes” that the mayor, his wife, and his advisors are “wearing” during the big parade? Or will you be like the young boy in Andersen’s story who makes his simple and candid observation that they are not wearing any clothes?

The Emperor’s New Clothes kicks off the Naked July Festival with the opening performance at 8:00 on July 2. It will be performed every Friday and Saturday night in July at 8:00.