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Thumbelina is the story about a little girl's dedication and love for the old woman who gave her life. This is a new version of a classic tale set to beautiful classical music from beginning to end.

Once upon a time, there was an old woman. She was very kind and loving. She also was very lonely, because she had no children. Quite often, she dreamed about having a little girl whom she would love and care for. One morning, in one of her flowers, she found a little girl. The girl was so small-smaller than the thumb on the old woman's hand. The woman gave her a name: Thumbelina. She loved to take care of her little granddaughter, and Thumbelina loved to help her granny to take care of her flowers and feed the birds in their garden. They were very happy together. But one night, a big, ugly toad jumped through the window and took the girl away. The toad wanted Thumbelina to marry her son. The marriage didn't take place, but Thumbelina was left alone in the middle of the swamp, not knowing how she could get back home to the old woman, who, she knew, was very worried about her. On her way back home, she met a lot of strange characters: a large may bug, a small mouse, a blind mole, and a beautiful prince-some good, some not so good, and some quite ignorant. The end of this story will touch your heart.

Inna Shapiro came to the United States from the former Soviet Union, where she was a professional actress. In the States, she started Classika Theater, a professional theater for American children based on Russian theatrical traditions, and for ten years was the artistic director of the company. She directed, wrote, adapted, and translated more than sixty plays. In 2004, the Washington Educational Television Association named Inna Shapiro a Hometown Hero because of her work with underprivileged children.

Tamsin Greig is an award-winning actress known for Shaun of the Dead, Episodes, and Tamara Drewe. She has been married to fellow actor Richard Leaf since May 1997. They have three children.

Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) was born in Odense, Denmark, the son of a poor shoemaker and a washerwoman. As a young teenager, he became quite well known in Odense as a reciter of drama and as a singer. When he was fourteen, he set off for the capital, Copenhagen, determined to become a national success on the stage. He failed miserably, but made some influential friends in the capital who got him into school to remedy his lack of proper education. In 1829 his first book was published. After that, books came out at regular intervals. His stories began to be translated into English as early as 1846. Since then, numerous editions, and more recently Hollywood songs and Disney cartoons, have helped to ensure the continuing popularity of the stories in the English-speaking world.

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Short Bio of Ursula Anderman (Narrator)

Graduated from Stephen College (Magna Cum Laude) Department of Theater Arts, (Music Minor) in 2006 and since then is very active in theaters around Washington, DC, Metropolitan Area. Besides being an actress, Ursula is also a trained singer with Vocal range F3-E6, she plays the piano and violin, and loves performing for children.