Princesses greet fans in Butler
They made it look magical.
Three princesses effortlessly glided into the room to greet young fans Saturday morning during the Royal Holiday Breakfast at Butler's Grand Ballroom, 201 S. Main St.
Nearly 120 people turned out for the event, which ran from 10 a.m. to noon, and for a vendor show featuring children's favorites and vintage children's books.
The royal trio — Cinderella, the Snow Queen and Beauty Princess — danced and chatted with their young fans while adorned in sparkling gowns and flashing smiles.
Only Caleigh Bunting, the owner of Enchanted Experiences, knew about the hard work and preparation behind the princesses.Bunting, who was “Frozen's” Elsa for six months on the Disney Wonder cruise ship before starting her Pittsburgh-based character performing company four years ago, said the princesses are the results of hours of auditions, training and instruction.Her 20 characters are mostly college students majoring in theater or dance.There are rounds of auditions.“We look at height. Snow Queens are taller. We look at the face shape — do they have good cheekbones?“It's the smile, the eyes,” said Bunting. “Everything else can be done with wigs, contacts.”“I give them very vigorous training in mannerisms, cosmetology,” said the Point Park College graduate with a degree in classical ballet.Interacting with young girls, however, she said, “That's pretty much learn-as-you-go. We can teach them how to kneel, but with children, they realize they just have to do it.”
Their training paid off. The 50 young girls in attendance were mesmerized by the royal trio.“I think it's just the wonderment,” Bunting said. “Adults have their favorite artists. It's the same thing with children.“They enjoy seeing their princesses in person,” she said.Saturday's gala was Bunting's first big event of the holiday season. Her 20 princesses will be kept busy through the end of the year with holiday parties, community events and ticketed occasions.The princesses were a big hit with the two nieces of Tori Laughlin of Mercer.“They liked the princesses,” Laughlin said. And, she added, one of her sisters-in-law got to check out the venue for her upcoming wedding.Kristen Kane, manager of the Grand Ballroom, said it was the first time she'd worked with Bunting.“We seem to work well together. I hope to make it an annual event,” Kane said.Among the vendors was a table manned by Butler Downtown, offering Butler-themed T-shirts, tote bags, miniature Jeep cutouts and ornaments.“We're discounting products for Small Business Saturday,” said Debbie Crum, a board member for Butler Downtown.
It's been over a decade since the first Small Business Saturday was celebrated in the United States, but it's grown into a major holiday shopping event traditionally taking place on the Saturday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday.Its goal is to encourage consumers to support local businesses.And it met its goal Saturday according to Butler retailers.Barry Cummings, owner of Cummings Candy & Coffee with four locations, including 146 N. Main St., said, “It's always huge for us. Considering we are going to have a Christmas parade, that's huge. We missed it last year.”Kim Goslaw, wife of Steve Goslaw who owns Robert Stephens Custom Jewelers, 141 N. Main St.., said, “It's been crazy busy.”“We are doing engagement rings, custom designs, estate sales,” she said.Customers have the option of designing their own jewelry using the jeweler's CD-Cam design system.“They come in with an idea that they have, and we put it in the computer and make it fit the size of the stone they have,” Goslaw said.Josh May, owner of the 94-year-old May's Music Shop, 247 E. Jefferson St., said, “We've been nice and busy since we opened at 9.“It's not just the small stuff. People are buying guitars as Christmas gifts,” he said.“Ukuleles are crazy big. They're the most popular. They're easy to learn, they're portable and affordable.”
