The Phoenix Theatre for Children opens its 2009-10 season Nov. 6-15 in Studio Two of the Riffe Center, 77 S. High St.,  with The Paper Bag Princess, a not-so-typical fairy tale adapted for the stage by Artistic Director Steven C. Anderson.

The Paper Bag Princess, a children’s book written by Robert Munsch with illustrations by Michael Martchenko, earned an endorsement from the National Organization for Women for its reversal of the prince and princess stereotypes, and Phoenix will utilize puppets and local actors to bring to life the adventures of its saucy, self-reliant Princess Elizabeth.

Shyla Starnes of Clintonville will play the plucky Princess Elizabeth who must save the slightly undeserving Prince Ronald, played by Christopher Storer of Columbus. Storer will also assist Michael Quinichett of Grove City and Heather Burley of Grandview in performing 12 puppet roles which depict the characters that inhabit the kingdom.

The puppets, created by Anthony Auseon of Upper Arlington, range from a poetry-spouting cow to a lovesick bog hag to the evil dragon.

Show times are Fridays at 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.; and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children and can be purchased at the Ohio Theatre Ticket Office (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.ticketmaster.com.