A Truly Enchanting Performance
The Arrowhead Drama Department recently performed Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. It was the first ever musical production performed by the AHS Drama Department.
Performance dates included Thursday and Friday, February 12 and 13 at 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, February 14 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The AHS Drama Department performed a total of four shows. Tickets retailed for $10.00 online, in school, and at the door.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella first aired on March 31, 1957, on CBS starring Julie Andrews as Cinderella, according to Cinderella on Broadway. The original television musical was Emmy-nominated twice. A remake of the successful television musical aired in February of 1965. The last television remake aired on ABC on November 2, 1997. The Emmy Award winning remake starred Brandy, Whitney Houston, Bernadette Peters, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jason Alexander. On January 25, 2013, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella made it’s debut on Broadway.
Maralynn Markano, the AHS Drama Department Director, English teacher, and Stage Crew Manager, says, “It’s a beautiful show — a classic fairy tale love story that everyone loves. I knew it would be delightful for the actors, the musicians, and the audience.”
The show was truly enchanting. The characters were vibrant, the vocals sensational, and the costumes beautiful and appropriate for each individual character.
Prince Charming, played by sophomore Cole Winston, charmed the audience with his lively character and astonishing voice.
Cinderella, played by senior Nicole Slaski, sang beautifully and embodied the wishful country girl faultlessly.
The wicked stepmother, played by senior Ciera Schmidt, gave the musical a taste of darkness, while still maintaining a comedic edge along with her two daughters, Portia and Joy, played by sophomore Richa Karmarkar and junior Emilie Woltering.
Overall, the spectacular cast delighted the audience with charm and amusement.
Markano says, “Of course, working with the cast and crew is always wonderful, no matter what the show; they bring the characters to life with their talents, their humor, and their own personalities.”
The show was relatively true to the previous television musicals with a few minor differences. Although the King and Queen had less memorable parts in the television musicals their characters added dimension by giving guidance to the young prince in Arrowhead’s performance of Cinderella. The King, played by senior Ian Cogswell, was delightfully amusing. The lovely Queen, played by junior Regan Lyons, was witty and gave a phenomenal performance.
The Fairy Godmother, played by junior Claudia Schabes, was absolutely bewitching. Fairy Godmother’s magic and fantastical vocals gave the musical a sense of whimsy. Her magic included pyrotechnics which came as a shock to many in the audience.
Markano says, “I just want to thank everyone who has supported the Drama Department in this new endeavor. And we hope people believe in the fairy tale and enjoy the magic for the few hours while they are here with us.”
