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“Everyone has a few butterflies before going on stage,” Reed said. “They will go away soon after and the show will go on.”
Here is the scenario: an unhappy girl, a handsome prince and a fairy godmother; simply put, its Cinderella and it’s coming to campus.
The story of Cinderella has warmed the hearts of many for decades. At some point in life most have come across some form of this age-old tale. Patricia Myers, director and conductor as well as a lecturer in music, came together with Augusta State’s Opera Ensemble and Music Department to put an entertaining twist on the story. The ensemble performed its take on the Rodgers and Hammerstein’s version of Cinderella last weekend at the Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre.
“This is the original version, produced in the 1950s, then again remade in the 1960s,” Myers said. “By the 1990s there was a televised version starring Brandy and Whitney Houston, to name a few.”
The process of this production began about a year ago. Myers said she knew she wanted to do the production and even thought about it over the summer vacation. She then began to see people she believed would fit well into certain roles and in October she had an open audition.
“We cast to fit roles, and looked for balance among amateur and professional experience to give everyone a chance to shine,” Myers said. “We have a mixed ethic group in the show as well.”
About 90 percent of the actors and orchestra are Augusta State students. Myers said she found it very important to showcase the talents of the college. Katie Blanchard, a senior accounting major, portrayed the role of Cinderella. This was her seventh stage play but not her first starring role on stage.
“I’m a shy person, I get jitters, I get nervous,” Blanchard said.
She said even though she has jitters at times, her role was not a difficult one to relate with no matter what age, gender or ethnicity.
“Everyone can identify with her story and her struggle,” Blanchard said.
Tom Reed, sophomore music major, played the role of the prince. Reed has been in many productions, including Beauty and the Beast, but this is his first college performance. He describes his character as ‘real royal’ and one who catches on slower than others in the play. His preparation for this role began in December after his casting.
“At times it has been difficult, but we have an exceptional staff and it has been a blast working with them,” said Reed.
Reed said he is enthused for his role in the stage play and said the cast and crew are wonderful and they all have worked together to help each other.
“Everyone has a few butterflies before going on stage,” Reed said. “They will go away soon after and the show will go on.”
Jessica Bailey, a senior biology major, took on the role as stage director. She said she was so pleased with the way the students came together to make the play what it was and could not ask for a better cast.
“This is going to be a great show with a great cast,” Bailey said.
The opera ensemble and music department have worked diligently, around the clock to make this a memorable performance for the audience. They have chosen to place a modern take on the production and make it their own hoping to not take anything away from what Rodgers and Hammerstein originally wrote and produced.
“This has been one of the easiest casts to work with, I have enjoyed every minute of this production,” Myers said. “I encourage everyone to come out and support our ASU students.”