(by Don Meador, Allen County Schools)
A talented group of young theoretical performers is learning lines and songs for the upcoming spring musical at Allen County-Scottsville High School. Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, presented by Fast Freddy's Carwash and a partnership with the Allen County Arts Council, will be performed March 24-26 at the high school auditorium---a production that will cap off over fourth months of preparation.
“Everyone knows the Disney version but our production is the original version,” noted musical director and AC-SHS drama teacher Joshua Wheat. “The musical has the same basic plot with some minor variations. It’s not as glamorized as the Disney version but you have the same basic characters and storyline.”
Planning for the musical began last fall as Wheat and co-director Megan Puckett started building the foundation for the traditional spring event to highlight the theoretical arts and spotlight aspiring student actors.
“It’s been a long-standing tradition for us to do a spring musical,” Wheat explained. “I was involved in a couple when I was in high school here. I think the only break we have had that I am aware of was the two COVID pandemic years. In my time, the Arts Council had more to do with it. We are just trying to keep the tradition going.”
Aspiring cast members were required to try out. Students from all schools in the District could audition for roles----knowing that the show did not require as many young actors as in past musicals. Hence, older students play the majority of the parts.
“Right before Thanksgiving we had auditions,” Wheat said. “They were required to come with a song and a monologue. From there, Mrs. Puckett and I finalized the cast list. Actually, we didn’t have as many auditions as needed so after we placed people as needed; we had to recruit a few ore to fill out the cast.”
Almost immediately following selection, cast members started working to prepare for the four-performance musical.
“Before Christmas, the kids got their scripts so they could start looking at their lines and learning their songs,” Wheat added. “The kids started to practice the week we came back from Christmas break. We have been going after school for three days a week since then and soon it will be four days a week. The last couple of weeks will see five and six days a week. It’s a lot of time and a lot of commitment.”
In addition to the cast working to perfect their lines and songs, behind the scene efforts began as well. The musical requires the construction of props and securing of costumes.
“In a professional theatre, there’s a staff that takes care of that but we have to do it ourselves,” Wheat said. “We did order our costumes rather than make them ourselves. We are building the set and building or borrowing the props, we need. Many people are helping and collaborating with us. This will probably be the most elaborate set that we have had since I’ve been here.”
The cast includes several young performances that have appeared in previous musicals both locally and on the regional level. Allison Davis will portray Cinderella with Houston Porter cast as Prince Charming. Kaitlyn Rather and Jadyn Williams will fill the stepsisters’ roles. The king will be Jonathan Gregory and the queen will be Katelyn Ausbrooks.
Addition cast members include JoyDale Williams, Raelynn Donovan, Emma Spears, FaithAnna Williams, Emma Charlton, Tucker Stinson, Scarlett Gillilan, Hadley Stinson, Zander Gillilan, Sophia Borders, Rachael Rather, and Keegan Stephens.
Crewmembers include Mattie Tuttle, Ann Groves, Lane Hopper, Sarah Davis, Drew Long, Joshua Madden, Kennedy Coleman, Katie West, Keegan Stephens, and Aaliyah Thomas.
This year’s musical will also have a different look than in recent years.
“We will not have a live orchestra,” Wheat said. “One reason is that in the past, the actors have gotten used to singing along with Mrs. Puckett on piano. Then, the week before, the full orchestra would be added in. That sounded so different and created a hurdle to overcome. This time, we will have the digital recording that they have been practicing with the whole time. In theory, that should make it a little easier for the cast.”
Wheat points out that a musical such as this requires the performers to commit to weeks and months of preparation.
“This is so different than an athletic event,” Wheat said. “Athletes get to see the fruits of their labor once or twice a week for a season but in the performance arts, you spend the same amount of time or more but it all leads up to one weekend. On average, we have been working four days a week, two to three hours a day just to memorize the lines and songs and get ready for show time. Plus, a lot of our high school kids are involved in other extra0currical activities so that makes it extra challenging.”
The next weeks will see dress rehearsals start. Actors will soon be required to rehearse without scripts. The week before the performance is Tech Week in which the cast and crew will incorporate all the sound efforts and lighting, leading up to the opening night.
Cinderella opens on Friday, March 24 with a 7:30 curtain time. Saturday, March 25 will feature an afternoon matinee at 2:30 and an evening show at 7:30. The final performance will be a Sunday afternoon matinee starting at 2:30. Admission is $10 at the door. .
In addition, plans are being finalized for a special Saturday morning event where youngsters can visit with the cast and enjoy snacks. More details will be forthcoming.
Wheat and Puckett are extremely thankful for the local support for the musical.
“We appreciate all the ones that have stepped up to help,” Wheat noted. “A number of local businesses have stepped up help us purchase costumes and set materials. Several fathers have helped us build the set. Many moms are helping with the costumes. People just don’t realize the sheer amount of work that goes into this”
Adult volunteers include the set-building team of Ryan Ghent, Connor Spearman, Jeffery Talbot, Jon Porter, John Mark Williams, Billy Gregory, Mike Charlton, Justin Spears, Robbie Williams, Anthony Scott, Darrel Wheat, and Joshua Wheat.