2009 cinderella
Shasta High’s 40th Annual Musical
Press
Shasta High School Stages 'Cinderella'
By Betty Lease, Record Searchlight
Published 2009
It's Monday night at the David Marr Auditorium and it's clear that "magic" is everywhere.
It's happening on stage, where students are rehearsing for "Cinderella," the 39th annual Shasta High School musical that opens April 30. It's happening backstage, where dedicated adults are painting scenery and conjuring up props for the show's illusions. It's also occurring in the toasty-warm rooftop "tower," where costume coordinator Rita Simpson is overseeing the construction and embellishment of distinctive garments.
As Gavin Spencer, Shasta High's choir instructor and musical director, watches students on stage, he said he felt "Cinderella" offers a nice contrast to last year's "Les Miserables."
" 'Les Miserables' was such an epic tragedy that we wanted to do something different this year, something light that people could bring their kids to," he said.
"Cinderella" marks the third time Spencer has selected a show that has never been performed as a Shasta High musical. "Beauty and the Beast" was performed in 2005 followed by "Les Miserables" in 2008.
"I think it's fun to do something new," said Spencer, adding that he looks for shows with large chorus numbers to allow participation by many students.
The cast for "Cinderella" hovers around 75, with junior Madison Stanger snagging the lead and Michael Caldwell playing her prince. Mick Wheeler stepped into the king role, and Rebecca Ewert is the queen. The unpleasant stepsisters are played by Lary Bray and Haleigh Barnes.
Senior Katelyn Woods is Cinderella's fairy godmother and is endowed with magical abilities. Even though she can turn a pumpkin into a coach and make flowers appear in a pot, Woods said her role in the play is to keep Cinderella grounded.
"My role is trying to ground her to reality. Her head is always in the clouds," Woods said.
Wearing a "big, big dress," Woods said she uses a broom as her wand and is enchanted with her role as the magical one.
"It's really fun to have that wonder and mysteriousness in my role. It will definitely keep the audience interested," she said.
For guidance with the necessary illusions, Spencer consulted with Keith Lack of Redding, who has performed his magic many times for north state audiences and beyond.
Woods said those attending "Cinderella" should not expect her to sing "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo," the song sung by the fairy godmother in Disney's animated version of the classic tale. "This is the Rodgers & Hammerstein production of 'Cinderella.' The music is completely different from the animated version," she said.
Rodgers & Hammerstein penned the musical for CBS television, and it appeared for the first time in 1957. Starring Julie Andrews, the show was watched by 107 million people, roughly 60 percent of the country's population. It was remade in 1965 with Lesley Ann Warren in the title role and again in 1997 starring Brandy.
As always, the Shasta High School orchestra will provide accompaniment, under the direction of Lou Polcari. The orchestra will be playing numbers, such as "Ten Minutes Ago," "In My Own Little Corner" and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?"
There's a strong message in the play, said Rhonda Nelson, the production manager - "hope for the future, believe in yourself and don't give up on your dreams. I think the kids will relate to it," she said.
To make the show more family-friendly, tickets are $10, down from last year's $15 price tag, Nelson said. "People with kids will want to see it."
Meanwhile, up in the tower, volunteers Collett Stanger and Chris Yost are busy stitching sequins and beads onto gowns. Stanger has two daughters involved in the show - one as Cinderella and another as the show's makeup/hair guru.
Now a senior, Sydney Stanger signed up to help with hair and makeup when she was a freshman. As she learned the craft, she found her passion.
"It was life changing for her," Collett Stanger said of the experience. "My husband and I like to say that the beards in 'Fiddler on the Roof' changed her life."
Simpson, who reigns in the tower, has been working since early December on costumes for "Cinderella." Whether she does it by combing through area thrift stores, searching for fabric or tearing apart four dresses to create one that's just right, Simpson has the knack for turning her vision into reality.
"She makes the most of every dime (in her budget)," Nelson said. "She turns bargains into gold on a shoestring."
Now in her 11th year as costume coordinator, Simpson is quick to say she certainly doesn't do it alone. "I have 15 to 20 people sewing for me at all times," she said. "I couldn't possibly do this without volunteers."
"It's a blast. I love the kids - most of the time," she said.
