Flathead High drama to show 'Cinderella'
Flathead High School Theatre presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella,” a timeless fairy tale sure to enchant and entertain audiences off all ages with music, magic, whimsy and fun on Feb. 22-24 at 6:27 p.m. The school will also host a special matinee performance on Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. in the David M. Hashley Theatre at FHS.
Admission is $12 for adults and $10 for children, students and senior citizens. Tickets may be purchased at the high school’s main office, Photo Video Plus in Kalispell and, if still available, at the door.
In this classic tale, Cinderella is forced into servitude by her wicked stepmother and two stepsisters. She dreams of a better life and with the help of her Fairy Godmother, Cinderella is transformed into a princess and finds her prince. This famous fairytale has been re-fashioned and set to music by two great masters of the musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein, and features some of their most beloved songs including “Impossible/It’s Possible,” “In My Own Little Corner,” and “Ten Minutes Ago.”
“’Cinderella’ is the story of a young girl who courageously challenges herself to follow her dreams and is determined to see kindness in everyone despite her hardships,” said director, Kacie Bray. “There are so many pieces of this musical that work together to create a magical experience. The lights, costumes, props, set design, acting, singing, choreography and of course, the hardworking orchestra pit. You need all of those aspects to give the audience the magical musical experience they are looking for when coming to see ‘Cinderella.’“
“This magical production has something for everyone,” continued Bray. “Every adult that comes will feel like a kid again and every kid that comes will get wrapped up into the story and fall in love with all of the characters. We want the audience to go home with the message ‘have courage and be kind.’”
Including actors, ensemble, orchestra and technical crew, over 50 Flathead High students have worked to create fairytale magic for this production of “Cinderella.”
“These students have brought so much of their own individual personalities to their characters and roles. They are so incredibly talented,” said Bray. “There have been several moments where I have sat there watching rehearsals and thought, ‘wow, what an amazing group of students, I’m so blessed to be working with them.’”
From creating intimate scenes, to singing and dancing in big performance numbers, the cast has been working to transport the audience to Cinderella’s magical kingdom.
“One of the aspects that we worked really hard on in this show was the choreography. I spent days teaching them how to dance a traditional waltz step and they were so proud of what they accomplished,” said Bray. “I told them waltzing was a life skill that they could take with them after this show.”