By Jaclyn Burke
Student Reporter
The Northwestern Oklahoma State University theater program will present their annual children’s production to the public Saturday, November 21, at 2 p.m.
The production, “Cinderella! Cinderella!,” will be in the Herod Hall Auditorium, and admission will be $1.
According to nwous.edu, “Cinderella! Cinderella!,” written by Edith Weiss, takes place in an English village in 1342. Cinderella, a plain-looking girl with big feet, has to compete with her two mean-spirited but stunningly gorgeous stepsisters for the hand of the kind and sincere prince. With the help of her faithful feline companion, Tom, and a lovable but vision-impaired Fairy Godmother who’s always using the wrong wand, Cinderella finally learns that magic isn’t the answer to her problems. Courage, kindness and self-confidence trump superficial beauty and an expensive wardrobe.
From Tom’s slapstick shenanigans to Lady Lotta Bonbon’s cat allergies to cupcakes in the face at the ball, everyone laughs their way through the valuable lessons learned — even the hateful stepsisters see that a kind heart is what emanates true beauty.
Fine Arts Department chair and director of the production, Kimberly Weast said there are four closed productions on Thursday and Friday. About 1600 children from Fort Supply to Medford and Okemah to Burlington will attend the closed productions.
She said, “We do a children’s show because this is our one opportunity to expose children to live theater.” Most children in Northwest Oklahoma and Southwest Kansas don’t have the opportunity to see live theatrical productions. For these children to see a professional theater for children, they have to drive three hours away.
Weast said they do the show for the three main reasons, exposure, education and entertainment. The production is a way to expose children to the art form since theater is no longer in most of the area’s public schools. It educates the children by giving them food for thought along with a moral of the story. Lastly, it provides entertainment.
Mickey Jordan, a junior from Iowa Park, Texas, participates in the show as part of his grade, for stage experience, but also to give back to the community. Jordan said he was first introduced to theater through a children’s production, “The Tortoise and the Hare,” presented by Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas when he was in third grade. Being exposed to the production helped him choose the theater path that he did. He said it’s cool to give back and be a part of this production, so maybe another child will have the same experience he did.
Hayden Nickel, who will play Fairy Godmother, said she willingly participates in the production because it’s interactive with the audience. The children get excited and have so much energy.
Weast said the excitement the children have makes the entire auditorium rumble from all the dancing and singing before the show.
She said the show is ultimately a gift to the community. The inherited program has gone on for over 30 years, and adults in their 30s remembering attending. oken to still remember coming when they were younger.
Cast
Herald Herold – Trenton Judd
Prunella – Tory Hurley
Crudella – Ashley Litke
Cinderella – Shy Ann Floyd
Tom – Mickey Jordan
Lady Lotta Bon Bon- Michelle Penner
Fairy Godmother – Hayden Nickel
Prince – Nicholas Wygle
Understudies
Scott Barley, Taylor Morris, Micah Roberts, Ashley Urban
Director – Professor Kimberly Weast
Stage Manager – Taylor Morris
Assistant Stage Manager – Tali McDonald
Audio Design – Karlie Klaeger
Audio Board Operators – Micah Roberts and Karlie Klaeger
Costume Design – Alica Hall
Seamstresses – Alica Hall and Shy Ann Floyd
Makeup Design – Michelle Penner
Prop Design – Taylor Morris and Lacey Blevin
Set Design – Tracy Meza
Lighting Design – Tracy Meza
Lighting Board Operator – Tracy Meza and Lacy Blevin
Crew- Theatre Production I and II and Herod Hall Student Staff
House Manager – Morgan Biaggi