By JACLYN BURKE
Student Reporter
Northwestern Oklahoma State University Department of Fine Arts presents “Cinderella Waltz,” a senior capstone production which will begin Oct.
“The Senior Capstone course is a senior student’s opportunity to display his skill in all areas of a theatrical production. It is extremely challenging and difficult,” said Kimberly Weast, professor of theater arts.
Tracy Meza is the senior in charge of this production and has been preparing for months. In addition to directing the entire play, she is in charge of costumes, lighting, design, installing the set, all character movements and every other aspect necessary to run a production.
“The senior is not only being evaluated by his audience and I, but is also required to defend his production to theater professionals,” Weast said.
Although Meza has a lot on her plate with the various challenges, she also has many people backing her.
“This play proves to me again that I have the most dedicated, hardworking and loyal theater students anywhere,” said Weast. “Our students are a team and they work with and for each other to be successful. They all know that one day they will be the leader of the Theatre Company for eight weeks and so they give each other their all.”
There is one student recently transferred to Northwestern who has worked with scenic design before, so the student has been able to use his skills to make the set spectacular, Meza said.
Another key person needed for the success of this production is the assistant stage manager, Tori Hurley. She said she looks forward to “being able to put it together with the cast and seeing how people react to it.”
Meza said every night at rehearsal, the cast blows her away and is still able to make her laugh at the play even though they have already run through it numerous times. Meza said the theme of the play is sure to help kick start October into the Halloween theme.
“Cinderella Waltz” is not the typical Cinderella story. It is based on The Brothers Grimm.
“Rosey Snow is trapped in a fairy tale world that is by turns funny and a little frightening, with her stepsisters Goneril and Regan, her demented stepmother, her lecherous father, a bewildered prince, a fairy godmother who sings salty old sailor songs, a troll and a possibly homicidal village idiot,” according to saumuelfrench.com, a publishing company. The Northwestern production has a little twist to it with a surprise ending that is sure to be a hit, Meza said.
The production will run at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1 and 2 and again at 2 p.m. Oct. 3 in the Herrod Hall Auditorium. Admission is $3 for students with ID, $6 for staff with ID and $10 for the general public.
The entire theater department looks forward to this production and hopes the student body is just as excited as they are, Meza said. “We were able to cast amazing talent for this show, and they have worked extremely hard to pull off a wonderful Northwestern production,” Meza said.