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