The magic of live theater comes to the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater this summer through the Twilight Theatre Company’s presentation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical classic “Cinderella.”
Originally televised in 1957, this is the only Rodgers and Hammerstein musical to be written specifically for television.
The original production starred Julia Andrews as Cinderella and was seen by a live television audience of over 100 million viewers. It has been remade twice more for television: in 1965 Lesley Ann Warren played the title role and in 1997 teen musician Brandy played Cinderella with the late Whitney Houston playing her Fairy Godmother.
With a cast of over 40 local children and adults, Twilight Theatre’s “Cinderella” production features both familiar faces and several newcomers.
Sarah Spencer, a 2012 Whitewater High School graduate who is headed to the University of Georgia in the fall, will play the title role in her first appearance on the Twilight stage. Spencer was chosen from many young local actresses who tried out for the coveted role.
“I am honored to play such an elegant and timeless role and I hope to make everyone who loves ‘Cinderella’ proud,” Spencer said.
Sarah’s Prince Charming is being played by Peachtree City resident and 2010 McIntosh High School graduate, Michael Reep, a Twilight veteran who is studying drama at the world-renowned Carnegie Mellon University. Reep was most recently seen locally as Enjolras in Twilight Theatre’s 2010 performance of “Les Miserables.”
“I am excited to bring such a classic story to life and maybe inspire some younger audience members to get involved in our local community theater,” Reep said.
Cinderella Director Sarah Stitt said, “There could not have been a more natural casting for Cinderella and Prince Charming. Sarah (Spencer) and Michael are both incredibly talented and very picturesque together. I think the audience will fall in love with them as their characters fall in love with each other.”
Stitt, a Peachtree City resident and a 2008 Starr’s Mill High School graduate and 2012 Mercer University graduate has been performing locally since 2001. In 2009, she wrote and directed Twilight’s popular Princess Tea Party which will return for a fourth summer this year.
The production’s musical director is Andrea Caldwell, a voice teacher from the Flat Creek Fine Arts Academy in her first production with Twilight Theater.
“Cinderella” will be performed at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, July 27-28 and August 3-4 at 8 p.m. The doors will open at 7:30 p.m.
The show has three acts which will be broken up by two brief intermissions, making it a good show for families with young children.
Tickets are available through the Frederick Brown Junior Amphitheater box office or online at www.amphitheater.org. Reservations for front tables may be made through Lori Grillo via email at Lori@TheTwilightTheatre.com. For more information see www.TheTwilightTheatre.com.
