With glimmering lights, dazzling quick-changes and months of preparation, the theatre company performed “Cinderella” from Jan. 23 to Jan 25.

The company chose Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella,” which differs slightly in plot and characters from the original fairy tale. Since the original 1950 Disney film is copyrighted, high schools opt for this version instead.

“Everybody knows Cinderella, but they don’t know this version of it,” senior stage manager Savannah Deville said. “It was just such a magical thing. Kids see that carriage come on for the first time or see those dresses change literally in front of [their] eyes, and that’s probably the biggest grab for them.”

Preparation for the show began in October, with the cast and tech crew dedicating more than 100 hours to rehearsals and production work. This included regular sessions Monday through Thursday, occasional Saturdays, and additional days during winter break.

“I spend more time here than I do at home most of the time,” senior deck captain Mya Barray said. We’ve gotten very close very fast in these past few weeks.”

The production was filled with several standout moments, including a live transformation scene where Cinderella’s rags magically turned into a ball gown. The stage also featured set pieces, like enormous trees that required two people to rotate, as well as a bike with working pedals and a movable bridge that added to the scene transitions. 

“It’s very technically challenging and there are a lot of little pieces,” Barry said. “I hope people will realize they’re not moving on their own, there’s people behind the scenes that are actually putting in the work.”

After playing Wednesday Addams in last year’s musical, junior Kinsley Keen has now played a lead role for two consecutive years. After getting the role of Cinderella, she spent about 20% more time in the spotlight. 

“I’m on stage a lot more,” Keen said. “Last year, I spent a lot of time backstage, which was nerve-wracking because I was constantly thinking about what I had to do next. With Cinderella, I’m on stage almost all the time, so I don’t have time to overthink.”

For some, theatre is also an outlet that allows one to step outside of their comfort zone. Junior Cori Lanbanow expressed this after earning a first-time solo in the spring show. 

“I have been working towards conquering my performance anxiety and my stage fright,” Labanow said. “This year, I was really determined to work for a solo. Even though it’s small, it’s still one of my favorite parts about the show because it just helps your voice be heard and you get to contribute way more to the show, even if it’s something small.”

While you may only see the actors on stage, tech theatre is responsible for creating the master run sheet with audio and dialogue cues, building the set, and constructing Cinderella’s iconic carriage. 

“[It’s] a lot more than just wearing black and being behind the scenes,” Barry said. “You don’t have a show without actors and you don’t have a show without tech. If our side doesn’t work and the actors don’t work, then we’re not going to have a successful show.”

Theatre has a far-reaching impact on the community, but especially for the families of the cast and crew. Junior and run crew member Logan Deville says that working on the show has brought his family together, especially because he works alongside his sister, Savannah.

“My dad said that he teared up at the show,” Logan Deville said. “My dad doesn’t cry at [anything]. He said [we] just did a really good job.”