By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— The famous glass slipper, pumpkin shaped carriage and magical fairy godmother are grabbing the spotlight at Pelham High School April 21 as the theatre department presents Rogers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.”

Rehearsals are well underway, according to theatre director Jamie Stephenson, and the cast is working to perfect the choreography, songs and staging.

“It’s always a gift because a lot of these kids have never done theatre before, they’ve never done a musical before, they’ve never sang, they’ve never danced,” Stephenson said. “To be able to work with them and get them to love the arts is the best part of this process.”

Two of the male leads, Lucas Schlosser who plays Prince Charming and Vidal Solito who plays Jean-Michel, have never performed in a show before.

While both actors described the experience as out of their comfort zone, they also said they’re having fun.

“This is a big musical, and it’s an interesting first (of) any kind of theatre production I’ve been in,” Schlosser said. “It’s a big step out of the ole comfort zone, but I think it’s been going well so far.”

The cast also has some familiar faces, such as senior Meredith Revel and junior Lindsay Evans. Revel plays the stepmother with Evans playing her daughter, Cinderella’s stepsister.

Evans said it’s been interesting creating the character of the stepsister, and she uses context clues in the dialogue and script to determine how to play the part.

Being her last musical at PHS, Revel said she’s most enjoyed interacting with the cast members. She’s met many new people because the open auditions brought together athletes, artists and actors for the production.

“I think it’s been a really valuable experience in that it’s a much bigger show than our show last year, so there are a lot more moving pieces having to come together,” Revel said. “Being part of that and trying to assist in all that meshing to create this one production has been a really useful experience.”

This will also be the first production in the newly renovated auditorium, and every piece of equipment is brand new. While Stephenson said it’s exciting, she also added that it’s going to be a challenge.

The tech crew will have to program in about 100 cues for the show, and both the cast and crew will need to get used to the new sound system and microphones.

Stephenson and the cast members said they are excited for opening night, and they’ll be rehearsing diligently until then. The most exciting thing for Stephenson, she said, is to see her cast members development.

“Are they walking away and they’ve grown?” she said. “Have they learned? Are they enjoying it? Is our community seeing that we’re not just putting on a musical, we’re helping these kids really become a part of the arts?”

Cinderella will open April 21 at 7 p.m. at the Pelham High School auditorium. It will also run April 22-23 and April 28-30 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $4 in advance and $8 at the door.

The cast is also hosting two “Tea with a Princess” events April 23 and April 30 at 1 p.m. Attendees can take pictures with the Cinderella cast and will receive a cupcake, magic wand and a ticket to the evening’s show. Tickets are $15.