“Wow!” Those were the words of one viewer getting a sneak, dress-rehearsal-preview of Cookeville Children’s Playhouse’s, “Cinderella,” by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Under the direction of Jennifer Welch, the actors overwhelm the stage with energy, music, and joie de vivre from the first downbeat.
The stage and sets are just unbelievable. It’s little wonder that the actors can so easily get lost in their roles transforming into the characters they’re depicting.
There are some funky little twists in the show… who ever heard of the King (the prince’s father) balking about having a ball because, “… there is a recession in the land...” and he doesn’t want to spend the money.
And the wicked stepsisters and stepmother delight with their wacky capers -- singing all the while notes of perfection.
Let’s not even get started on the mice -- which are present in abundance. They’re funny, clever, and good dancers. One inadvertently sneezed at the magic transformational mist, and all the rest of them tee-hee’d at her—sounding exactly like one imagines mice do when they giggle in real life.
Kudos go to the King, Queen, Fairy Godmother, and the poor king’s servant who had to try to force-fit the shoe on every girl in the land.
The Prince (who, as it turns out, has a very long name) and Cinderella sing and dance their life’s pilgrimage as they go from loneliness to falling in love in this classic tale.
So, not just two thumbs up, but all five fingers of both hands up for this total class act of the Cookeville Children’s Theater’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s, “Cinderella.”
Remaining Showtimes:
July 22-7:30 p.m.
July 23-7:30 p.m.
July 24-2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
$15/adults
$12/senior citizens and full-time students
$10/children (12 and under)
$8/groups of 10 or more
For information about tickets and showtimes, click
here.
Information from the program:
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s, “Cinderella.”
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s, “Cinderella.”
DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER
Jennifer Welch
MUSICAL DIRECTOR STAGE MANAGER
Judy Laulo Marie Ferran
MUSIC TECHNICIAN COSTUME DESIGNER
Mike Hellman Dawn Phipps
LIGHTING DESIGN SOUND DESIGN
Kirby & Peggy Hamilton Garth Hughes
SCENERY BY
Curt Phillips & John Fionte For Cumberland County Playhouse
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER LIGHTING TECHNICIANS
Mary Phipps Josh Craig & Daniel Perlongo
WALTZ CHOREOGRAPHY (Ten Minutes Ago- Waltz for a Ball)
Leila Nelson
TECHNICAL CREW
Joanne Longfellow, Elissa Longfellow. Natalie Hughes, Allison Helton, Taylor & Katie Bradford
SET CREW
John Beal, Renee Craig, Cade Smith, Kyle Guth, Renee Craig, Randi Moser, Rachel Zitting, Joseph Perlongo, Sabrina Perlongo, and the Cast & Crew
SEAMSTRESSES
Tina Norman, Diane Bohlen, Karen Staggs, Karen Idem, Jennifer Olson, Terry Hughes, Melita McKelvey, Tracey Sparkman, & Pepe Thomas.
PUBLICITY CREW
Jessica Mattingly (Poster Design) Barbara Mattingly, Tiffany Gipson, Amie Harville, & Gail Cantrell
THE CAST
Cinderella........................................................................Hayleigh Staggs
Prince...............................................................................Joseph Perlongo
Godmother..........................................................................Sara Hellman
Stepmother........................................................................Katelyn Leddy
Joy............................................................................................Holly Hughes
Portia..............................................................................Tamra Perlongo
Herald.......................................................................................Kyle Guth
King.............................................................................................Cade Smith
Queen..........................................................................................Sarah Gray
Chef.....................................................................................Jared McKelvey
Steward........................................................................................Josh Gabel
TOWN SQUARE ENSEMBLE
Trumpeters......................................................Ben Reed, Jayden Gabel
Townspeople...
Jared McKelvey, Josh Gabel, Andrew Reed, Jason Robert Smith, Jeremy Craig, Sara Hall, Samantha Harris, Cassidy Laulo, Rachel Idem, Sarah Foy, Meredith Daniel, Hannah Staggs, Rachel Masters, Megan Fowler, Tucker Masters, Katie Brown, Leah Wachsmuth, Alexandria Necaise, Molly Daniel
PALACE ENSEMBLE Maids and Servants...
Andrew Reed, Jason Robert Smith, Jeremy Craig, Samantha Harris, Cassidy Laulo, Sarah Foy, Rachel Idem, Meredith Daniel, Alexandria Pecora, Abbie King, Hannah Staggs, Jenna Lee Stevens, Megan Fowler, Tori Idem, Rachel Lankford, Amber Bradford, Chelsey Levendowski,
TRANSFORMATION ENSEMBLE
Mice...
Allie Gipson, Gracie Gipson, Mallory Bowman, Grace Laulo, Kate Laulo, Julia Foy, Grace Bohlen, Kaitlin Logan, Brook Gordon, Vivian Ledbetter, Emma Olson, Abby Helton, Rachel Eberle
Footman......................... Andrew Reed
Coachman..................... Jason Robert Smith
Flunkies.........................................Will Bohlen, Nathaniel Wachsmuth
Horses... Abigail Norman, Emily Craighead, Lauren Gabel, Skyler Givens, Rebekah Craig, Elizbeth Olson
BALLROOM ENSEMBLE
Palace Footman......................... Jesse Bates
Guests at the Ball...
Jason Robert Smith, Amber Bradford, Libby Scarlett, Tori Idem, Jenna Lee Stevens, Rachel Lankford, Samantha Rodrigeuz, Megan McKelvey, Julianna Norman, Chelsey Levendowski, Sarah Foy, Abbie King, Jared McKelvey, Josh Gabel, Samantha Harris, Andrew Reed, Jason Robert Smith, Jeremy Craig, Sara Hall, Cassidy Laulo, Rachel Idem, Meredith Daniel, Alexandria Pecora, Hannah Staggs, Rachel Masters
UNDERSTUDIES
Cinderella........................................................................Meredith Daniel
Prince..........................................................................................Kyle Guth
Godmother/Stepmother.........................................................Sarah Foy
Stepsisters...........................................................................Cassidy Laulo
Herald........................................................................................Josh Gabe
