With a cast of 106 student actors, from 4 years of age through the 12th grade, Brookwood School presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella Enchanted" Feb. 3 and 4 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. in the Thomasville Municipal Auditorium.
Tickets for the popular musical, suitable for the whole family, are available at Brookwood, phone 229-226-8070, and at Jan's Hallmark Shop in Thomasville, Center Drugs in Cairo, or at the door before each performance. Student tickets are $10, with adult tickets $15.
For 20 years, Brookwood has established a tradition of staging large-scale musical productions for the local community. The original Rodgers and Hammerstein version of "Cinderella" was the school's musical in 1999. The "Enchanted" edition was adapted for the stage by Tom Briggs from the teleplay by Robert L. Freedman.
A live orchestra accompanies the singers and dancers.
"This year we will present the 'Cinderella Enchanted' version which was revised by Disney for television and converted to a stage play," explained show Producer David Grooms, Brookwood assistant headmaster and director of the Upper School. "Cinderella was chosen because it is a classical musical, because none of our current students had been in the previous production, and because it seemed like a good fit for the available pool of actors."
"The Enchanted version has some additional songs not in the classic version and the dialogue is more casual than the classic," said Marc Cramer, the show's director. "Enchanted is based on the script of the 1997 TV movie Cinderella, and is just as endearing as the classic and people won't be disappointed."
Audrey Simmons plays the part of Cinderella. A Brookwood junior, she recently played Clara in "The Nutcracker" for the South Georgia Ballet.
Rand Pope, a senior, is Christopher, the Prince. In Brookwood's award-winning One Act Play in the fall, he won a state Outstanding Actor Award.
Senior Leigh Avera, the president of Brookwood's Student Government Association and co-captain of the Varsity Soccer Team, plays the Fairy Godmother. She has won Best Actor Awards in One Act Play competition for the past two years.
Senior Leigh Stauffer is the Stepmother and performs in her 13th musical production at Brookwood, in addition to appearing in five One Act Play competitions. Sophomore Blair Davis is Stepsister Grace and is a longtime member of the Thomasville Music and Drama Troupe. Stepsister Joy is played by Katie Rumble, a senior who has performed in at least 16 musicals and One Act Plays at Brookwood.
Jack Harper, who plays Lionel, is a sophomore and is appearing in his second Brookwood musical.
Senior Madeline MacQuirter is cast as the Queen, and also is the 2011 Thomasville Rose Queen. Paul Leonard, another senior, plays the King and is a member of the Brookwood Warriors Football Team, as well as the tennis, soccer, track and field teams.
The character of Charles is played by Sophomore Campbell Beadles in his ninth Brookwood production. He also runs with the cross-country and track teams.
Only a second grader, Elise McPherson is playing the Dove in her third school musical production. Avery Kirkham, another second grade student, performs the roles of Young Cinderella and Gown Mouse. Hutton Daniel, a kindergarten student, is the Music Box Girl.
In addition to the listed characters the musical includes a host of students playing villagers, a variety of forest animals, horses, a coachman and a footman, all in a "kingdom far away." As one of the songs in the musical declares, "It's Possible," so don't be surprised at the array of critters that wind up singing and dancing in the show.
Cramer, the director, said, "The success of this show is due to the hard work of so many Brookwood students, parents, volunteers and staff, especially the production team. It could not have happened without them. The Brookwood family is what makes this successful."
Barbara Lee is the production's musical director and rehearsal accompanist, Jenni Martin is the assistant director, Allison Bundrick is the show's choreographer, Laurie Simmons serves as stage manager and Beth Sibley is costume mistress.
Tony Daniels conducts the orchestra, made up of musicians from the local area and from Florida State University.
"Cinderella Enchanted" is presented through special arrangement with R&H theatricals.
Cassie Durham, Angela Khurana, Mary Claire Chapman, Avery Kirkham, Will Porter as the forest animals who assist Cinderella
Lexi Kirkham, Kristen Mulford as villagers selling fruit
Avery Kirkham as Young Cinderella and Audrey Simmons as Cinderella
Rand Pope plays Christopher, the Prince
