Asbury’s Music Department has announced they will be offering Musical Theatre Ensemble next semester. This is a class where students will learn and perform Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.”
Students had the opportunity to audition for the production Nov. 19, and performances will be next semester on April 4-6. While auditions and callbacks have taken place, the official cast list has yet to be announced, but will be finalized later this month.
Traditionally, every other year, the music department puts on a Musical Theatre Ensemble or opera. This year, they have decided to do something different. The department has planned to put on a full-length Rodgers and Hammerstein production.
The Rodgers and Hammerstein rendition of “Cinderella” the department has decided to perform is closest to the 1997 film “Cinderella” featuring Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother and Brandy as Cinderella. This film was the second film remake, the original starring Julie Andrews in 1957, and the third version of this musical.
This production will have equal opportunity for many students with musical and acting talent to participate. The production will be double-cast, meaning the production will have two different casts. There will be four performances divided between the two, so each cast will do two performances. Double-casting gives more actors and actresses a chance to shine and showcase a variety of talent.
One of the directors for the production, Marie-France Duclos said, “We chose to do Cinderella for the humor, beautiful music and the many roles that it has to offer. This musical also gives great stage experience to a lot of our students.”
The cast of “Cinderella” is not made up of solely theatre and music majors. During auditions, the cast was not required to be in the music department, it was open to different majors from all different departments. This production is designed to be an outlet for those with all different talents to participate with fellow students.
Junior Ashton Montgomery, who is part of the production’s cast, said “I am really excited to be part of this production because I love the unique way that musical theatre is able to tell stories. So much of my college life, I have had to fight to be creative because while I love my [Political Science] major, outlets like these really help me to be able to thrive. Opportunities like these that encourage people of all majors to participate are really special.”
For those unfamiliar with the production, the story follows the life of a kind–hearted young woman forced into servitude by her stepmother and stepsisters. She dreams for a better life, and with the help of her fairy godmother she is transformed into a princess who falls in love with her kingdom’s prince.
Students are highly encouraged to attend the show in April as it will be a lively performance filled with much talent. It will also be a great opportunity to encourage fellow performing students and experience all the hard work they will have put into the production.
“I am so excited to help make this story come to life and even more excited to get to work with some of my friends. I did the Musical Theatre Ensemble last time it was offered and I loved it. I am really excited to get to experience something like this again,” said Montgomery.
