Starlight to present 'Cinderella' at Naperville Central
Like a fairy godmother transforming Cinderella's tattered wardrobe into a glittering gown and glass slippers worthy of a regal ball, Kris Visher is whirring away on her sewing machine.
The producer of Magical Starlight Theatre's upcoming production of "Cinderella" is doubling as a seamstress.
"I'm making 22 dresses," said Visher, explaining that the gowns she's stitching together will be worn by guests at the bash where Cinderella meets her prince.
Visher said it's not unusual for cast, crew and backstage management to get involved in more ways than one at Magical Starlight, a community theater troupe supported by the Naperville Park District.
"You give people an ownership of the product," she said. "We kind of feel like if they have a piece of ownership in the backstage part, they have a little more vested interest."
The show, set to open Friday, is a musical version of the classic story of a how a mistreated girl finds love and acceptance.
"It's the Rodgers and Hammerstein version, the same as the original Julie Andrews version from the 1950s," Visher said. "It's got the classic favorite songs. We've added some music to make it more Disney-esque."
The cast of 41 does several large production numbers, she said, including one revolving around the guests' arrival at the king and queen's ball that is reminiscent of the "Be Our Guest" number in "Beauty and the Beast."
Characters' dramatic entrances to the ball and to a palace wedding will be facilitated by a grand staircase crafted by the technical crew, led by technical director Jim Visher, Kris Visher's husband.
"There are several families involved," she said, adding that families are often involved in Magical Starlight shows.
Kris and Jim Visher's daughter, Lauren, a North Central College theater graduate, is serving as assistant director. Cynthia Katz is directing the show.
Lauren said she, her parents and her sister, Victoria, have been doing theatrical productions together for 14 years.
"What I most like about (Magical Starlight) is that we have families coming together to put on a show," she said. "Theater teaches you about working as a team."
Acting since she was 10, Lauren said she has produced and directed several theatrical productions in college and at Magical Starlight. She plays a town resident and a ball attendee in "Cinderella," roles she's taken on in addition to her assistant director duties.
The challenge with "Cinderella," she said, is directing so much action on stage at once.
"Rodgers and Hammerstein have provided us with a lot of blocking already in the script," she said.
The two-and-a-half hour show has one intermission and is appropriate for any age, she said.
"This," she said, "is truly the classic fairy tale."
If you go
What: "Cinderella," staged by Magical Starlight Theatre
When: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24; 2 p.m. Jan. 11, 17, 18 and 25
Where: Naperville Central High School, 440 W. Aurora Road, Naperville
Tickets: $8
Info: (630) 848-5000 or magicalstarlighttheatre.com
The cast
Stepmother: Carla Axt-Pilon
Village Girl/Footman: Cali Beyer
Woman 2: Kim Beyer
Grandma/Slipper Trier: Suzanne Compton
Kid Sister/Horse: Jessie Conkright
Woman 1/Slipper Trier: Alison Cook
Villager/King: Michael Doll
Daughter/Feature Dancer/Slipper Trier: Shelly Drescher
Village Girl/Horse: Maria Fasano
Sloppy Girl/Featured Dancer: Meghan Fasano
Village Girl/Horse: Amy Frazzini
Village Girl/Horse: Melanie Frewen
Older Sister/Featured Dancer/Slipper Trier: Alaina Gallwas
Guard/Coachman: Alex Gonzalez
Mother/Steward: Jan Graal
Mouse: Megan Graal
Younger Sister/Featured Dancer: Christina Graffagna
Mouse: Claire Hamilton
Servant/Ball Attendee: Emily Hamilton
Bad Girl/Featured Dancer: Kelly Lamich
Ragamuffin Boy/Featured Dancer: Dan Leahy
Mouse: Emma Lee
Studious Girl/Featured Dancer: Olivia Link
Fairy Godmother: Carol Madalin
Villager: Jamie Marton
First Girl/Featured Dancer/Slipper Trier: Victoria Newhuis
Fruit Seller: Kay Oliver
Third Girl/Featured Dancer: Shynell Owen
Joy: Christina Padilla
Second Girl/Featured Dancer: Betsy Pilon
Prince: Michael Quevillon
Strolling Minstrel/Featured Dancer: Michael Raleigh
Cinderella: Kirsten Schulenburg
Villager: Jon Stricker
Fish Monger/Featured Dancer: Jasper Strong
Portia: Aubree Tally
Father Bread Seller/Chef/Minister/Featured Dancer: Tim Thompson
Herald: Stuart Vance
Fabric Seller: Lauren Visher
Queen: Jane Warfel
Flower Seller/Slipper Trier: Chelsea White
Mouse: Kate Williams
The crew
Producer: Kris Visher
Director: Cynthia Katz
Assistant Director: Lauren Visher
Orchestra Director: Dana Green
Vocal Director: Ginger Terlep
Choreographer: Janel Bach
Accompanist: Gillian Wilsak
Co-Costumers: Pam Smith and Donna Van
Hair/Make-Up: Diane Link
Co-Properties: Kate Ray and Pam Graffagna
Tech Director: Jim Visher
Stage Manager: Timothy Ray
Sound Design: Marty Lick
Lighting Design: Bob Haddleton
Deck Manager: Bob Ludlam
Co-Set Directors: Kate Ray and Pam Graffagna
Publicity: Jill Ludlam
House Manager: Barbara Rathmann
Photographer: Jim Visher
Interpreter: Patti Shore Kaden
Naperville Park District Program Director: Betty Roth
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=262725">'Cinderella' director gives her take <span class="date">[01/09/08]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>