The Nolan Center team has decided that “Cinderella” will be the perfect fit for its winter musical, and the community theater is preparing to search the realm far and wide for potential princesses, princes, stepsisters, kings and chorus members to join the cast. Auditions will be held Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 6 and 7, between 4 and 7 p.m. at the Nolan Center.
“We chose ‘Cinderella’ because we were looking for another show that we thought would connect with people,” said director Haley Reeves, who also helmed the Nolan Center’s production of “Annie” this past spring. “There’s a lot of nostalgia around it.”
Wrangell’s production will be unique, both in terms of the songbook and production value. Reeves is already planning a visual feast for audience members, with bright colors, mismatching costumes, silly hats and snazzy set pieces.
The preliminary show dates are Dec. 9-10.
The musical has been adapted countless times, between Disney’s classic animated film, its numerous remakes and the four different Rodgers and Hammerstein versions of the story. Each of these four versions maintains the story’s core elements, but shows slightly different sides to Cinderella and plays up either the drama, romance or comedy.
The Nolan Center has opted for the Rodgers and Hammerstein “Enchanted Edition,” which features extra songs for the king, queen and fairy godmother, plus a couple romantic duets for Cinderella and her prince.
“The difference is, it’s more of a comedy ‘Cinderella,’” said Reeves. “There’s definitely a lot more room to deviate from the original plan. It leaves creativity for the actor to kind of improv and add some stuff here and there.”
The “Enchanted” version is based off of ABC’s 1997 adaptation starring Brandy and Whitney Houston.
Songs like “Someday My Prince Will Come” and “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” — made famous by the 1950 Disney film — will be replaced with Rogers and Hammerstein show tunes like “In My Own Little Corner” and “Stepsisters’ Lament.”
While Reeves looks forward to working with the community theater’s many regular participants, she hopes to see some new faces at auditions.
“We’ve had a lot of adults interested, we’ve had a lot of young kids,” she said, but hopes to recruit high schoolers for the roles of Cinderella and her prince. That said, she recognizes that Wrangell teens are exceptionally busy, so she’d be willing to age the leads down to eighth grade if needed.
The cast is also full of comedic characters, like the “zany” fairy godmother and argumentative stepsisters, plus a slew of lower-commitment ensemble roles. “If you want to be involved, but you don’t really like to sing by yourself, the ensemble is a really great choice,” she said. Ensemble members build strong friendships and create their own community over the course of the show.
Would-be cast members should prepare a song for the audition and come ready to read lines. They can sing their song acapella or bring along a backing track, but Reeves recommends choosing “something that shows off your range.”
Auditioners can read their lines with a group of friends if they’d like, but everyone has to sing solo.
“Energy-wise, be open to really playing it up,” she said. “I know it’s nerve-wracking, but (do) whatever you need to do to really go for it. … A giant thank you to anybody who will be involved and will come audition. I know there’s talent in this town, I know you guys can bring it again.”
The organizers also need a stage manager, stage crew and sound technician. For more information, call Reeves at 406-262-4360.
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