Submitted photo | Surry Arts Council
Will Wharton, who plays the chef in SAC’s production of Cinderella, helps paint the set designed by Chip Holton.
Jessica Johnson | Staff reporter
Chip Holton designed the impressive backdrop for Cinderella. He is shown here painting cobblestones on the stage. He designed the set using charcoal then transferred the design to the large-scale set. Cast members helped to add paint and Holton added details such as two hidden images, Pilot Mountain as part of the mountains and a horse-drawn carriage in the clouds. The audience can try to spot the hidden images when they attend one of the Cinderella performances this weekend, at the Andy Griffith Playhouse.
“Cinderella” has cast a spell on theater and teleivision audiences for many years, and the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical version will grace the Andy Griffith Playhouse stage this weekend, as Surry Arts Council’s summer musical.
Surry Arts Council’s Artistic Director Bobby Budford serves as director for “Cinderella,” his first major production after being hired as the new artistic director for SAC.
Budford said he is “very impressed” with the talented cast and crew, and said the show will be enjoyable for the entire family.
“It has such beautiful music, and that’s what everyone will walk away with. This is the traditional story, with Cinderella’s mean stepmother and stepsisters who mistreat her, a fairy godmother who comes and transforms her for the ball, where she meets her prince.”
Budford said the transformations are accomplished with lighting and are filled in with the audience’s imagination.
The cast includes Lara Williams as Cinderella, Katlyn Shaw as the fairy godmother, Katlin Sias as the prince, Stephanie Danielle McIntyre as the stepmother, Rona-Lynn Dizon as the stepsister, Haley Kech as a stepsister, Curtis Coleman as the king, Andrew Billings as the herald, Emily Brim as the queen, and Will Wharton as the chef. Amanda Hill is the stage manager for the production.
Katlyn Shaw, who plays the fairy godmother, is former Mount Airy High School student and is now a musical theater student at Catawba College.
“I came back home in two different ways this summer. I literally moved back into my house from school, and I came home to the Andy Griffith Playhouse. That’s the place that started my passion for performing, so being back there is wonderful. Bobby Bodford has welcomed me with open arms and I am having a blast.”
Shaw also said this was her second time in a “Cinderella” production; she took part in the SAC production several years ago, and her mother had the role of the fairy godmother.
“It is great to be able to share this role with someone I care so much about. The scripts, the one I’m doing and the one she used, are kind of different and we have both put our own spin on the character. My mother played a warm and magical Godmother while my interpretation is a bit more realistic about what it takes to get what you want,” Shaw explained.
Emily Brim plays the role of the queen. She said it is her first lead role and it has been a challenge, but a challenge she has “absolutely loved.”
“Bobby Bodford is one of the best directors out there and I am more than honored to be working under him. ‘Cinderella’ is going to be breathtaking, and I highly recommend coming out to see it this weekend,” Brim remarked.
The set design for SAC’s “Cinderella” was carried out by North Carolina artist and sculptor Chip Holton. In the past, he helped to design the set for SAC’s production of “Seussical.”
Holton said his set design was conceptualized in charcoal, then he transferred it to the backdrop, creating the outline and inviting the cast and crew to help paint. In the past, Holton has designed murals and art for the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro as well as various exhibits, dioramas, and work for libraries, museums, and galleries in the southeast. Holton is the artist-in-residence at the O. Henry Hotel in Greensboro.
There are two hidden images in the backdrop: a nod to Pilot Mountain featured in the outline of the mountains and a cloud shaped like a horse and carriage.
The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical version was originally written for television, with an original black and white version featuring Julie Andrews, followed by a color version with Lesley Ann Warren playing Cinderella.
The musical version of “Cinderella” is being shown on Broadway right now. Budford said Surry Arts Council’s version will be very close to the Broadway production of “Cinderella,” with one main difference in the G2K production, the dance numbers are not as long and the story is geared more toward a young audience, although people of all ages will enjoy it.
“Everyone should attend and bring the kids. It’s a great show, not too long so kids can handle it, the music is wonderful, we have beautiful costumes, and a gorgeous set,” Budford said, inviting the community to attend one of the four weekend performances.
Surry Arts Council’s community theater production of G2K’s “Cinderella” will premier on Friday at 3 p.m. and will continue with two performances on Saturday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and a final performance on Sunday at 2 p.m., at the Andy Griffith Playhouse.
Tickets for “Cindrella” are $10 each and $5 for ages 12 and under. For more information or to purchase advance tickets, call 786-7998 or visit surryarts.org.
Cinderella Tea this Thursday
The Cinderella Tea will be a special treat for children, who are invited to attend in costume as their favorite prince or princess. Participants will enjoy tea party refreshments on the stage with the characters from “Cinderella.” Each child will also have the opportunity to have their photo taken with with cast members in costume, while wearing a complimentary tiara. Cinderella Tea is this Thursday at 4 p.m. on the Andy Griffith Playhouse stage. The cost is $10 per adult and $5 per child, ages 12 and under. Cinderella Tea tickets may be purchased at the Surry Arts Council or by calling 786-7998. Limited space is avaliable and registration is required.
Reach Jessica Johnson at jessicajohnson@civitasmedia.com or 719-1933.
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