Children’s Theatre Prepares For First Production: Kabuki Cinderella
“Kabuki Cinderella is a production done by the Children’s Theatre class and the Tech Theatre classes that is a combination of the traditional Rodger and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and the values of the imperial Japanese culture” said junior Katy Trebing.
This year, Parkway North was introduced Children’s Theatre and will present their first production, Kabuki Cinderella Nov. 30 – Dec. 1. This play is unlike any other PNH Theatre production, as it involves a classic fairytale with a twist. The script was given to them from Mr.Little’s old college professor.
“I was looking for something that was culturally different, that required a little bit of research on the actors and the technicians’ part. I wanted to show a challenge to the student,” said drama teacher Chad Little.
Students in the Tech Theatre class divided into groups for all the different set areas. After reading the script, they figured out what the set, props, and costumes would look like and what special effects were needed.
“First, we built the walls. We had to make sure those were stable to the ground so they didn’t move while we were trying to fix the other stuff. The trees were put up on the side along with the petals that we strung together with string. Then, we had to build moving walls for a few characters that you will see in the play,” said junior Aaron Gaskew.
Like any other production, there is always the struggle of memorizing lines and staying in character. Luckily, on top of having after school rehearsal, Children’s Theatre get its own block during school to work together on plays.
“My favorite part is having a class devoted to the production because we have a lot more time, and you really connect with your castmates more because you have a class together. I enjoy the entire process of having a show for kids. I think it’s a whole other part of theatre that many people don’t explore often. I just really like the production itself,” said Trebing.
The theatre class does not have many students in it, so some from the tech class had to join the play. The group was still able to carry out all the scenes since the bigger roles went to the actors in the children’s theatre class.
“[My favorite scene] is where the two stepsisters are killing a lot of the butterflies in the garden. I think that’s my favorite part because it shows how different it was rather than what happened in the actual Cinderella,” said Gaskew.
Members of the production hope more students audition for their plays in years to come so that grade schools around the area can get involved.
“I would like to do this every year, and I would like to get grade schools to actually come and do some matinee performances and perform for actual kids. This is children’s theatre; it’s aimed at a younger group and the things that they do on stage are specific to that younger group. High school students would think it’s silly and cheesy because they’re not in that mindset anymore,” said Little.
The play begins at 7 p.m. both nights in the Parkway North Theater. Tickets are still available in the bookstore for $7 for adults and $4 for students. Head to pnhtheatre.booktix.com for more information.
Ijeoma Nkenchor, Assistant Editor-in-Cheif