By Katie Scarvey
kscarvey@salisburypost.com
North Rowan High School is presenting the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “Cinderella” at 7 p.m. this Friday and Saturday at the school’s auditorium.
This is the first major musical production the school has done since “Oliver,” which was years ago, says director Susan Stone, who teaches chorus and drama at North Rowan.
Auditions, which took place the week students came back after Christmas break, were open to the whole student body. Rehearsals got underway at the end of January.
The production will feature live music, provided by a 13-piece orchestra.
Meghan Thompson, also a teacher at North Rowan, is the music director for the production.
The production would not have been possible without three Robertson Foundation grants over the past three years, Stone says, which have allowed the school to update its sound and light equipment and replace the stage curtains.
“We couldn’t do a show of this caliber without that,” Stone says.
The school was also able to purchase a music program called “Accompanease” which gave them the whole piano and vocal score, so they didn’t need a pianist at every rehearsal. The program also allowed the score to be emailed to the students, so they could rehearse at home, even changing tempo.
“That has been a lifesaver,” Stone says.
Taylor Linker plays Cinderella; Daija Thompson is the fairy godmother. Bryce Jones is the king, and Patrick Bost is the prince. Lauren Snider is the stepmother; stepsisters are Zaprinthia Rosser and Laijia Robinson. Amanda Beaver is the steward. C.J. Mowery is the chef.
Jessica Honeycutt is stage manager and Marilyn Goodman is choreographer.
The cast also includes about a dozen children, from area elementary and middle schools.
Tickets for the Friday and Saturday performances are $5 for adults and $3 for students. Call the school for information.