Spring Break
Male 'Cinderella' story gets start at Western
Jill Erwin
Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: Diversions
Cinderella has been replaced.
Her substitute is young Chipper - a male on a farm in Tennessee. He has an evil step-father and two accompanying step-brothers. Everything he does mirrors Cinderella's story.
The entire story will play out in "Chipper" at 7 p.m. on Friday in the Russell Miller Theatre in the fine arts center. Admission is free and it is sponsored by the theatre and dance department.
The musical is the first production in the "Before Broadway Series" that will showcase new unknown musicals. Tracey Moore, assistant professor of theater and dance, started the series to get students interested in Western's plays.
"We hope to teach students that there are other musicals out there that are unknown," Moore said. "There are other musicals besides 'Oklahoma' and 'My Fair Lady' that people don't know about."
About 25 actors will perform with about six technical staff members working with lighting and costumes. Moore hopes to bring a new musical to Western each year to help new plays get a solid start on the stage.
"Chipper" was selected after Moore met the composer, John thomas Oaks, at a musical theater workshop in New York City. He told her the idea for his play and she asked him to bring it to Western.
Oaks, who will be playing piano during the performance, wrote the play with his father after hearing the idea from a storytelling professor.
It took nine months to write the complete version, but Oaks said the hard work paid off.
"I am very excited to bring this play to Western," Oaks said. "I can't think of a better school to bring this musical to be performed."
This play is a different production than a larger musical like "Sweet Charity." It is known as a "stage-reading," where the production is stripped from most of the major elements, like set changes.
"This will be a different experience than one would have had seeing 'Sweet Charity,'" Moore said. "Stage-readings are becoming very popular in New York City. It is very important for (theater) students to get this experience and know how this type of show is done."
Bowling Green junior Ashlee Wilson, who plays Sorella, said that students are seeing a different kind of performance and will enjoy seeing the stripped-away version of a musical.
"This is not a full-blown production, so it will be fun to see new aspects of the musical," Wilson said. "Students are getting to see a little bit of a premiere."
Versailles senior Paul Bradley, who plays Chipper, said that working on a new kind of musical has helped him learn more about his trade. He can't wait for production night when the play makes its debut at Western, he said.
"This is a great musical for someone to see because it is a new play that has never been to Broadway yet," Bradley said. "It is fun to think that you never know where this play will go and could end up on Broadway someday."
Reach Jill Erwin at diversions@chherald.com.
Her substitute is young Chipper - a male on a farm in Tennessee. He has an evil step-father and two accompanying step-brothers. Everything he does mirrors Cinderella's story.
The entire story will play out in "Chipper" at 7 p.m. on Friday in the Russell Miller Theatre in the fine arts center. Admission is free and it is sponsored by the theatre and dance department.
The musical is the first production in the "Before Broadway Series" that will showcase new unknown musicals. Tracey Moore, assistant professor of theater and dance, started the series to get students interested in Western's plays.
"We hope to teach students that there are other musicals out there that are unknown," Moore said. "There are other musicals besides 'Oklahoma' and 'My Fair Lady' that people don't know about."
About 25 actors will perform with about six technical staff members working with lighting and costumes. Moore hopes to bring a new musical to Western each year to help new plays get a solid start on the stage.
"Chipper" was selected after Moore met the composer, John thomas Oaks, at a musical theater workshop in New York City. He told her the idea for his play and she asked him to bring it to Western.
Oaks, who will be playing piano during the performance, wrote the play with his father after hearing the idea from a storytelling professor.
It took nine months to write the complete version, but Oaks said the hard work paid off.
"I am very excited to bring this play to Western," Oaks said. "I can't think of a better school to bring this musical to be performed."
This play is a different production than a larger musical like "Sweet Charity." It is known as a "stage-reading," where the production is stripped from most of the major elements, like set changes.
"This will be a different experience than one would have had seeing 'Sweet Charity,'" Moore said. "Stage-readings are becoming very popular in New York City. It is very important for (theater) students to get this experience and know how this type of show is done."
Bowling Green junior Ashlee Wilson, who plays Sorella, said that students are seeing a different kind of performance and will enjoy seeing the stripped-away version of a musical.
"This is not a full-blown production, so it will be fun to see new aspects of the musical," Wilson said. "Students are getting to see a little bit of a premiere."
Versailles senior Paul Bradley, who plays Chipper, said that working on a new kind of musical has helped him learn more about his trade. He can't wait for production night when the play makes its debut at Western, he said.
"This is a great musical for someone to see because it is a new play that has never been to Broadway yet," Bradley said. "It is fun to think that you never know where this play will go and could end up on Broadway someday."
Reach Jill Erwin at diversions@chherald.com.
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