Bucks County Playhouse Youth Company presents ‘Cinderella’
By: Samantha Bambino
Tags: Education, Broadway, Music, Entertainment, Youth

A unique retelling of the classic Broadway musical will run July 25-August 4

The Times

The Bucks County Playhouse Youth Company will present a one-hour, family-friendly adaptation of the Broadway musical “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” tailored especially for young audiences. The show will run July 25 — August 4 on the Bucks County Playhouse stage. The production will play the following schedule: Tuesday, July 31 at 11 a.m.; Wednesday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, August 1 at 11 a.m.; Thursdays at 11 a.m.; Friday, July 27 at 11 a.m. and August 3 at 10 a.m.; Saturdays at 11 a.m.; and Sunday, July 29 at 7:30 p.m.

“Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella for Young Audiences” is an all-new adaptation by Bucks County Playhouse director of education Michaela Murphy that is based on Douglas Carter Beane’s script for the 2012 Broadway revival where Cinderella saves the Prince. That production was produced by Playhouse producers Robyn Goodman, Stephen Kocis and Josh Fiedler.

The Bucks County Playhouse Youth Company production is directed by Broadway and television actress/director Kate Wetherhead (BCP’s “Ebenezer Scrooge’s Big Playhouse Christmas Show” and “Company”) and choreographed by Patrice Soriero with music direction by Kyle Duke from an adapted score by Charles Santoro (Broadway: “School of Rock”). The creative team includes Tom Watson (set design), Jacob Gilbert (lighting design), Josh Moss (costume design) and Ryan Walsh (sound design). The production will feature an all youth orchestra.

“Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella for Young Audiences” features a cast consisting of 17 local performers ages 13–18 who are selected by audition for this conservatory-style training program. The young performers will participate in daily workshops and classes in musical theater performance, acting, dance, voice, and improvisation, while also attending guest workshops led by working theater professionals. This highly competitive program showcases and cultivates promising young artists who are preparing to audition for college theater programs and other professional theater productions throughout the region.

“The Playhouse Youth Company’s production brings some of the most talented young and emerging artists from the region together with BCP theater professionals to create an extraordinary theatrical experience for all ages in our community,” said Murphy. “We are proud to offer both young artists the opportunity to perform in a professionally produced production and established artists the chance to share the benefits of their professional experience. “

Youth Company participants this year represent 12 different high schools and middle schools in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The cast includes: Devyn Costello-Henderson of Abington Friends School; Grant Nalty of Central Bucks West High School; Gianna DiBebbo of Council Rock High School South; Emmie Herman of Delaware Township School; Claire Flynn of Delran Middle School; Hayden Clarke of Lawrence Middle School; Ellie Kuhnle and Anna Shea Safran of Lenape Middle School; Olivia Andrews, Shannon Mohan and Ricky Moyer from Neshaminy High School; Riley Bultemeier and Travis Gawason of New Hope Solebury High School; Sierra Safran of Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School/Center for the Performing and Fine Arts; Olivia Frankenbach and Aiden Rice of South Hunterdon Regional High School and Hudson Orfe of Timberlane Middle School.

Tickets are $10 for children ages 4–12, and $15 for adults, plus fees. No children under 4 will be permitted in the theater. Single tickets to “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella For Young Audiences” are on sale now. For full details, and to purchase tickets, please visit buckscountyplayhouse.org, call 215–862–2121, or visit the box office at 70 South Main Street in New Hope. For groups of 10 or more, contact sales manager Kathy Pappas at kathy@bcptheater.org or 267–740–2090 x102.

The Bucks County Playhouse Youth Company is one of several education initiatives and programs offered at the Playhouse. BCP Education offers a wide variety of programs in musical theatre, playwriting, storytelling, and devised theatre for children through adults. For more information or to register for fall programs, visit buckscountyplayhouse.org.