Herriman High School presents “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella”

Nov. 20, 21, 22, 23 at 7 p.m. (with a possible matinee Nov. 23) 

Tickets are $10 for adults/$8 for students, seniors and children and can be purchased online or at the box office.

Junior Ashley Barnum, who plays the role of Cinderella in Herriman High School’s upcoming production of '“Cinderella,” said the show is emotional, heartfelt, romantic, magical and comedic, and will be a hit with audiences.

“My favorite part is the fairytale aspect, how we get to incorporate that with the music, and the costumes and the makeup,” she said. “I think it will be really fun for kids and also adults to live out that fairytale that every girl wants.”

HHS drama teacher KayCee DeYoung said, while “Cinderella” is a well-known fairytale, this 2013 version differs from the traditional stories, cartoons and TV movies most people are familiar with.

“It fleshes out the characters in a way that makes them even more relatable and three dimensional—they are so much more than fairy tale characters,” she said.

Drew Skillin, a senior who is the director of music, hair and makeup, said audiences will love the story and the “big” and “operatic” music score, which will be provided by the school orchestra.

“It still is the magical ‘Cinderella,’ but it’s new and it’s still going to be very entertaining,” he said.

Some of the new aspects of the show will be provided by the stage crew members who are experimenting with various methods for special effects fog and lighting. Actors are also experimenting with puppetry.

Abigayle Berbert, who plays the role of Fairy Godmother, said the show has an uplifting message for audiences.

“This is such a hopeful show,” she said. “I feel like it's really going to send a message of ‘literally nothing is impossible.’”

She said it’s also funny. “There's also characters that have me rolling on the ground laughing—the stepsisters are absolutely hysterical,” she said.

Berbert said that the 48 members of cast and crew have formed a family-like connection they hope audiences will see reflected in the genuine chemistry between the characters.

“The pure love we all have for each other, you can see it in the show, you can just tell that everyone loves each other onstage and offstage,” she said.

The show’s production manager, senior Baylee Hopkins, is excited for audiences to see the show, which runs Nov. 20-23.

“There are a lot of beautiful lines and moments and messages in this play,” she said. Her favorite line, ‘Don’t wait for everything to be perfect,’ is said by the Fairy Godmother to Cinderella.

 “That’s been one of my mottos that I’ve been implementing into this show, that nothing is going to be perfect, but if you wait, then the opportunity is going to pass you by,” Hopkins said. “So it's just this beautiful story of just grabbing life and going for it and not waiting.”

A matinee show may be added to the show run, which would include a meet-and-greet opportunity with the cast members.

“I'm really excited to make connections with the audience afterwards whether it's kids or adults, cause you never know when a show is gonna change somebody’s life,” Barnum said. λ