BNHS performs ‘Cinderella’ for their spring musical

By Anne Eickstadt

REPORTER

ANNE EICKSTADT PHOTO Belvidere Republican
“Impossible things are happening every day,” sings Cinderella on her way to the ball.

Blue Thunder Theatre and Belvidere North High School Performing Arts collaborate on their annual musical; this year is “Cinderella,” combining the talents of the band, choir, and theater departments to present an exhilarating production that will sweep you away. Previous productions include “Freaky Friday” (2022), “Emma! A Pop Musical” (2021 – virtual), “The Wizard of Oz” (2020), “Peter Pan” (2019) and “Shrek” (2018).

Director David Zimmerman said, “Many people come into this thinking that they know the story of Cinderella. They leave knowing that they do not. This feels like the first musical we have done since COVID where it feels magical for the audience, the cast, and the crew.”

Director Dr. Philip Vermillion, said, “Music theater is the epitome of the arts. Pre-sales for the matinee were about double the rest of the shows.”

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” is the new Broadway adaptation of the classic musical. This contemporary take on the classic tale features Rodgers & Hammerstein’s most beloved songs, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible” and “Ten Minutes Ago,” alongside an up-to-date, hilarious and romantic libretto by Tony Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane.

The cast and crew of the show:

-Emily Perez (Ella): (not related to Carlos Perez) Emily is a senior in high school and this is her last main stage show. She is so excited for you to see all of the hard work of her and her peers come to life when they thought it was all so impossible. She hopes you join us for a lovely night at the ball <3

-Emily Fillmore (Marie): Emily is excited but sad to be participating in her last show at Belvidere North. She has previously been seen in shows like “The Wizard of Oz,” “Freaky Friday” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” She is very grateful to her directors for their support and for giving her all of these opportunities over the past four years. She would also like to thank her friends and family for all of their love and support. Emily hopes you enjoy the show!

-Carlos Perez (Prince Topher): (not related to Emily Perez) Carlos is thrilled to perform as his first lead in a musical ever! Carlos would like to thank his friends and family for sup-porting him on his musical journey up to this point. Carlos would also like to thank the pit orchestra for being just so dang good. He hopes you have as an amazing time watching the show as he does performing it!

-Olivia Hendrix (Madame): Olivia had the time of her life working with such an incredible cast to bring this classic fairytale to life! She’d like to thank the directors for giving her this opportunity and her family for their unwavering support! Whether you’re a plain country bumpkin or a prince, Olivia hopes you have A Lovely Night!

-Brittney Carmichael (Gabrielle): Brittney is so excited that you’re here to watch Cinderella! This is her 3rd show with BNHS and her very first time performing in a musical! She would like to thank every-one who has been involved in the musical for making this such a fun experience! She hopes you enjoy the show!

-Reese French (Charlotte): Reese has been in a variety of shows. They range from “Freaky Friday” to “My Fatal Valentine”. She is so excited to finish off her senior year with “Cinderella”! She would like to thank her family for all their support and love. Reese hopes you enjoy the show!

-Brock Simmons (Jean Michel): Brock is so excited for you to see his performance in “Cinderella”! Brock has had previous roles in District 100 musicals, such as “Beauty and the Beast,” “Shrek,” “Mirror Mirror” and “Freaky Friday.” He loves singing and acting, and looks forward to doing musicals in the future!

-Derrick Miller (Sebastian): This is Derrick’s 11th show at Belvidere North and 12th show overall. He’s very ex-cited to deliver his last high school performance along with his friends who also put on a mesmerizing performance. You may have seen him in “Freaky Friday” (Mike), “Puffs” (Oliver), “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Bottom), and he hopes that his performance of Sebastian can live up to his previous ones. Enjoy the show!

-Adam Lendman (Lord Pinkleton): Adam is a fresh-man and this is his third show here at Belvidere North. He is very excited to be performing the role of Lord Pinkleton and he’s super thankful that you are coming out to watch the show.

-Adriana Pecora (Coach-man/Dance Captain): Adriana is a senior this year. This will be her sixth show that she’s been in throughout her BNHS theatre years. She would like to thank her friends, family and others who have helped her get into theater and falling in love with music. I hope you have a magical time watching the show.

-Allison Pfeil (Foot-man/Dance Captain): Allison is so excited to be in her third and final musical. She would like to give a huge shoutout to her parents for believing in her since day one. She hopes you have a magical time watching “Cinderella.”

-Noah Frank (Duke of Chesh-ire): This is Noah’s 3rd and final show here at the PAC per-forming in “Freaky Friday” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” He is here to end his high school theater career on a high note.

-Riley Byers (Earl of Caven-dish): Riley is a little new to musical productions but en-joys the show!

-Mara Anton (Ensemble): Mara is so happy to be in her third and final North show. She hopes you have a magical time watching the show!

-Megan Anton (Ensemble): This is Megan’s third production at North and 25th overall. She’s super excited to perform this magical show with her talented castmates. She would like to thank her friends and family for supporting her in everything she does. Enjoy the show!

-RecieMae Bartels (Ensemble): RecieMae is a senior this year. This is her fourth final show with BNHS. She is so glad she got to experience these last four years of theater here at BNHS she plans on continuing with plays outside of high school.

-Nicole Bennett (Ensemble): This is her first play and musical. She hopes you enjoy the show.

-Taya Brunsduch (Ensemble): Taya is very excited to be a part of this show. Being a part of the ensemble, Taya is able to do a lot of dancing on stage as well as many other cool things. Theater has always been a part of Taya’s many passions and she is grateful to be a part of such a fun musical.

-Aurora Di Lorenzo (Ensem-ble): Aurora is an exchange student from Italy. This is her first musical ever and she is so excited and grateful for this opportunity. She hopes everyone is enjoying the show.

-Sophia Giron (Ensemble): This is Sophie’s 3rd theater performance at BNHS, and she cannot tell you how amazing every experience has been so far. She’s also on the Improv Anonymous team here at North, and wears bows! If you’re reading this, they would love to tell you how much it means that you’re here supporting us. He would also love to say hi to Kharl who’s in the audience today. Hi Kharl, hope she convinces you into wearing bows one day.

-Kaylan Gomez (Ensemble)

-Makayla Hoffman (Ensemble): This is Makayla’s first show at Belvidere North High School. She is so happy to be a part of this production and cast. She has been in one other play before in elementary school and it was a very fun experience. Makayla would like to thank her friends for pushing me to audition and to her parents for driving her around. Shout out to the cast and crew members for working so hard to make this show happen. She hopes every single one of you enjoy watching Cinderella!

-Jadyn Masbruch (Ensemble): This is Jadyn’s sixth show. They’re super excited to be a part of “Cinderella.” They would like to thank the cast and crew for being amazing. They would also like to thank their mom for driving them to and from rehearsal. They hope you enjoy the show!

-Philo Ngammaneeudom (Ensemble): Philo is an exchange student from Thailand who is a really hardworking person. This is her first time being in a play and she’s so excited for that. She hopes to have a good time with it and hopes it comes out good.

-Carmen Sadewater (Ensemble): Carmen has been in 6 productions since middle school and enjoys theater.

-April Sumner (Ensemble)

-Anais Valdovinos (Ensem-ble): Anais has been in other shows such as “Winter Break,” “Freaky Friday,” “War of the Worlds” and now “Cinderella”! Anais was also on the crew for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

-Layla Watters (Ensemble): Hello! This is Layla’s third show with BNHS and her sixth show overall. She is be-yond excited to help bring the magic of Cinderella to you. Layla thanks her family for coming to all of her shows to support her, and the cast for making a home away from home. She hopes you enjoy! (And make sure not to lose a shoe on your way out)

-Isaiah Campbell (Ensemble): Isaiah is excited as this is his first high school production and fourth production altogether! He is extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with such an amazing cast and directors!

-CJ Craigie (Ensemble): This is CJ’s first production ever and she is excited for the opportunity to play as a part of the ensemble. She would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her along the way and always encouraging her to do her best when she struggled. She hopes in the future she can do many more productions with the wonderful staff that directs the productions and everyone else. Enjoy the show!

-Samuel Malmkar (Ensemble): Hey! Guess who’s baggie back. Anyways this is his last show for school! Not a lead but he’s here to have fun and put on a great show. Now ladies and gentlemen…Cinderella

-Bee Pollard (Ensemble): Bee is very excited to be in their first production! Bee loves performing & being on stage. They hope everyone has a magical Cinderella experience!

-Maya Hart (Pit Orchestra): Maya is in 7th grade, and plays the cello! She would like to thank her older sister for believing in her. This is her first time playing in a pit orchestra, and hopes you enjoy the show!

-Haley Eash (Pit Orchestra): This is her first show with BNHS and she is excited to be given the chance to play. She is grateful for the opportunity that has been given to play this part. She hopes everyone has the best experience watching “Cinderella”!

-Henrik Piske (Pit Orchestra): This is my first experience in a pit orchestra! I’m playing viola, although I do play various other instruments like piano. I’ve had a great time rehearsing all of the music and hope you enjoy the show!

-Ryan Zupon (Pit Orchestra): Ryan is very excited for “Cinderella” this year as it is his first time participating in the pit band here at North! Ryan is the first chair clarinet for Belvidere North’s Wind Ensemble, he also partakes in other musical activities like ILMEA nd the Rockford Wind En-semble. Ryan says “clarinet go toot toot” and hopes you enjoy the show!

-Grace Grafton (Pit Orchestra): Grace has been playing clarinet for nearly 7 years now and this is her second production in the pit band for Belvidere North. Grace also participates in Belvidere North’s Wind Ensemble on Bass Clarinet and Concert Band on trombone. She is super ex-cited to be performing with everyone again as this will be her last show as a senior. Her favorite song is “Stepsister’s Lament” but she hopes that you all have a “Lovely Night!”

-Haley Kresal: Stage Manager – This is Haley’s final show in high school. She is going to continue doing theater at Star-light and is really excited to see what happens in the future. This is Haley’s second experience as stage manager and is beyond happy she could do it. She hopes you enjoy the show and be sure to share your love with the cast after the performance. Big boss out.

-Nia Berndt: Assistant Stage Manager/Crew Chief – This is Nia’s sixth show at Belvidere North and is her first time as assistant stage manager! She is also in Improv Anonymous She would like to thank her friends and family for sup-porting her through the ups and downs of life! She wants to say Lil Boss Out.

-Dr. Phillip Vermillion: Co-Director – Dr. Vermillion is the director of Choral Activi-ties and Vocal Music Education at Belvidere North High School. He is excited to co-direct his seventeenth musical at BNHS. He counts himself blessed to work with such an amazing cast, fantastic crew, and dynamic production team. Even though this is the shortest musical rehearsal schedule in the history of the school, he isn’t worried one bit. After all, “It’s Possible!”

-Mr. David Zimmerman: co-director – Mr. Zimmerman is the Director of Theatre Arts at Belvidere North High School and is excited to be working on his fourth musical and 12th production at BNHS! R+H’s “Cinderella” is the first show he ever remembers seeing and he is thrilled to bring that magic to the stage. Every year he feels like the process runs more and more smoothly and has to thank Dr. Vermillion, Mr. Wolfgram, Mrs. Miracle, and Mychall Cornejo for making that possible.

Following the matinee on Saturday, March 18, a tea party was held for the younger members of the audience. 30 children were signed up in advance. They were served juice boxes and cupcakes with a special beaded bracelet to create themselves. Members of the cast wandered around chatting with the children and providing photo opportunities.