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Mitchell Wohl as the Prince and Aly Blakewell as Cinderella rehearse a duet with Cinderella Music Director Cathy Dooley, center, in the choir room at Christ Church.
By Maggie FitzRoy
The story of Cinderella has been told in various forms around the world since ancient times. Now Rodgers & Hammerstein’s magical, musical version of the folk tale about a young woman who is whisked from rags to riches is coming to Christ Church.
Presented by the church’s Creative Academy, the family-oriented production will feature performers of all ages from around the community from February 27 through March 8.
This is the fourteenth year that producer Barb Roberts has been involved in the creative arts ministry, and she is excited about this show, which features such songs as “In My Own Little Corner,” and “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful,” sung by Aly Blakewell as Cinderella, and Mitchell Wohl as Prince Christopher.
Aly starred in the leading role of nun, Maria, in last year’s Creative Academy production and has performed in many theater productions around Jacksonville, including at ABET, Theatre Jax and Five and Dime. She’s now excited about her role as Cinderella “because I’ve never played a Disney Princess before,” she says, “although I’ve watched this version many times.”
While there are junior versions of Cinderella, “this is an adult version of the show,” supplemented by some children in the cast, Barb Roberts says. The Creative Academy traditionally presents children-only shows in the fall and adult-oriented musicals in the spring. A theater committee that includes Barb, her husband, Mike, Rachel and Tim Root, and Shane Estock, select each year’s production.
Number one, it needs to be family oriented so we can cast families, Barb says. The cast of Cinderella includes members of several family units, including Barb’s husband, Mike, and parishioner Wendy Waller and her daughter, Maura. “Many familiar faces from Christ Church and many new faces,” Barb says. “I love it.”
Mitchell Wohl, who plays the prince, is new to the Christ Church stage but has performed in wide variety of theater productions and is excited to star in Cinderella. “I love to sing, and I love telling a really good story,” he says. “I’m grateful for the opportunity and happy to be part of the production.”
Tickets and information are available at https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/cec-som-5/cinderella.
