CINDERELLA: SCHULTZ SCHOOL MUSICAL WILL BE PRESENTED FOR THE FINAL TIME TONIGHT

The Schultz School production of "Cinderella" is so charming, some of its characterizations so deft you have to keep reminding yourself that these are seventh-graders probably appearing in their first musical.

The singing, the acting, the costumes, the props and the set belong in a production by much more experienced students. This happens every year, says director Mike Dumey, who is staging his eighth musical at the school. "People say, This must be a talented class,'" he said. "They're always this talented.

"Cinderella" will be presented for the final time at 7 tonight at the University Center Ballroom. An performance for the city's sixth-grade classes will be given at 9:30 this morning.

The Schultz musical has become a popular tradition. More than one hundred students tried out in February for the 14 speaking roles. They began four-day-a-week rehearsals March 1.

The winner of the hunt for Cinderella was Taylor Smith, a girl who already knows how to use her lovely voice to entertain. She lights up the stage.

Her match as the Prince is Phillip Brooks, who has great charm to go with a singing voice that in his duets with Smith attains moments of perfection.

Everyone who sees this Cinderella will pick their favorite portrayals. Mine are Ashley Anderson as the stepmother and Kopper Thatch and Katelyn Metje as her daughters, Minerva and Calliope.

They are such sweet and sour harpies, have such fun being mean to Cinderella, and each earns big laughs for moments of physical humor.

Anderson is deliciously cruel as the Stepmother. "I beg you Calliope, try not to snort," she snips, priming her daughters for the ball.

"Stepsister's Lament" may be the funniest number in the show. When Thatch and Metje sing "Oh! Oh! ... What's the matter with the man?" you almost feel sorry for these husband-hunters.

Another showstopper is T.J. Bishop as Lionel, the castle flunky and the Prince's ally. When the social-climbing Stepmother flirts with him, he says he, too, wishes there was something between them.

"A continent," he roars.

Holly Pritchard does a nice turn as the Queen, who squeaks when she doesn't get her way. Brent Humphries has the thankless role of her henpecked husband.

Erica Neighbors gives comical readings as the Fairy Godmother. "I'm your Fairy Godmother, honey," she explains to Cinderella. "... You got a problem with that?" She also sings sweetly.

The audience will recognize a few of the songs adapted for the musical, including "The Sweetest Sound" and "Impossible." Skillfully accompanied by pianist Tim DePriest, who has done a lot of rehearsal work for University Theatre productions, the singers do a credible job.

Neighbors and Keyairra Moore as the Fairy Sister sing with spunk on the challenging duet "There's Music in You" in the finale.

Though staged most nights of the run in the school's tiny library, the musical makes room for folk dancing and a subtly funny ballroom ritual in which the fair maidens of the land court the reluctant prince.

This "Cinderella" is full of pleasing surprises, from Mimi Higgins' wonderfully-built pumpkin carriage to Bob Fortney's village market carts laden with real fruit.

Past productions of "Hercules," "The Lion King," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "The Wizard of Oz" have drawn similar raves from audiences. That Dumey is able to pull together these large young crews and actors into a production so entertaining is remarkable.

"Impossible things are happening every day," of the musical's best songs says.

The lesson of "Cinderella" is that love knows no station. The lesson of this production is that talent and enthusiasm know no age.

Cast

Cinderella Taylor Smith

Fairy godmother Erica Neighbors

Stepmother Ashley Anderson

Minerva Kopper Thatch

Calliope Katelyn Metje

The Prince Phillip Brooks

Lionel T.J. Bishop

The King Brent Humphries

The Queen Holly Pritchard

The Fairy Sister Keyairra Moore

Narrators Austin Brewer, Rebecca

Schild, Stephanie Schaffner, Julie Underwood

Puppeteer Emerson McDowell-Hill

Children Emily Morse, Kelly Willis, Michaelyn Burns, Sarah Crump

Street Vendors Ashley Hernandez, Steven Hobbs, Chris Kitchen

Hat Vendors Keely Lossing, Abbey Parker

Flower Girls Whitney Sibley, Stacy Vogel

Tailors Becky Martin, Katie Williams, Blaire Holmes, Lindsey Beasley

Bail Consultant Tyler Roeger

Butchers Clay Schermann, David Jones, Nick Uptain, Nick Mayberry

Cheesemakers Josh Reimann, Adam Baron, Brian Steele

Pastry Chefs Merritt Gerlach, Allie McGinty, Erika Foley, Lacy Landgraf

Baker Jason Van Cleve

Soldiers Jake Knepp, Mitch Craft, Micah Reutzel, Colin Schermann, James Russell, Calen Wills

Choreographers Whitney Sibley, Merritt Gerlach

Accompanist Tim DePriest

Costumes Pat Renard

Set Saundra Fidler

Production Assistant Jason Van Cleve

Props Elissa Smith, Betty Schuetts

Programs Kandee Metje

Villagers and Ball Guests Heather Avery, Suanne Baker, Adam Baron, Bailey Barrett, Michaelyn Burns, Ariel Chappell, Brandi Choate, Emily Coy, Mitch Craft, Sarah Crump, Tanya Cwick, Katherine Davis, Jackie Erlacker, Erika Foley, Merritt Gerlach, Ashley Godsey, Sharmira Gonzales, Dionne Harris, Ashley Hernandez, Jessica Hite, Steven Hobbs, Lindsey Holman, Blaire Holmes, Shamika Irving, David Jones, Sallie Juden, Stephanie Kays, Jake Knepp, Lacey Landgraf, Soni Lloyd, Keely Lossing, Rebecca Martin, Nick Mayberry, Emerson McDowell-Hill, Allie McGinty, Florence Morrison, Emily Morse, Julie Murakami, Abbey Parker, Danielle Peebles, Josh Reimann, Micah Reutzel, Anna Rigdon, Tyler Roeger, Jessica Ruffin, James Russell, Angelia Scarber, Clay Schermann, Colin Schermann, Whitney Sibley, Brian Steele, Deashia Swan, Megan Terry, Clay Tummins, Nick Uptain, Jason Van Cleve, Rachael Vining, Stacy Vogel, Katie Williams, Kelly Willis, Calen Wills, Jessica Wilson.