'Cinderella': Version Offers More Modern Take on Classic Story

“‘Cinderella’ is a wonderful production, and it’s been on my radar for a while,” says Adam Faw, director and theater instructor at Pinecrest High School. “The version we’re doing is the 2013 Broadway revival, which is a little more upbeat and modern than the classic 1957 version.”

Faw adds that the book for this version offers a great message.

“Instead of ‘wishing upon a star’ like they do in the Disney adaptation, the fairy godmother tells Ella that ‘All the wishes in the world are poppycock and twaddle,’” he says. “She helps Ella understand that she has worth and importance, and that she can work hard and not just wish for her dreams.”

Faw says he has “fallen in love” with the music in this show.

“Rodgers and Hammerstein were brilliant, but the more I work with the show, the more I appreciate how the underscoring and themes in the music add to the story.”

Matthew Hold, the PHS orchestra director is the instrumental director and conducts the live orchestra.

“They’ve been meeting for morning rehearsals since mid-January,” says Faw. “They sound amazing.”

Among this year’s cast includes senior Alexa Castro-Giovanni, in the role of Ella; Malachi McCaskill as Topher; Caroline Mays as Gabrielle; Kaylee Newcomer as Marie; and Andy Locklear as Jean Michel. Cara Blue is serving as stage manager.

“This version of offers a more modern take on ‘Cinderella’ while still keeping the magic, the wonder, the heart and the classic story,” Castro-Giovanni says. “I think what sets my character of Ella apart from the Disney animated version is that she doesn’t sit back and let life pass her by. Ella is very much in charge of her own fate, which she learns from her fairy godmother, and it makes her role much more active. Ella has changed to be a strong, independent person while still keeping her ideals of charity, generosity and kindness.”

Castro-Giovanni says this version is even more inspiring for young girls and young women because it teaches them that anything is possible if you go out and make it happen.

“Ella is still a loving, caring and sometimes naive character like the Disney version, but has goals and even political views,” she says.

This is Castro-Giovanni’s last production for the Pinecrest Players.

“I can’t believe how fast the past four years have flown by,” she says. “I remember walking into Theater I on the first day like it was yesterday.”

Among her roles Castro-Giovanni has played the Evil Queen in “Snow White,” which the Players performed this past fall at the NCTC Play Festival, and Evil Tina in “She Kills Monsters, which was the show they took to the Festival the prior year.

“I have played numerous roles including over the years in high school, middle school and summer productions,” she says.

Castro-Giovanni plans on continuing theater and dance in college and hopes to earn a bachelor’s degree in theater performance or a bachelor’s in fine arts in musical theater.

‘I knew from the very first moment I stepped out on that stage that my heart belonged there,” she says. “I have been performing my whole life, and I honestly can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Erin Slenk, PHS choir director, is the vocal director for the production; PHI alumnus Elizabeth Fowle, who is currently ballet master for Taylor Dance, did the choreography. Mary McKeithen and Marci Haberstroh, of Showboat Costuming are responsible for the costume design. Lighting and special effects are by Chaz Howe and Evan Spivey, of Rock-it Productions, and David Godsey, of Extra Mile Audio, is handling sound engineering.

This project is supported by the Arts Council of Moore County and the North Carolina Arts Council, a Division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students for general admission seating. Tickets are available at the door.