July 27, 2024

Osceola Children’s Theatre presents ‘Cinderella’

1st row - Sitting on Floor – Aubrie Cross, Paisley Lampe, Graylee Grainge 2nd row - Kneeling – Luke Readout, Landry Readout, Ebony Lenz, Timber Page, Jessa Navas, Cameron Lampe 3rd row - standing and sitting - Brecken Porter, Luke Pontier, Ava Plummer, Tinsley Edwards, Aubrey Nissen, Lucas Wilkins, Bentlee Barton Back Row – Jayden Lampe, Addilyn Cross, Mason White, Rowan Keller, Ryder Page, Sutton Jones, Jocelyn Moomey, Emma Jimmerson, Haydon Brokaw (OST Candra Brooks)

The Osceola Children’s Theatre will present “Cinderella” this Friday and Saturday, May 19 and 20, nights at 7 p.m. on the Clarke High School Auditorium Stage. Twenty-five local children, ages five through twelve, have been preparing for the past three months to present this classic tale with some comic twists.

Under the direction of Kathy Kooiker, four sixth-grade students who are in their final year of performing with the children’s theatre will take on the lead roles of the King, Queen, Prince and stepmother. Luke Pontier, Ava Plummer, Lucas Wilkins and Tinsley Edwards will portray these characters.

Kookier began this program, teaching theatre arts to children ages four through twelve, in 1987 and says she still enjoys working with the children every spring and fall.

“Their energy, joy, excitement for learning and progress made every semester inspires me, and watching my little ones later continue to develop those talents and appear in high school and college productions is so much fun,” Kooiker says.

Some of the children she works with now have parents who were in the program when they were in elementary school, so it has become an inter-generational program where every feels like family, according to Kooiker.

Kooiker is excited to bring this show to Osceola, as this story is just as enjoyable for the little ones as it is for the adults. She is hopeful that parents and grandparents will share this experience with their children and grandchildren, and says people of all ages will leave with a smile on their faces, laughter in their bellies and warmth in their hearts.

While an encore has been performed for the elementary school children in years’ past, there will only be two performances this year, so Friday and Saturday night will be the only opportunity for children to see live theatre designed specifically to be family-friendly on a local stage.

This show will last approximately ninety minutes and include one intermission.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and there is no reserved seating or advanced tickets sales; it is first come, first seat choice in the auditorium.