The Students of 1320 Preparing to Take the Stage with Cinderella Later this

Written by Jade Hauber, 10/14/2024

The York School is notorious for its huge and completely immersive theatre productions. This years’ show is Cinderella, the classic fairytale in a pantomime format. As both a cast member and Stand member I was able to get the inside scoop from the director and producer of the show, Ms. Barber and Ms. Goodwin respectively. So let’s dive in and take a look at the creative process.

Firstly, music is coming back into the 1320 theatre scene! Yes, you heard me right, folks: Cinderella will be a musical, complete with dance numbers and amazing singing by our talented cast. When asked how she helped contribute to this new and exciting part of the production, Ms. Goodwin told our sources, “We started by adding a few songs to the script, but over time it has become a total of nine different songs throughout the show. So it’s a musical!” and that this year the team “decided to focus on the 1990s for our song choices.” The genre is true to Ms. Barber’s youth and tastes as well. Said the director, “As someone who grew up listening to boy bands, R&B ballads, and the mega pop stars of the 90's I can think of no better era to encapsulate the quest for true love. I mean, who can top the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears?” I don’t know about you, readers, but I fully support the claim.

Of course, what’s a musical without big dance numbers and full-on ensemble chaos? Ms. Goodwin stated that the dances are something she is looking forward to greatly. “We are so lucky to have Ms. Aitken working as the choreographer of the show;” she writes, “her experience and talent have already been such an asset to our production.” On the first finished number, “Spice Up Your Life” by the Spice Girls, she adds, “Our cast has really brought the dance to life, and I can’t wait to see it come alive on stage. It will be a showstopper!”

One of my personal favorite parts of this performance is how the cast gets to design parts of what they do on stage. “This is the most collaborative show that we've done since I've been at York,” replied Ms. Barber when asked what makes it different from other years. “All theatre is collaborative (that's what I love about it), but the script for this show is very fluid, which has allowed characters to really make it their own.” Specifically, the royal ball scene is going to be brought to life by the young actors, singers and dancers. “We're treating it like a talent show in the style of the TV show, America's Got Talent. Everyone in that scene will be contributing to the script and will get to decide on the talent that they showcase.” Even as a cast member myself, I am intrigued and on the edge of my seat ready to view my friends' talents. 

For those wondering what it’s like to be part of a theatre production, I’ve collected the producer’s and director’s role descriptions and the best parts of the job. It can be stress-inducing, but the end result is worth it, according to Ms. Barber. A tip she gives: “To handle the stress, I try to focus on moving forward one step at a time. I also try to pause and look around the room at all the amazing things that are happening. So many people from grades six to twelve come together to create a piece of art.” Ms. Goodwin, who is new to the position of producer for Cinderella, tells about the job, “It has been a blast so far. My favorite part of the job is attending all the rehearsals and seeing the production come to life from beginning to end. There is so much joy in seeing students, some of whom are veterans and some who are new to a 1320 production, step out of their comfort zones and steal the spotlight on stage.” She found it hard to pick a least favorite part of the responsibilities, but if she absolutely had to choose, “it would be having to remind the team of the to-do list—I feel like a nag sometimes!” Luckily, we have a fabulous stage manager this year in Hallie Waxman, who spends so much of her time making sure everything runs smoothly and goes according to plan. 

I highly encourage anyone who wants to come out and attend the show this year to give it a try, and maybe even audition for the 2025 production. It is truly a wonderful experience - and if being in the spotlight isn’t your thing, stage crew might be! There are so many opportunities. Cinderella is going to be exhilarating for students, parents, siblings and teachers alike. “Audiences should brace themselves for a lot of interaction (warning: if you are sitting in the first few rows, you may be called upon by our actors) and for songs that make you want to sing along,” hints Ms. Barber. “Underneath all that fun, is a strong message that kindness will prevail in the end.” As Ms. Goodwin wrote to us, though, “If you want to know more, you’ll have to come see the shows on November 28th, 29th, and 30th!” See you there, York!