This April, Etowah’s own Fine Arts program put on a production based on the classic fairytale “Cinderella,” the tale of a mistreated daughter being granted a chance with a prince and rising above her unfortunate circumstances. The first written version of the story was published in 1697, and as one would expect, there have been countless remakes and spins put on the fairytale. This time, however, the story is being spun right here at Eagle Mountain.
“We have had so much fun producing Cinderella. It has been a great chance to showcase the variety of talents Etowah’s Fine Arts students have, from dancing and singing to scenic painting and light design,” Charlotte Forrest, drama teacher, said.
The set was stunning; it towered over the stage and provided a perfect backdrop to the production. The crew worked for weeks to make the set look as amazing as it was; built from wood and pieces from old productions, not only did it look incredible, but it turned and shifted from scene to scene to simulate different settings. From the depressing home-life of the princess to the glory of the prince’s castle, the months of effort put into capturing the aesthetic of the age-old fairytale was shown through its majesty, immersing both the actors and viewers alike into the musical’s wonderous world.
“Working on the musical was such a great experience because of how involved [we were]. Being behind the scenes was honestly so fun because that is where you meet friends, hang out with the cast and form great connections. It is such an adrenaline rush whenever the lights dim, and it is go-time to transform the set into another environment. I am so grateful [to have been] involved in this production,” Hannah Bryant, senior, said.
The actors too have prepared immensely for the musical. Rehearsal had been going weekly for a few months while actors memorized their lines, trying their hardest to portray their character to the best of their ability. This cast was pretty expansive, with both Etowah Thespian veterans (Sarai Hills as Cinderella and Brendan Fagan as Prince Christopher) and new faces (Willow Ivester as Queen Constantina and Harper Schultz in the ensemble) alike. With a large ensemble, the production was guaranteed a lot of love and spirit on set.
“I enjoyed being Cinderella, and I enjoyed being in the play just because [Cinderella] was a nice character to dive into with how she grows during the play. It is all quite interesting,” Sarai Hills, junior, said.
Etowah High School has had a prestigious past in the theatrics, as just this last semester they won the Region 5-6A championship with their production of “Eurydice.” Each year, hours upon hours are spent memorizing lines and crafting top-of-the-line sets. Many stories have been told on Eagle Mountain’s stage, and quality has always been the number one priority. The actors fall into their characters with ease, and the productions never fail to amaze viewers. Cinderella was yet another Etowah hit.
“I was so excited to see Sarai perform as Cinderella. It was so great to see [the musical],” Natalia Salazar, freshman, said.
The Eagles had a great turnout for this performance. Make sure to tune in to what Etowah’s thespians are preparing for next.
