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Darlington Players make the impossible look magical in Cinderella production
Feb 25, 2004 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
The Darlington Fine Arts Department cast a magic spell in the Rome City Auditorium over Parents’ Weekend when Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella came to life. Close to 2000 people watched the pumpkin transform into a golden carriage and Cinderella’s rags raced into a glorious gown and danced until midnight.
Although many commented on the set, the voices, the costumes and the dancing, Brian Horne, a music professor at Shorter College, in talking to Marisa Ortega, Darlington Players director, praised the entire ensemble. He told her that often in high school performances, one or two performers may stand out; however, in Darlington’s production of Cinderella, in addition to the set, the costumes, and the choreography, all members of the cast – leads and ensemble – showed remarkable presence, both stage and vocal. “He told me I was lucky to be able to work with such talented young students,” Ortega said.
The technical aspects of the play posed the largest challenge and the simple twirl of the Fairy Godmother’s enchanted wand only initiated the magic on stage. The true magic began weeks ago in a small warehouse one mile from Darlington. Rob Davis, Upper School instructor, Linda Hom, Darlington parent, Rudy Childs, and a crew of students crafted a quaint cottage that literally twirled into a Royal Dressing Room, as well as a golden horse-drawn coach and a dazzling ballroom.
Meanwhile Sunny Cox, Darlington parent, and Deborah Wells bedecked the actors in shimmering finery fit for a ball, and Georgie Hall taught the cast how to glide effortlessly around the ballroom. Dan Bishop, choral director, and visiting vocal teacher Jason Whitfield challenged the cast to lift their voices to seemingly “impossible” places.
Bill King, instrumental music director, made sure the magic was in the music as he led the orchestra, and Kim Tunnell, Middle School choral director, kept everyone singing and dancing through all our rehearsals as rehearsal pianist. Keith Finley and the lighting crew illuminated the set and helped to create the illusion of magic.
Ortega says she was fortunate to have an actual assistant director, Brandon Goodman, for this production. “His insight and relationship with fellow cast members added wonderful nuances to many scenes,” Ortega said. “The volunteers who helped with this show were countless and overwhelming with their generosity and I am not talking about money, but time.”
Parents of former Darlington Players, like Nell and Tony Warren and Wayne and Denise Evan were actively involved. The Warrens not only created the heads for the horses but ran the box office, assisted by current cast parents Blanca Gonzalez and Cay Holbrook. Wayne Evans provided both manpower and transportation for set pieces, whenever and wherever needed. Denise helped create props to fit the fairy tale setting, as did Deborah Pittman with some incredible artwork. Nancy Brass also helped with props.
Ortega notes that other current parents were invaluable with their help both backstage and in the lobby with Karen Bowling running House, Sally Henderson coordinating the cast party, and Linda Dean backstage. Dads were involved, too, with Darrell Dean, Terry Tumlin, and Steve Hom helping as crew and in the fly loft.
“And of course, the Fine Arts Booster’s Club, a club in which everyone should be a member, supplied much of the magic, namely, Linda Hom, who has served as our Fairy Godmother and Fine Arts Booster’s Club liaison and fueled the show with its total enchantment energy behind the curtain,” Ortega said. “The cast and crew of students make me love what I do because of their unwavering commitment to make what they do on stage real. To sum it up, ‘Impossible things are happening every day.’”
Although many commented on the set, the voices, the costumes and the dancing, Brian Horne, a music professor at Shorter College, in talking to Marisa Ortega, Darlington Players director, praised the entire ensemble. He told her that often in high school performances, one or two performers may stand out; however, in Darlington’s production of Cinderella, in addition to the set, the costumes, and the choreography, all members of the cast – leads and ensemble – showed remarkable presence, both stage and vocal. “He told me I was lucky to be able to work with such talented young students,” Ortega said.
The technical aspects of the play posed the largest challenge and the simple twirl of the Fairy Godmother’s enchanted wand only initiated the magic on stage. The true magic began weeks ago in a small warehouse one mile from Darlington. Rob Davis, Upper School instructor, Linda Hom, Darlington parent, Rudy Childs, and a crew of students crafted a quaint cottage that literally twirled into a Royal Dressing Room, as well as a golden horse-drawn coach and a dazzling ballroom.
Meanwhile Sunny Cox, Darlington parent, and Deborah Wells bedecked the actors in shimmering finery fit for a ball, and Georgie Hall taught the cast how to glide effortlessly around the ballroom. Dan Bishop, choral director, and visiting vocal teacher Jason Whitfield challenged the cast to lift their voices to seemingly “impossible” places.
Bill King, instrumental music director, made sure the magic was in the music as he led the orchestra, and Kim Tunnell, Middle School choral director, kept everyone singing and dancing through all our rehearsals as rehearsal pianist. Keith Finley and the lighting crew illuminated the set and helped to create the illusion of magic.
Ortega says she was fortunate to have an actual assistant director, Brandon Goodman, for this production. “His insight and relationship with fellow cast members added wonderful nuances to many scenes,” Ortega said. “The volunteers who helped with this show were countless and overwhelming with their generosity and I am not talking about money, but time.”
Parents of former Darlington Players, like Nell and Tony Warren and Wayne and Denise Evan were actively involved. The Warrens not only created the heads for the horses but ran the box office, assisted by current cast parents Blanca Gonzalez and Cay Holbrook. Wayne Evans provided both manpower and transportation for set pieces, whenever and wherever needed. Denise helped create props to fit the fairy tale setting, as did Deborah Pittman with some incredible artwork. Nancy Brass also helped with props.
Ortega notes that other current parents were invaluable with their help both backstage and in the lobby with Karen Bowling running House, Sally Henderson coordinating the cast party, and Linda Dean backstage. Dads were involved, too, with Darrell Dean, Terry Tumlin, and Steve Hom helping as crew and in the fly loft.
“And of course, the Fine Arts Booster’s Club, a club in which everyone should be a member, supplied much of the magic, namely, Linda Hom, who has served as our Fairy Godmother and Fine Arts Booster’s Club liaison and fueled the show with its total enchantment energy behind the curtain,” Ortega said. “The cast and crew of students make me love what I do because of their unwavering commitment to make what they do on stage real. To sum it up, ‘Impossible things are happening every day.’”
