Mark your calendars for a magical performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella!
Presented by Millstone Township Middle School’s Eagle Productions
March 3 & 4 at 7:30 pm
Special Royal Matinee
March 5 at 2:00pm (pre-Ball Festivities begin at 1:00pm)
at the Millstone Twp Performing Arts Center
The first weekend in March will be filled with magic and enchantment when the Millstone Township Middle School Performing Arts Center will host CINDERELLA.
The cast consists of 40 students from grades 6-8. They have been practicing lines, working on sets, preparing the stage and simply can’t wait to perform for you!
Emma Bogusz will be performing in the title role of Cinderella. Zak Kheder will be the Prince.
Other lead actors include Claudia Pellicone (Godmother), Jacob Normand (King), Angela Spadaccini (Queen), Julianna Luizza (Stepmother), Emma Morris (Joy), Alexandra Miller (Portia), Demetrios Paisis (Herald), Corrine Mendelsohn (Chef) and Brianna SanPhilips (Steward).
Emma Bogusz, Jacob Normand and Zak Kheder are all 7th graders. Claudia Pellicone and Alexandra Miller are 8th graders.
The students began with auditions in early December, and have been rehearsing ever since.
In addition to the cast, the production is led by Stage Managers Sarah Rainford, Kira Ventrella, Giuseppe Scibilia, Braedan Kenna, and Isabella Castalucci and Dance Captain Kelly Lew.
Cinderella is directed by Lisamarie Cappuzzo, Theatre Teacher at the Millstone Township Middle School. The Assistant Director is Vincent D’Aniello (Spanish teacher), Musical Director Heather Philhower (Music Teacher), Scene Designer Frank Iglesias (Art Teacher), and Choreographers Jo-Ann Figurelli (aka “Mom”), and Rachel Lew (Junior at Stephen’s Institute for Technology).
Cinderella’s stage managers are Isabella Catellucci (grade 7), Sarah Rainford (grade 8), Kira Ventrella (grade 8), Braedan Kenna (grade 8) and Giuseppe Scibilia (grade 7). The scenery is being painted by the Middle School Art Club.
In addition, Mrs. Cappuzzo is relying on the help of a slew of parent volunteers who are ready and willing to assist with all of the finishing touches that will make this production as memorable as possible for the students as well as for the audience!
I had the great pleasure to sit with five of the extremely talented, energetic and proud actors as they shared their insights and passion for their upcoming performances.
In a very informal group chat, Emma Bogusz (Cinderella), Jacob Normand (The King), Zak Kheder (Prince), Alexandra Miller (Portia, one of Cinderella’s evil stepsisters) and Claudia Pellicone (Fairy Godmother) and I discussed Cinderella.
The cast was jubilant, energetic and such fun to chat with! They are hard-working and passionate and want you to see them perform.
L to R: Emma Bogusz (Grade 7) will be the beautiful Cinderella. Jacob Normand (Grade 7) is The King, Prince Charming’s Father. Zak Kheder (Grade 7) is Prince. Alexandra Miller (Grade 8) will be Portia, one of Cinderella’s evil stepsisters. Claudia Pellicone (Grade 8) is the magical Fairy Godmother.
Emma Bogusz, aka Cinderella, performed in her first play in 2nd grade portraying a munchkin and a flying monkey in The Wizard of Oz.
She loves acting and takes both singing and piano lessons at Cornerstone Music Studios in Millstone.
Emma is most excited to see the transformation of the various scenes into the play.
Her favorite scenes are those in which she performs with her step sisters Portia, played by Alexandra Miller, and Joy, performed by Emma Morris.
Briana San Philips the Steward on the left and Corinna Mendelsohn The Chef on the right rehearsing the Your Majesties dance.
“Scenes with my stepsisters are my favorites because there is a lot of action and emotions. That makes them really fun,” Emma said.
Claudia Pellicone does not define herself as an actress and singer, per say.
“Well, I have to sing in the show, but it’s not my favorite thing to do. I love being on stage,” Claudia said.
“I’ve been in a few shows but I was singing in an ensemble so this is the first time I’ll be singing on my own. Hopefully, it will go well!”
The kids are very excited for their performances.
Excited and a little bit nervous, too.
Zak said, “Even the most experienced actors get nervous. It’s ok!”
Emma said she is nervous but thinks about the advice the director, Mrs. Capuzzo, always gives.
“Mrs Capuzzo said you always use that nervousness for energy. She says that she likes the first show best because everyone is excited because they are nervous.”
Claudia added, “Once you get up there on stage, it goes away and you’re not nervous anymore.”
She is looking forward to performing for the very first time as a middle school student. Her previous shows were performed in the MPAC but as an elementary school student.
Alexandra Miller will be channeling her “inner mean” as she portrays Porsche, Cinderella’a evil stepsister.
As a sweet and kind young lady, what will Alexandra use as her motivation for mean?
“I can be mean if I want to. I practice being mean,” she said.
Alexandra has also been acting since the 2nd grade and is really looking forward to performing her role.
“We get to do a lot of goofy stuff onstage so that’s fun!”
Prince Charming Zak Kheder and Cinderella Emma Bogusz.
Jacob Normand plays The King. He’s been acting for several years as well. In 5th grade, he started acting in the Millstone Township Community Education plays and had the role of Maurice, Bell’s dad in “Beauty and the Beast.” Last year, he was in the play “Barnum” portraying Tom Thumb.
When I asked Jacob how he prepares for his role as King, he said, “I boss around my brothers and sisters.”
“Mrs Capuzzo can’t stress enough how I have to be very angry and loud. Sometimes I am not angry and loud enough. I’m a pretty low key kid. My motivation to get angry? I think about my little brother and I can get really upset.”
Zak Kheder is playing the role of Prince. He was a little nervous to be Prince. The first play he performed in was “Beauty and the Beast.”
Zak shared his audition experience for a role in Cinderella.
“I was really hoping to get this role as Prince. In the audition, I had lines to read as Prince and Jacob read the lines for King. We both got these roles. We kinda knew some of the lines then before we got the script!”
When asked how challenging it is to learn the scripts, the kids excitedly shared their insights.
“You just keep reading the lines over and over. I practice all the time. When I’m in the car, I read over my lines. I think about it all the time,” Zak said.
“I feel like if you keep saying your lines again and again, you will know them,” Alexandra said.
Emma added, “I go to bed sometimes and just keep going over my lines. I can’t wait to be on the stage!”
The kids are extremely complimentary of Mrs. Capuzzo and all the teachers and staff working together to bring Cinderella to the MPAC.
When I asked the kids to tell me about Mrs. Capuzzo, in unison, they all said, “She is GREAT!”
Alexandra said, “Mrs. Capuzzo changes things all the time but it turns out better. She has a good vision. She knows what she wants and how to get us to do it.”
“When we can’t see it, she can see it! She says, ‘I know what I’m talking about.’ And, she does!” Emma said.
Claudia adds, “She’s great!”
“Sometimes, only she knows what she’s talking about,” Zak said. “Then, we all seem to do what she wants and it works!”
“She always picks good plays and a good cast,” Alexandra said.
Emma mentioned the acting classes that Mrs. Capuzzo teaches.
“She has a basic acting class. She makes us use our imagination. One day, she bought in empty boxes. We had to make a scene with the box. She asked us what was in the box and we all answered that it was empty. She told us that it wasn’t empty. It had whatever we wanted inside of it. We had to brainstorm and use our creativity. It’s fun and challenging!”
Jacob said, “She is crazy, She does so many things. I don’t know how she does it! She helps the younger kids in the elementary school with their plays. She has all these classes. She juggles so much but ends up doing it all.”
“Mrs. Capuzzo teaches directing and stage management where she goes through the kinds of auditions you can have. She teaches about blocking rehearsals where everyone is getting their lines and learning where to go onstage. Then, there are your run through rehearsals where they are critiquing and Mrs. Capuzzo will go thrugh a lot of changes that always for the better. Then, there are the dress rehearsals where we try on costumes. The best is Tech Week which is non-stop working with microphones, makeup, costumes…” Zak said.
“Tech Week is so fun because you run it like it will be the actual play,” Emma said. “It’s so much fun! I can’t wait! It all comes together.”
The kids also raved about the talented Mr. Inglesis (Mr. I) and his skills at set design.
Claudia is a member of the Art Club and works on set designing the sets as well as performing in the play. “We work really hard on the sets. Mr. I is awesome!”
Zak said, “Last year for Barnum, Mr. I made the legs of an elephant that walked across the stage. He is so talented!”
Emma added, “Some of us were doubting if we could have certain things in the set but Mr. I always says ‘Oh no, I can make it happen! And, he does!”
“Mr. I works with the technology teachers and the creative design teachers. They all help with the mechanics of the set design.”
The cast of Cinderella is very excited to invite you to their magical performances.
They have worked very hard and put in countless hours and can’t wait to take the stage.
Mrs. Capuzzo is very excited as well. She is proud of the efforts of the cast and crew and beams with excitement in anticipation of the performances.
“I have always loved the story of Cinderella. I love the magic, and I especially love the message that dreams really can come true! And of course, I have always loved the characters! Emma Bogusz (Cinderella) and Zak Kheder (Prince) do a beautiful job of bringing to life the sweet, simple and timeless love story of a prince and a plain country girl. Claudia Pellicone is wonderful in the role of a nurturing, loving and magical Godmother. Angela Spadaccini (Queen) and Jacob Normand (King) present the Prince’s royal parents as very relatable, doting parents. Add to this the comical silliness that Emma Morris (Joy), Alexandra Miller (Portia), and Julianna Luizza (Stepmother) bring to their exaggerated roles as the cruel Stepsisters and Stepmother, and the result is something fun and fantastic and special! They really bring new life to this timeless fairytale!” Mrs. Capuzzo said.
Mrs. Capuzzo is very proud of the level of sophistication that the ensemble has brought to this production, particularly in the Act 2 Ballroom dancing.
“Most of these students have no experience in any kind of dance, let alone experience dancing with a partner! And, the ballroom dances numbers in the show are very long. I expected this to be our biggest challenge. From the start, the students took on this challenge, and with a lot of focus, a lot of hard work, a lot of fun – and some great choreography! – they have mastered the steps, and so far these are my favorite scenes in the show!” she said.
“In these final weeks, we are all so excited to see the final touches put on this production. Mr. I and his Art Club have been working around the clock (no pun intended) to create the world of Cinderella. I walk into the Art Room each morning and am always amazed at how much more work they have done. This looks like it will be our most spectacular set yet! I just can’t wait to get everything up on stage!”
For this production, we decided to hire Monique Gaffney from the Costume Scene in Trenton to outfit the entire ensemble for the Act 2 Ballroom scenes.
“Last week, a few of the girls got to try out their dances in their hoop skirts, and I can only imagine how a whole stage of colorful ballroom attire will look twirling around the dance floor! We also have 2 wonderful parents, Maria Spadaccini and Cathy McGovern, coordinating costumes for Acts 1 and 3.”
Mrs. Capuzzo thanked all of the parent volunteers for all their efforts.
“We have a whole slew of parent volunteers assisting with everything from Playbill Layout (thank you, Mrs. San Philips!), tickets, photography, concessions, props and much more! We are so grateful for all of the professional touches they give to our production!”
Don’t miss Eagle Productions performance of this beautiful tale that will make us all believe in the power of wishing!
Tickets can be purchased in advance online beginning at noon on February 24 at www.millstoneperformingarts.com – $8 for students/seniors and $9 for adults – or at the door for $10.
Don’t miss the special Pre-Ball Festivities at 1 pm before the Sunday Matinee – including games and more (presented by the MMS National Junior Honor Society.)