DISNEY'S 'CINDERELLA' IS AT THE MEDIA THEATRE THIS WINTER

Disney and fairy tales have become synonymous over the decades due to the animated cinematic treatments given to classics such as “Cinderella”. Disney’s “Cinderella” may be seen live onstage at The Media Theatre each weekend January 21 through February 19. GET TICKETS HERE

Released by Walt Disney Studios in 1950, the film is one of their most successful adaptations. The story of “Cinderella” has always been one that many relate to, so when Disney added its brand of humor and song to tell the tale of the young lady who dreams of meeting a handsome Prince the legendary story took on new life. Ever since, when “Cinderella” is mentioned it is Disney’s version that first comes to mind.

The Media Theatre has Disney’s “Cinderella” on stage Saturdays at 11am and Sundays at Noon. It’s referred to as the “KIDS” version due to its shortened length and a cast which features young actors in many roles. The stage adaptation includes the beloved songs such as “Bibbidee Bobbidee Boo” and “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes” and is approximately one hour in length.

Humor plays a large part in this version, with plenty of opportunities for young audiences to laugh and have fun while feeling sympathy for Cinderella’s predicament. There are, of course, those silly stepsisters and the cute mice as well as audience participation when Cinderella dances at The Ball!

Adding to the humor of the show, the Wicked Stepmother is played by Roger Ricker, a veteran of over 90 productions at The Media Theatre. He was seen most recently as Eeyore in “Winnie The Pooh’s Christmas Tail” and the Broadway Series productions “1776” and “Gypsy”. Tim Haney, another veteran stage performer, plays the role of The King.

Disney’s live stage adaptation features Narrators who assist in moving the fast-paced musical along.

Some of the roles in Disney’s “Cinderella” are double cast, giving performance opportunities to students of The Media Theatre. The student actors are from the New School and acting classes.

The entire cast is:

Cinderella……..Mary Kate Vink/ Violet Wiley

Stepmother……Roger Ricker

Drizella (Stepsister)….Shannon Clark/ Cassidy Else

Anastasia (Stepsister)….Alyssa Carlow/ Hanna Brady

Godmother……Noelle Longenberger/ Hanna Murphy

Prince……………Zachary Divito / Paul Vink

King……………..Tim Haney

Narrators.......Yasmin Ahmed, Grace Curry, Bridget Henry, Eve Rosenstein, Alexsa McKeown

The Mice: Gus….Aidan Fox, Jaq….Charlie Carroccio, Luke…Adrian Henry, Perla….Kiki Troilo

Grand Duke….Sean O’ Neill

Heralds……….Savanna Galloway, Chloe Islam (not double cast….there are two Heralds!)

Cat…….Macy Devitt

For tickets to Disney’s “Cinderella” at The Media Theatre call 610-891-0100 or visit mediatheatre.org. All Broadway Series and Youth Series productions are produced by Media Music Theatre Company.

MEDIA THEATRE HAS WINTER ACTING CLASSES STARTING IN JANUARY

It's not too early to register for The Media Theatre's Winter Semester of Acting Classes or New School which begin the weekend of January 7, 2017. Classes make a great gift for those interested in honing their stage skills.

The popular acclaimed Children and Teen Acting Classes will be returning, as well as the Adult Acting Class. 

All classes are under the supervision of Broadway World Award winning Artistic Director Jesse Cline, who also instructs the New School which is a conservatory-style music theatre education program. 

The New School, a separate entity from the Acting Classes offered at the theatre, is a weekly session with both acting and vocal music elements for two age groups. The younger age group meets on Mondays from 4:30-6:30 with the teen group meeting on Thursdays during same time period with Cline and Chris Ertelt, the resident music director. 

Pictured:
Media Theatre New School teen students Cassidy Else, Noelle Longenberger, Josiah Jacoby, 

Shannon Clark, Paul Vink, Alyssa Carlow, Isabella Martinez, 

Josh Atkinson, Marni Clark, Jackson Sweeney, and Toni Huegel

The Acting Classes focus solely on acting skills and stage presence while also featuring improvisational theatre exercises for each age group. 

All classes and the New School at The Media Theatre follow the Sanford Meisner Technique which basically states that 'acting is living as truthfully as one can under an imaginary circumstance'. This means that all actors should create as they will as honestly as they are able, without copying anyone else's performance or trying to be who they are not. It's a confidence booster while raising self-awareness.

Roger Ricker, who has been in over 100 productions at The Media Theatre and has worked with Artistic Director Jesse Cline since 1991, will continue instructing the Level One Children's Class on Saturday mornings at 9am for ages 5-8, and the Level Two Children's Class on Tuesday afternoons at 4:30 for ages up to 11. He'll also head the Teen Acting Class on Sunday evenings at 6pm. 

The Level One Children's Class starts January 7, with the Teen Class starting January 8. The Level Two Children's Class starts January 10, as well as the Adult Class.

Tim Haney, who has directed two mainstage productions at Media and has been with Media Music Theatre Company since 1998, instructs the continuing Adult Acting Class on Tuesdays at 7:30pm. 

Cline's New School begins again on January 23, with a 12 week course focusing on monologues and solo vocal performances.

To register for the Acting Classes or New School, call 610-891-0100 or visit mediatheatre.org. All Media Theatre acting classes are $400 for the Fall Semester, with The New School having a separate pricing structure.