Greenbrier Valley Theatre (GVT), the State Professional Theatre of West Virginia, presents “Cinderellish.” The world premiere production is running July 21-23, July 27-30 and Aug. 3-6 at 7:30 p.m. with a pay-what-you-can preview performance July 20 at 7:30 p.m. and a matinee performance July 30 at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $30 for general admission, $27 for seniors and $20 for children/students. For tickets or more information, call GVT’s box office at 304-645-3838 or visit www.gvtheatre.org.
“Cinderellish” is a musical by Emmy Award-winning composer Arnold Margolin and Weslie Brown. It looks like Elizabeth Summers is finally getting her big break… until she realizes everyone thinks she’s Elizabeth Somers. In this case of mistaken identity, Elizabeth’s dreams are coming true, but will she be able to play the part? You won’t want to miss the hilarity that ensues!
The playwrights first met in 2002 at a workshop at the Academy of Musical Theatre. The creators share a love of musical theater, and their professional relationship grew from there. In 2006 the pair began working on “Cinderellish.” The original inspiration was to write something fun and simple.
The long process of writing, revising and rewriting brought this story together, though they did have to cut a few of their favorite parts. The character Brian, based on one of Margolin’s acquaintances, remains the only character in the show that has not changed over the 10-year writing process.
“You have to be willing to part with work to keep the story moving forward,” Brown said.
Brown, who holds a master’s degree in musical composition and wrote the music for the production, admitted that only one song from the original script hasn’t been altered tremendously.
Over time the writers began experimenting with new ideas. They realized how fun it would be to have stories within stories. ¬This resulted in a story set in four different worlds, each telling a different part of Cinderella’s story. The new twist keeps this classic fairy tale going in an exciting new direction.
“It’ll be a romp,” Margolin said.
The updated fairy tale came to GVT’s attention last year when Margolin first came to Lewisburg to star in the theater’s production of “Laughter on the 23rd Floor.” A lunch with GVT’s Music Director Kermit Medsker eventually led to a meeting with Producing Artistic Director Cathey Sawyer. Since then, the Emmy Award winner has focused all of his creative energy on getting the show ready for production.
“I’d love to see it have a life in regional theater,” Margolin said.
Both Brown and Margolin have been impressed with the commitment and dedication of the cast and crew after the recent disaster in Greenbrier County. Even with all the work still to be done, everyone remains devoted to the success of this world premiere production, both at GVT and elsewhere.
