Glass Slippers Are So Back

Mary and Kate at Cinderella

Kate and Mary, fifth grade sisters who attend Hamilton Elementary, saw the Broadway in Chicago production of Cinderella. Below are their reviews....

Kate:

Last week, on opening night, I saw Cinderella at the Cadillac Palace Theater and I thought it was really good, 

even though it had a few twists. One of the stepsisters, Gabrielle, was actually decent. She was sort of nice to Cinderella 

and she also had a boyfriend named Jean-Michel. Jean-Michel was a guy who wanted to talk to the prince, Topher, 

about peasants losing their homes and about the poor not having enough to eat.This was part of the reason Cinderella went to the ball, to try to talk to the prince for Jean-Michel. Lastly, Cinderella left her shoe on purpose, instead of kicking it off accidentally. With these additions (plus a lot of long songs and dances) the performance was very modernized. All of the actors were perfect for their roles and expressed themselves very dramatically. 

Overall, I thought the play was amazing.

Mary:

The lights turned off and the magic began: the scenery, the music, the dancing; it all turned into a Cinderella wonderland. 

The audiences eyes were fixed on the stage! But this story of Cinderella was a little different, there was a major twist
in the story. Gabrielle, one of the stepsisters, had a crush on a townsman named Jean-Michel. He was interested in politics and focused on the poor. He got Cinderella to talk to Prince Topher and they got to know each other. Because of this, Cinderella and the prince did not marry when they first met, they knew each other a bit. I always thought it was kind of crazy that Cinderella and the prince married, but this made more sense. I really enjoyed the dances, songs and scenery.

The actors were well fit for their roles and the stage crew made the magic look real. This performance was different and enjoyable, and I give it five stars!

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella plays at The Cadillac Palace Theatre through January 4, 2015

Click here for details

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Leo Lionni’s Frederick, A New Musical by Chicago Children’s Theater

Leo Lionni’s Frederick, A New Musical by Chicago Children’s Theater

Reviewd By Parker Cunningham, 7

Nettelhorst School, Room 116, Ms. Levinsky

I gave it 25 stars because the set design and singing was great.  

My favorite character was Frederick because he was funny and the main character.  
It was about teamwork. 

My favorite part was the machine because it was funny and did the boogie dance.

I love musicals. This play was a musical.

I think all kids should go. I mean the book won a Caldecott award. 

If you would like to be a theater blogger for StudentsXpress, please contact rachel@studentsxpress.com

Leo Lionni's Frederick will play through November 16, 2014 

at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. 

While other mice are gathering food for the winter, Frederick daydreams the summer away. When dreary weather comes, it is Frederick who has stored up something special for the long cold winter. The classic, much-loved early reading book celebrates the idea that there is a place for all of us in this world. 

This production is ideal for ages 3 and up. 

Single tickets are on sale now, starting at $28. Or, cost-conscious, theater-loving families should entertain purchasing a Membership Pass to save up to 20 percent on single tickets to Chicago Children's Theatre's 2014-15, three-play season, which also boasts a remount of CCT's 2008 smash hit, The Selfish Giant by Blair Thomas and Michael Smith (January 23-February 22, 2015) and a second world premiere musical, Wonderland, Alice's Rock & Roll Adventure, co-created by Michael Mahler and Rachel Rockwell (April 22-May 24, 2015).

Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (872) 222-9555 to purchase tickets or CCT membership passes. For information on deeply discounted group rates for schools, playgroups, birthday parties and scouting groups, email GroupSales@chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (773) 227-0180 x 13.

Kids Review CATS

Ethan and Betty before the show

The musical CATS is playing at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora through Oct. 12. Ethan S. from Nettelhorst and Betty S. from Hamilton both attended the press opening on Sept. 13, and here's what they had to say.....

ETHAN: During the weekend I went to see a wonderful play in Aurora called Cats. It was wonderful in so many ways, starting off with the songs. Magical Mister Mistofellees was my personal favorite but each song was special in so many ways. The soundtrack was definitely something I would listen to all day. Along with the songs came amazing dances that made the songs that much more interesting, vivid and amazing. I loved the acrobatics, the flips, and the dances where they just stayed on their feet. And to go with all of  this they had a simple yet interesting story that kept your attention. I loved this play very much.

Illustration by Betty S.

BETTY: This was the first Broadway  (or at least has been on Broadway) play that I’ve ever seen and it has set my expectations high for all those to come. All the actors had beautiful voices and all of them were so flexible making the dance choreography have no exact limit. The set was very colorful, strategic, and the lighting was even part of it. This play stuck to its original roots, but still this company kind of put their own spin on it which wasn’t such a bad thing. In conclusion, my overall evaluations of this beautiful Broadway production is that it is sure to stick in my “Memory”

If you would like to be a theater blogger for StudentsXpress, please contact rachel@studentsxpress.com.

 Production Photos 
by Liz Lauren

Brigadoon Wows at the Goodman Theatre

Jamy Meek, 

Maggie Portman and Richard Strimer

Kevin Earley and Jennie Sophia

Rod Thomas and Kevin Earley

By Sasha P.

One of the most well-known musicals in our history, "Brigadoon", has clearly outdone itself in this new rendition of the Scottish romance. It balances love and loss with bravery and cowardice so beautifully that every scene is met with tears and laughter, with gasps and applause.

The dancing is coordinated wonderfully, giving you a glance at what life was like in Brigadoon, a magical island filled with lively, loving Scottish people taking every possibility offered to express their emotions towards every person they meet. 

When two men adventuring find Brigadoon and its people by complete and utter accident, they are taken aback by Brigadoon's happy and unselfish nature, its aura of magic and possibility, its open-minded people. Tommy, one of the explorers, meets Felicia, a woman of Brigadoon, and both fall madly in love with each other, enchanted with stories of other times.

The music, expressed by not just the people signing, but also by the time period, seems completely accurate and yet important to the storyline that it seems that Brigadoon wouldn't be understandable without it. Overall, "Brigadoon" is a complete success and definitely a musical you want to see.

An Interview with Maggie Portman

Maggie Portman plays Meg Brockie in Brigadoon. She answered some questions Sasha asked about her character, the production and theater in general.

Sasha: Why do you think you were chosen for the role? 
Maggie: I think my height and sense of humor helped a lot!  Meg is such a funny character in the face of some pretty hard circumstances. But there is definitely a sadness to her story too, and I think I really understood that.

Are you anything like the character you portray?I think we share qualities, her strength in the face of adversity, her forced independence, and her sense of humor about life is a lot like me. Meg isn't a crier—she chooses to laugh about her unfortunate life and I do love to laugh and often find myself laughing about the curves life throws me rather than dwelling in the sadness or tough times and moving on, looking forward to find a solution to whatever comes my way. However Meg's dependence on finding a man and most of her life choices I do NOT share. Thank goodness. I am lucky enough to have a wonderful husband at home who is my equal in every way. 

Who is you favorite character in the play, and for what reason?Fiona is a wonderfully strong independent woman. I respect that she refuses to settle for anything less than her dream. So many great female roles from history are written and portrayed as weak, and Fiona is quite the opposite. I respect that so much, especially when she is living in a time period where women were viewed as weak unless they had a male figure to take care of them. Fiona takes care of her family and is such a strong root in our little village.

How many hours a day do you rehearse? 
We rehearse 10 to 6 pm, six out of the seven days a week with one day of rest. In our tech week—which is the week leading up to opening—we pull 10 to 12 hour days, so that can be tough.

Summarize your part in the play. What do you enjoy most about it?Meg Brockie is an orphan who only has a couple of cows to offer to pull her weight in the town. She has no dowry which in those times every woman had to have to offer to her husband as part of a marriage. And because they are stuck living within the borders of Brigadoon, Meg is one of the unfortunate ladies to not have a lad to call her own and it is really the only thing she wants more than anything in the world. So Meg unfortunately has resulted in using the few things she has left to try to remedy the situation. Luckily the MacGuffie family has been kind enough to let her work for them in exchange for the milk from her cows.
Meg has a really hard life, but she chooses to hide behind laughs in order to stay strong and carry on. She is still hopeful through all the rejection and continues to try to see the good in some not-so-good situations. 
What I enjoy most about her is that very thing—that she stays fairly positive and hopeful in a pretty much guaranteed lonely, sad outcome.

What is your favorite scene in the play, and for what reason?I of course love the scene between Jeff and I in my milkin shiel. It is hilarious that she throws this giant guy around the whole time and Curt is great to work with. It's a lot of fun.

Do you have any favorite books you wish could be turned into a play/musical?I don't know if it's a book but I'd love to see the movie Princess Bride turned into a musical!

Do you like how the performance ends?I think it is beautiful that Fiona and Tommy get a happy ending but my hope is that the rest of the townspeople get their happy ending someday too. It certainly does help those like Meg in the town who feel so defeated,  have hope that a miracle can happen if you believe. I'd like to think the perfect lad will stumble into the town in the next hundred years just like Tommy did. 

If you could choose to play a different role in the play, which one would you choose? 
Hmmm I'd choose Meg—lol!  I know that's not the question but she is the character I'd want to play.  Otherwise I'd want to be in the chorus as a dancer cause it's so fun and beautiful. 

Why did you decide to become an actor? It was the only thing I ever wanted to do. I was an only child so I began portraying all my imaginary brothers and sisters as soon as I could talk. My mom could hear me through the heater vents in my playroom and she said she'd come check on me sometimes thinking I'd snuck some other kids in to play and it was always just me and my million different voices. I started acting, singing and dancing at age 2 and I haven't stopped! It's my joy and passion. I love stepping in someone else's shoes and getting to see life through so many different people's eyes. Actors are rare people that actually do get to walk in someone else's shoes for a day and typically are more empathetic and understanding and observant than those who are outside the business because we do get that rare chance to live another's life for a day.

What has been your favorite play/musical you've seen so far?
I love Peter Pan!

Who has been your favorite character you've played so far?Eva Peron in Evita

What character (In a different play/musical) would you like to play?Peter in Peter Pan

What should people expect when they come to see Brigadoon?Laughs, tears, beautiful music and people, and a story of faith and love and friendship that I hope inspires them when they leave the theatre. The dedication and love these people have for each other is so amazing, and I hope our audiences take this pride and love out into the world and into their own families and lives.

What advice would you give to young people who want to get into acting?Stay dedicated. Know that it is extremely hard work. Long hours, loads of responsibility and dedication, lots of homework and independent work and research. And most importantly confidence and focus. Learning early that you don't always get the part you want and being able to pick up and move on to the next thing with your head held high or embrace the part you got and make it the best thing ever! These are all qualities that an actor needs in order to make it in this very tough business. Never stop learning, immerse yourself in history, take dance classes, acting classes, and observe this world full of characters you're around every day. You never know when that lady at the bus stop that you saw is going to be the inspiration for a character your gonna play in your next project!

Interested in being a StudentsXpress blog theater reporter? 
Please contact rachel@studentsxpress.com.