MANSFIELD — The Renaissance Youth Opera Theatre will present two fairy tale-inspired musicals on Feb. 3 and 4, 2018 at the Renaissance Theatre.
The show will open with “Wind in the Willows,” followed by Richard Sherman’s “Slipper and the Rose.” “Slipper and the Rose” is a retelling of the Cinderella story with music by noted Disney composer Richard Sherman (Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). “Wind in the Willows” is based on the children’s book by Kenneth Grahame; music by John Rutter.
“Slipper and the Rose is a Cinderella tale, but told mostly from the Prince’s point of view,” said director Lori Turner. “Although one of the least known of Richard Sherman’s musicals, it is his favorite and the composer himself was instrumental in assisting us in getting the rights to perform it.
“Wind in the Willows is a ‘curtain-raiser’ – a short piece performed just before the main production designed to feature our younger cast members.”
The two shows feature 77 student performers representing the following schools and districts: Ashland, Clear Fork, Crestview, Discovery, Lexington, Lucas, Madison, Malabar, Mansfield Christian, Mansfield Senior, Mifflin, Ontario, Pioneer, Shelby, Spanish Immersion, St. Peter’s, Stingel, Taft, and Wynford.
Cast members of the two shows include: Hope Abel, Isaac Abel, Angela Allen, Gabriella Allen, Micaiah Allen, Rebekah Allen, Zavier Alterio, Ian Barnes, Kadelyn Becker, Abby Bechstein, Hannah Bilheimer, Alexa Blakley, Brie Blevins, Jolie Booker, Niamh Breault, Joshua Browning, Padraigh Browning, Reuben Browning, Allison Burchett, Talia Byrom, Lilly Casey, Momoka Chang, Gillian Donley, Isa Donley, Jillian Donnenwirth, Mallory Donnenwirth, Morgan Eckert, Amy Gardner, Braylon Gardner, Danny Gardner, Kera Gardner, Mikayla Gibson, Gloria Gutchall, Elizabeth Harris, Aubrey Hastings, Abby Heininger, Carol Heininger, Sarah Heininger, Evie Hostetler, Juliana Howard, Gavin Hull, Emma Hutchison-Deehr, Ada Johnson, Pippa Johnson, McKenna Kastran, Kylee Kent, Lily Kime, McKinnley King, Ava Leslie, Harrison Leslie, Grace Masi, Jackie Metz, Austin Michel, Aubrey Miller, Lila Oney, Anna Perkins, Kathryn Picklesimer, Cole Porter, Sarah Porter, Martin Rawls, Jenna Reitler, Anna Schill, Jonathon Schill, Olivia Slaubaugh, Claire Stewart, McKenna Stoffer, Caleb Tate, Eyan Underwood, Elyana Weaver, Delaney Wilson, Ethan Wilson, Karlie Wilson, Emily Woods, MaKenzie Wynn, Hannah Yoak, Joshua Yoak, and Katie Yoak.
Tickets for the Renaissance Youth Opera Theatre’s performances are $15 each, general admission, and on sale now at the Renaissance Box Office, via phone at (419)522-2726, and online at MansfieldTickets.com. The show is presented as a part of the Mechanics Bank Education Series, with additional support from the Ohio Arts Council.
