Cinderella Production Begins At Alden Theatre

Patch’s Arts Correspondent, Victoria Weseley, will chronicle the creation of the Alden Theatre’s “Cinderella – the World’s Favorite Fairy Tale.” She will follow the production from next week’s auditions to opening night on April 2nd, featuring cast and crew and all the ins and outs of making a script come to life on the stage.

Kathleen Herr, the Alden Theatre’s Youth Director, is gearing up for Monday's auditions for the production of “Cinderella – The World’s Favorite Fairy Tale.”  The play weaves together three versions of the story from Russian, Chinese and Native American lore. McLean children, in grades 5 through 12, are eligible to audition for this unique spin on a classic fairy tale.

 In 2002, with over 30 years experience in teaching and directing, Herr came to the Alden Theatre when the McLean Community Center decided to expand its youth program. Now, nine years later, Herr oversees a spring children’s show, a fall teen show, a children’s concert series performed in the gazebo, numerous performing arts classes and the James C. Macdonald Fine Arts Scholarship Competition for local high school students.

The children's performances are non-musical productions. Herr feels that the kids get nervous when they have to sing and dance - especially sing.

When asked about her favorite production, Herr replied, “Last year we did “Holes.” It was fabulous. I like doing shows based on books. We did “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” a few years back, and that was great, too. This past fall we did our first teen production, “The Brothers Grimm Spectacularthon." That was fun - kind of with a Monty Python spin."

Herr also shared her thoughts about the upcoming children's play, "I’m looking forward to working on a classic like Cinderella, with a twist."

Typically, 125 to 150 children audition for the Alden Theatre spring productions. Each show has 20 to 30 roles. The number for “Cinderella” has not yet been determined. So far, 50 children have signed up for auditions, but with one week to go, Herr expects a last-minute surge of sign-ups.

Auditions for Cinderella,5-8pm,  Jan 24-25, The McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave.

Eligibility: Students in grades 5- 12 who reside in the McLean special tax district

Rehearsal Times: Tues-Thurs, 7-8:30pm

Contact: Kathleen.herr@fairfaxcounty.gov to reserve audition time

Cost: $75 activity fee for participants in production