Review: CINDERELLA at Rise Above Performing Arts Showcases Talent and Imagination

Rise Above Performing Arts brought a little magic to Sarasota this January with the Broadway adaptation of Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella: the timeless rags-to-riches story of a girl dreaming of a better life, her cruel family, a fairy godmother, and a charming prince. The 2013 adaptation's book (by Douglas Carter Beane) adds a contemporary spin on the classic fairy tale, including new and reimagined characters, a few new twists, and a generous supply of laughs. This crowd-pleasing rendition was a great choice for Rise Above's large cast of young performers as well as for audiences of all ages to join in on the magic.

With a mission to "help those with the desire and love of the performing arts to be able to express that love in a way that exceeds all expectations," Rise Above Performing Arts aims to produce high quality theatrical productions that demonstrate their young performers' skill and precision.

This professionalism and talent were on full display at the sold-out closing show of Cinderella, where the audience seemed connected as a community to support the show's mostly middle- and high-school age cast and crew. Don't let their youth fool you, these performers and crew members are as professional as it gets - all contributing to the achievement of an incredibly technically sound, high-quality production.

The industrial, contemporary theater space featured dynamic digital backdrops (technical direction by JB Tomlin and scenic design by Tylee Giorgio), simple but effective lighting designed by Ethan Fuhrmeister, and a few functional, engaging set pieces by SIA Architects.

With a cast of over forty performers, a small stage to work with, and several moments of requisite on-stage "magic," artistic director Jacob Ruscoe addressed these challenges with creativity and imagination. By blocking action among and through the audience, such as the arrival of Cinderella's golden carriage from the back of the theater (receiving many well-deserved "oohs" and "ahs"), the audience were immersed and engaged more deeply into the fantasy of the story.

My initial concerns about the performer-to-square-footage ratio were quelled with how seamlessly the ensemble moved on and off stage, into the stage's wings, through aisles, and back again. The choreography, by Rachael Johnson, was equally fluid and intelligently crafted to feature a small team of incredible dancers as well as provide opportunities for all to shine (as well as demonstrate some incredible acrobatics and ballroom skills).

The ensemble's vocal blend as a chorus was exceptional (music direction by Emma Goldberg), as were the vocal performances of the principal cast. Caroline Russel as Cinderella and Hailey Balzan as Marie in particular delivered strong performances as individuals and during their duets in "Impossible" and "It's Possible." Addison Ruscoe (Topher), Aubrey Solum (Gabrielle), Alanna Bray (Madame), Kila Sons (Charlotte) and Jaquavien Jones (Sebastian) all delivered strong performances, with Cameron Cabral (Jean-Michel) and Joseph Tricarico (Lord Pinkleton) both stand-outs during their center-stage proclamations.

Rise Above Performing Arts fulfilled its mission with this production of Cinderella, where its young performer's passion for providing a skillful, meaningful theatre experience invites everyone in the audience to believe, like Cinderella, in magic, kindness, and the power of dreams.

The Rise Above Centre located at 3501 South Tamiami Trail Suite 1105. Tickets and more information about upcoming productions can be found by visiting www.riseabovearts.com, emailing info@riseabovearts.com, or by calling 941-702-4747.

To post a comment, you must register and login.