THOMASVILLE- A cast and crew of more than 60 students have been spending their nights and weekends putting the finishing touches on Thomasville City Schools Drama Program’s spring musical that takes the stage this weekend, March 28 and 29.

The curtain opens on Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s classic fairy tale musical “Cinderella” at 7:00 p.m. this Friday and Saturday at Thomasville Center for the Arts, a new location for TCSDP this year, necessitated by the major renovation and expansion project under way at the historic school campus that houses their usual home auditorium.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students, and can be purchased online at https://shorturl.at/1l4jl or at the door on show nights.

The cast, crew and creative team have been working on the production since  December, and Thomasville City Schools theater teacher and director Brantley Ivey Harrison explained, “It takes a village, and my efforts have been surpassed by those in student leadership positions.”

“One of our seniors, Laramie Stokes, has been a student of mine since she was in 6th grade. She is a twice-decorated Region All-Star for One Act Play, and she’s serving as our student director this spring,” Harrison said. “Her leadership and insights have been invaluable. Additionally, our show is almost exclusively student choreographed, featuring the work of senior Carlisle Bilbo, junior and Region Best Supporting Actress Julia Sharp and even two sophomore students, Callie Stokes and Myra Tindell.”

“Lastly, it was important to our high schoolers that the inclusion of elementary students extend beyond just another performance opportunity,” Harrison added. “They wanted it to be educational, a mentorship, and the planning of that was coordinated in large part by one of our juniors – and older sibling to one of our Rising Star Drama Camp participants – Emma Grace Rayburn.”

Junior Adalee King, who portrays Cinderella, said it’s been fun working with so many people who are positive and supportive as she takes on her first leading role.

“It’s helped me become a better person and develop important life skills, like becoming more confident,” King said. “It’s a fun show, and I’m excited for people to see it.”

Cinderella’s Prince is portrayed by senior Desmond Diggs who’s only in his second year of theatre participation at Thomasville High School and Scholars Academy.

“It’s my first time being a lead. This has been special, really special, and something I’ll never forget,” Diggs said.

Student director and lead performer Laramie Stokes, who has long been involved in the drama program, is excited about the many new traditions that are being made this season.

“It’s been really special this year, seeing things done in a different way, establishing some new traditions,” Stokes said, preparing for her last of many school performances. “It’s bittersweet, of course, but… last one, best one!”

Harrison said she chose this particular production because it suited the priorities and trajectory of the Thomasville City Schools Drama Program.

“If you want a strong program five years down the road, you have to feed and foster the middle and elementary schoolers,” she said, noting that this cast and crew represents nearly double the number of participants last spring. “This adaptation has multiple leading and supporting roles for the strong performers we already have, but it also has numerous featured roles for younger performers.”

“Among my favorite things about this production has been the number of siblings that are onstage and backstage together. Their involvement was promoted by the desire so many of our older, experienced students had to share ‘what’ they love with ‘who’ they love. It’s been a gift to witness that,” she concluded.