A Patch Chat With The Woman Behind Curtis' "Cinderella"

Briony Schroeder's college degrees in theater, dance, and English led to a life focused on performing arts and teaching, but now this busy member of the Curits High School faculty takes on a whole new challenge.

She is producing, as well as directing, the school's musical, "Cinderella." In an interview with University Place Patch, Schroeder discussed what this experience means to her and her students.

UP Patch: Everyone knows the story of "Cinderella," and the Rogers and Hammerstein musical has been around for years. Does your production offer audiences anything fresh or different?

Schroeder: We decided to change the setting and time period and take a 1950's approach. We wanted to show the kids that you can take a classic story and twist it in some manner. How can we take something that is absolutely traditional and make it non-traditional? How can you put your personal stamp on it? Even though it's copyrighted, you still have a choice in terms of the design or artistic approach.

UP Patch: What kind of response did you have when you did a call for auditions?

Schroeder: We had about 60 to 70 actors that auditioned and we have a cast of about 30, so we had about a 50 percent casting rate. We tried to utilize as many students as possible.

UP Patch: In addition to those who are acting, you have your equally important musicians and stage crew. What do you see these students learning as they all work together as a team?

Schroeder: You watch them come to understand their role in the big picture. In the beginning, some of them start off with, 'Oh, I'm just in the chorus.' or whatever. But as we get closer to this final moment, they realize the growth they have personally experienced. Their role comes into play as absolutely necessary. We can't do it without each and every individual person or element. They begin to take ownership of that.

The backstage and onstage crews' jobs are completely opposite, but they start to form an appreciation for each other and a connection to each other. Those personalities often come from different worlds and they choose different routes based on the things they have to offer. But we see them start to cooperated and co-join in friendship and respect.

UP Patch: In what ways do you see this kind of arts education influencing the lives of these students?

Schroeder: The No. 1 thing I see at the high school level is kids getting over the fear of putting themselves 'out there' to get onstage, sing a solo in front of everyone, to work with others, to improvise. Hopefully, they go on to something else, whether it's in the arts, a job, a relationship, or whatever, and think, 'I can approach that! I can do that! I can conquer that!'

And there's creativity from the baseline. How do you design something for a set, or approach a character? That character is completely under the control of the actor and what they want to do with it.

UP Patch: Obviously, parents will want to come see their kids perform, but what does this musical offer to others in the community?

Schroeder: The experience of live theater can't be doubled in any other experience. It's the combination of all that's happening at one time, the actors, the behind the scenes stuff, the light crew, the spotlights, the sound, the stage manager, the costume person. Every single person adds to that combination.

Like with a sporting event, you go because you don't know the outcome. You know the storyline, but the curtain opens and you don't know what will happen. It's the engagement and the connection you have, the unpredictability of live theater.  How will the actor adapt and go on if something unexpected happens? And to watch high school students step into that role is an interesting thing as well.

UP Patch: Have you seen any big transformations in students, for example, in terms of self-confidence?

Schroeder: Last year we had a number of students graduate that had been kind of the leaders. So a lot of the students who are now upperclassmen have been good members of the production but have not necessarily had the opportunity to take on leadership roles. It's nice to see some kids come out of the woodwork this year and realize how much of an impact they can have on the rest of the group, if they take charge of it.

UP Patch: What aspect of all this is most rewarding to you on a personal level?

Schroeder: My favorite moment is to watch an actor come offstage when they know something worked, something clicked, and they take ownership of what they just accomplished. There's kind of this glimmer. That moment won't happen again. It might to some degree, but to see that one moment in time that they just owned and experienced and responded to, I think is probably the best.

The Curtis High School production of the musical "Cinderella" will be performed at 7 p.m. on Feb. 3-4 and at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Feb. 5, in the high school's performing arts center, located at 8425 40th St. W. in University Place.

Ticket prices are:

Reserved seating - $10, General Admission - $8, Matinee - $5

Tickets can be ordered online here. They will cost $2 more if purchased at the door.  Please come support the efforts of all of these hard-working and talented students.