Cinderella will lose her glass slipper in Kingston

KINGSTON — The young budding actors of Kitsap County are getting ready for their biannual streak of stardom later this month as Kitsap Children’s Musical Theatre puts on Rodger and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.”

Using the exact same script from the 1957 version with Julie Andrews, Director Kerby Criss and her crew have been rehearsing since August.

There are two casts for this play, Criss said, for two reasons: to give everyone a chance to be involved and to alternate actors during the performances.

The kids involved in the play represent 15 different schools in the area, Criss said. But the unique thing about the overall group is that one cast is older and the other is younger.

“(The younger kids), unless they are doing something at school, like at Options at Gordon, they don’t have this opportunity to get up and express themselves,” Criss said. “You see these tiny elementary kids pulling off these whole shows and it’s going to be so good for their self esteem. When they hear the applause for the first time, they are going to feel like a million bucks.”

“Cinderella” is the fourth major production for KCMT, which typically holds shows in the spring, the fall and a talent show at Kingston’s July 4th Celebration. The group started in 2000 with “Charlie Brown’s Christmas” and it has been a sure-fire hit since then.

“If you ask the parents what they like about it, they like it because it’s a family atmosphere,” Criss explained, adding that parents work alongside the kids. There are 54 kids involved in the two casts — which translates into 34 families being involved, too.

“I want to give more kids a chance to participate, so we have double casts,” she said.

Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 for children younger than 12 and free for those younger than three. Tickets are available at Kitsap Mall, Peninsula Video, Kingston Thriftway, Liberty Bay Books and Poulsbo Pizzeria. Cinderella will be performed at Kingston Junior High, on Nov. 15 and 22 at 7 p.m., Nov. 16 and 23 at 2 p.m., and Nov. 17 and 24 at 4 p.m.

Special sneak preview “pay-what-you-can” shows will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 10 at 4 p.m

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