Photo courtesy of JACKIE HEIDENREICH
Jacee Price plays the role of Ella in Juniata High School’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Cinderella.’

MIFFLINTOWN — The lights fall and the room tightens with anticipation. Then in a rush of color and motion the stage erupts as the Juniata High School Drama Club launches into the 2013 Rodgers and Hammerstein revision of “Cinderella.”

At the center of the whirlwind stands Jacee Price as Ella and Kade Wagner as Topher, surrounded by a cast that brings the kingdom to life with bold energy and heart.

Marissa Erhard sweeps in as the mysterious Marie, David Mayall-Marker commands the stage as Sebastian, and Yaa Serwaa rules the household as Madame while Julia Martin and Natalee Wolfe unleash comedic chaos as Gabrielle and Charlotte. With Brody Noerr as the fiery Jean-Michel and John Randolph as the ever-formal Lord Pinkleton, the production doesn’t just retell a fairy tale — it pulls the audience straight into a world where courage matters and magic feels close enough to touch.

What follows is a spirited, high-energy staging of a musical that has been transformed more times than a pumpkin into a carriage. The drama club selected the 2013 Rodgers and Hammerstein revision because it fits this year’s students beautifully and because its storytelling flows with a modern spark that keeps audiences engaged from the first note to the final bow. The updated script adds humor and heart while preserving the classic songs that have charmed audiences since the original 1957 broadcast.

The story remains timeless. Ella is a young woman forced into servitude by her stepmother and stepsisters who dreams of a better life. With the help of her fairy godmother she is swept into a night of wonder at the royal ball where she meets the prince and discovers that kindness and courage can change her destiny. The Juniata cast leans into that emotional core with sincerity and charm.

Price brings a warm strength to Ella, balancing vulnerability with determination. Her scenes glow with quiet hope that builds into something powerful as the story unfolds.

Opposite her, Wagner gives Topher an earnest charm that makes the prince feel human and relatable. Their chemistry anchors the production with heart.

Erhard’s Marie is a standout presence, shifting from eccentric townswoman to radiant fairy godmother with flair. Mayall-Marker’s Sebastian adds sharp wit and authority while Serwaa’s Madame rules the household with icy command. Martin and Wolfe deliver big laughs as Gabrielle and Charlotte, embracing the stepsisters’ over-the-top antics without losing the humanity beneath the humor. Noerr’s Jean-Michel brings fire and conviction to the story’s political edge and Randolph’s Lord Pinkleton adds a regal flourish to every royal announcement.

Behind the scenes, the drama club’s dedication shines just as brightly. Costumes shimmer under the lights, sets shift smoothly from cottage to palace, and choreography fills the stage with movement that feels both lively and purposeful.

Students have grown steadily throughout rehearsals, moving from early line readings to fully realized performances that show confidence and character.

The production team notes how proud they are of the cast’s growth. “They’re really starting to grow into their character roles and are taking the show from a script to a story on the stage,” explained Brad Eargle, who is co-directing “Cinderella” with Mamie Magill. That transformation is the heart of high school theatre — the moment when students stop performing and start inhabiting the world they’ve created.

Music for the show is provided by a live pit band made up of both students and adults, adding warmth and immediacy to every scene. Student musicians include Hannah Ehrisman, Carolyn Heidenreich, Josh Martin and Nolan Imes. Adult musicians include Penni Abram, Sam Gates (Mifflin County Middle School band director), Brent Snyder (retired Juniata County School District music teacher), Gene Hoffmaster (retired East Juniata High School music teacher), Ashley Smith (East Juniata High School music teacher), Mark Baylor (retired Mifflin County School District music teacher, Cameron Good, Damon Batt, Elizabeth Eargle and Brandon Kahley (Mifflin County High School Director of Bands). Their collaboration gives the production a heartbeat that supports the cast and elevates the storytelling.

As opening night approaches, excitement continues to build. The drama club has captured photos throughout the process that show the joy, teamwork, and behind-the-scenes magic that make school theatre unforgettable. From costume fittings to late-night rehearsals to the first time the cast hears the ensemble behind them, every moment has helped shape a production filled with heart.

With its polished performances, lively music and a story that has captivated audiences for nearly seven decades, Juniata High School Drama Club’s “Cinderella” promises an evening filled with laughter, wonder, and theatrical sparkle. Whether you know the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic by heart or are discovering this version for the first time, the students of Juniata are ready to sweep you into a world where kindness matters and magic feels real.

And if the fairy godmother is right — and she usually is — impossible things are happening every day.

Showtimes for “Cinderella” are 7 p.m. tonight and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday in the Juniata High School auditorium. Buy tickets by scanning the QR Code on the Juniata High School Band’s Facebook page.