By Katrina Grant
The Pineland Players, a non-profit theater company located in Medford, will present a childhood classic. Beginning on Aug. 12 and ending on Aug. 20, performers from all over South Jersey of all ages will perform Rogers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.”
“The Pineland Players has been around for 35 years, and is a nonprofit,” Laurel Thomas, director of “Cinderella,” said. “We have performers from Medford, Shamong and Tabernacle mostly, but if people are willing to drive to come here, we have people from other South Jersey towns as well. We have about 31 people from the age of 6 on up.”
Auditions for “Cinderella” began in May, and rehearsals began in June. Anyone is able to join the theater, but auditions are held for anyone who wants to perform on stage. There is a $20 membership fee for the year, which is good for a whole family. They also give a complimentary ticket to a show with the membership.
There is one show held in the summer, one in the winter, and in the spring they have been hosting a talent show. Anyone can perform in the talent show.
“We don’t discriminate, if you don’t have experience or if you want to join. We do audition for shows, though,” Thomas said.
Each year the Pineland Players’ board gets together and picks the shows. If the shows are available through the rental companies, they vote on the show. The board tries to pick shows that people will want to see and want to perform in.
“We are very family orientated. We have a lot of families that perform together,” Thomas said.
After the show is done and the cast is set, rehearsals begin. Rehearsals are held on the weekend and on one or two nights during the week. Most performers only need to attend one or two rehearsals a week.
“We try to work around people’s schedules for rehearsals,” Thomas said. “We usually have rehearsals like five times a week, but most people just need to attend one or two times a week. Obviously, Cinderella has to be there for more.”
There will be an ice cream social after the 2 p.m. matinee on Aug 20 for an additional $4.
“People will get to meet all the characters and have ice cream,” Thomas said. “We would also like to invite anyone that wants to join the theater and welcome them into our family.”
The schedule and location for the show is as follows:
The Neeta School, 44 Neeta Trail, Medford Lakes.
Friday, August 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, August 19 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 20 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for kids 12 and under and seniors 65 and up.
For tickets and information call 286–3485 or visit PinelandPlayers.com
Groups of 10 or more $8 and have to call to reserve group rate.
