My Interview with Director Julie Andrews (of Clovis)

Our communities need Cinderella stories. Here in Clovis, CA., we get to see one staged next week at the Mercedes Edwards theater, directed by Julie Andrews. For more information, see this coming Saturday's edition of Kings River Life Magazine. Below is an interview with Mrs. Andrews.

What was it about Cinderella that attracted you to choose it?

1. Buchanan High had not performed a Rodgers and Hammerstein Musical in many years. I felt it was important for our musical theater students to experience their style.
2. It is a great show for families to attend.
3. My name is Julie Andrews.  No really, we have some phenomenal legitimate voices this year that are perfect for this style of musical.

What would you like for people to know about this production and cast?

When we say that this is a Buchanan Performing Arts Production, we really mean it. We have a full orchestra in the pit, being conducted by Mr. Matt Dean and all of our musicians are Buchanan High School Symphony members. The staging is great, and the Mercedes Edwards Theater staff is really enjoying creating the Fairy Godmother’s magical effects. Our cast is predominantly pulled from the Buchanan Choir and Theater Departments. Mr. Roger Bergman is our choir director at BHS, and he is also the vocal director for the show. The Ball Room dance sequences should be very fun for our audiences now that “Dancing with the Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance” have educated American audiences regarding the difference between the Fox Trot and the Viennese Waltz. (Both of these make an appearance in the show.) Our choreographer is Mr. Derek Goldstien, who is also the Buchanan Color Guard Choreographer.

How do you cope with the grueling schedule during rehearsals? What are the challenges and rewards?

I must say that it is much easier to direct, costume, or do props for a show when you aren’t teaching a full load of high school theater classes and trying to do all three jobs. My technical theater students have taken on a huge part of the prop construction and costume pulling for the show so that has definitely made it easier.  My Buchanan performing arts colleagues are also shouldering a good portion of the creative work as well.

The challenges are that most high school students don’t have enough hours in the day to truly be trained triple threats. Singing, Dancing, and Acting, are all dependent on technique. With today’s academic requirements, it is very difficult for students for take all three electives and a full load of college prep academics. Although, for many of these students, their performance classes are college prep. So some of the greatest enjoyment for me as a director is helping these incredibly talented young specialists develop their other talents for musical theater performance. I think the audience will be very pleasantly surprised by the performance abilities of all of our actors. Our step-mother and step-sisters are very beautiful girls, so it took quite a bit of work by our costume and make-up crew to get the appropriate look for these very talented actresses.

Do you perceive that there is a message, lesson, or "take-away" in the story of Cinderella?

 I think that during our current economic situation in Fresno County, it is very easy to see the dark side. Cinderella has a pretty tough life, yet she knows that good things eventually come to good people. I think the idea that “Impossible things are happening every day” is something we all need to be reminded of from time to time. It is also an iconic American Musical Theater production that can be shared by many generations. This is a great opportunity for my generation who remembers those first couple of television productions of R& H Cinderella to share this cultural experience live with our youngsters.

Is this production appropriate for families and children?

Definitely!  The show is one of the all-time favorite Fairytales and runs 1 hour and 45 minutes with the intermission. We start at 7:30 so the show is done by 9:15. Of course if you want a picture with the Prince or Cinderella, you might be waiting around a bit longer.

What are the greatest challenges that you have in directing a production like Cinderella?

The magical elements are probably the most challenging, but having  a great creative team at the Mercedes Edwards Theater in CUSD to help, really took that off my to do list. Everyone always thinks of Sports when they hear the name Clovis Unified, but the Theater Production team here is just as excellent.

What are the greatest rewards that you have in directing a production like Cinderella? 

Taking a show from the page and bringing it to life, so an audience gets to experience this fairytale world come to life. And maybe, just maybe, there will be a new person who sees live theater as a really cool experience and something they want to have regularly for the rest of their lives.  After all, as Cinderella says, “If you wish hard enough, and believe in what you’re wishing, even foolish dreams come true.” --