School play turns strangers into friends

The spring play at Cedar Grove-Belgium High School isn’t an exam, but the participants still felt like they were cramming.

Rehearsing every day since spring break, including some long nights, has been a grind for the cast, but it has been worth it.

“You really create a bond between people you don’t normally talk to,” Megan Zaczyk said.

Cast members spent time together outside of rehearsal when they shopped for their costumes for the comedy “67 Cinderellas.”

The plot has the prince and Cinderella dancing at a ball, after which she leaves behind her shoe. In searching for his love, the prince has every lady in the kingdom try on the shoe and it fits several, triggering many near weddings that people tire of. Upon finding Cinderella, marriage doesn’t come as easy as hoped.

Nor did finding dresses for the cast. There aren’t 67 girls — the number is implied — but each girl in the cast needed two dresses, found in a cramped prop room or from another source.

“Goodwill’s about cleaned out,” Wesley Reichle said.

Beyond thrift shopping, Cinderella Kaitlyn Wolff picked up a new skill, along with Reichle, who plays the prince. Zaczyk, who plays the queen, taught them how to ballroom dance. Zaczyk’s older brother took classes and had taught her.

“I stepped on (Reichle’s) foot a few times,” Wolff said.

Given the large number of girls required for the play, Director Dave Claerbaut had to encourage participation. That’s how Loden Reed joined her first theater production.

“Mr. Claerbaut begged me. I think he needed girls to fill dresses,” she said.

Reed has enjoyed her first play.

“I just like being included,” she said.

A few of the lead actors said the parts were wisely chosen.

“Directors put a lot of thought into the cast,” Zaczyk said.

Wolff said, “You always get a role that’s just right for you.”

A.J. Schaefer agreed. He plays the king, who is “stubborn and in charge.”

Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the middle school auditorium. Admission is $5.