Diverse cast of Dayton kids taking on Cinderella and her glass slipper this weekend

Credit: Photo: contributed by Paula Powell

Credit: Photo: contributed by Paula Powell

A glass slipper is going lead to a whole lot of magic near downtown this weekend.

Stivers School for the Arts is taking on Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” during shows Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students.

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“It is a great story, and it has great music,” said Paula Powell, the production’s manager. “Each actor brings (his or her) own personality (to the characters). We have a pretty diverse group of kids in the cast.”

Credit: Photo: Paula Powell, contributed

Credit: Photo: Paula Powell, contributed

Many of the actresses and actors don’t reflect the classic story’s traditional typecasting.

Based on "The Wonderful World of Disney: Cinderella," a 1997 movie starring Whitney Houston and Brandy Norwood, Stivers' diverse show includes a black girl,  Kiama Wa-Tenza, as Cinderella and Fischer Barnett, a teen boy, as the stepmother.

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The diverse casting was no big deal at Stivers, said Powell, Stivers director of choirs, noting that the arts transcends.

“We are pretty easy-going here,” she said. “People auditioned and the characters just sorted themselves out.”

About 70 students from each of the  school’s magnet programs are represented in the production that includes music from a student orchestra.

The show includes audio and visual elements and Puppets from Zoot Theatre Company.

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Credit: Photo: contributed by Paula Powell

Credit: Photo: contributed by Paula Powell

Beside Wa-Tenza and  Barnett,  key actors and actresses include  Trinity Hines Anthony as Fairy Godmother; David Lewis as the Prince; Isaac Bement  as  Lionel, the royal steward;  Clara Bement  as Joy, a step sister; Ana Smith as Grace, the other step sister; Logan Van Bibber as King; Erin Fultz as Queen;  Brandan Jeffries and Lamorris Render as Mice; Ryan Gibson as Charles the cat and Desmond Kingston as Dove.

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Credit: Photo: contributed by Paula Powell

Credit: Photo: contributed by Paula Powell

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