The Prince is Giving a Ball...At Irvington Town Hall

*Scroll to end to see entire cast of "Cinderella"

More than 30 men women and teens aged 15 to 65  turned up after work and school  Tuesday, June 22, to make the second night of auditions for Clocktower Players' production of "Cinderella." Thanks to the sponsorship of the Irvington Town Hall Theater Foundation, Clocktower Players are able to call the theater home,so locals can take part in the enjoyable escapism of community theater.

"There's been a great turnout tonight," Barbara Wright, secretary of the non-profit organization Irvington Town Hall Theater Foundation, said. "Our goal is to support community theatre while fostering awareness of this wonderful venue."

One by one, in the order in which they arrived, hopefuls performed a song of their choice on what's called a "black stage" before Artistic Director Cagle McDonald, Choreographer Josue Jasmin, and Irvington Town Hall Theater Foundation President Joseph Zeolla.

"It takes a lot of courage to get up on that stage and sing. That's more important," Zeolla, an Ardsley resident, said. "It brings people to a different level within themselves. They are who they are on the street, but they can be anyone they want on stage. It's magical."

At quarter past eight, the dancing portion of the audition commenced. Actors took to the stage and spread out behind choreographer Jasmin, who has danced for New Hampshire City ballet as well as Justin Timberlake. Those auditioning watched intently as Jasmin performed each step with precision and care. Running through the routine several more times, the group duplicated the steps as best they could. Choreographer Jocelyn Jones helped with steps between runs. "It's actually not that hard, it's just a lot of details," Jasmin reassured the group.

When it seemed most of the actors had a basic grasp of the steps, Jasmin cued the music for a few more runs before McDonald decided it was time to evaluate the hopeful actors, breaking them into sub-groups of six.

"Everyone auditions for the dance part at the same time," Mcdonald said. "Most people pile in between 7:30 and 8:00 because they're coming from work. We want everyone to get a chance to try out for all three things. This way, people who came in at eight can still sing and read afterward."

As the last dance group exited the stage, McDonald asked them to tell the others waiting in the hall that it was time to read "sides," the representative parts for characters. Auditioners read for the parts they preferred—mostly Cinderella and the prince. After their readings, Mcdonald would ask them to read for other chosen characters.

Evelyn Milman, a White Plains resident, read the part of the Queen, making McDonald and other observers burst out into laughter. "Evelyn, I want you to come back tomorrow," Mcdonald told her when she'd finished. No stranger to the stage, Milman trained at Julliard and performed professionally before marrying and having children, when she put theatre on hold. "During a show, I'd be out almost every night. Community theater is fun and more convenient," she said. This was Milman's first time auditioning for Clocktower Players.

Alicia Fine of Hastings, a sophomore in high school, read the part of Cinderella. In the first grade, Fine joined Clocktower Players' Kids Troupe and has performed in the JR Teen Troupe, Teen Troupe, and the Adult Troupe since. "I joined because I wanted to come out of my shell. I'm not very outgoing, but onstage I don't feel as shy," she said.

Charlie Scatamacchia, an Ossining resident, loves the camaraderie of community theater. He's worked with Clocktower Players four times now and brought comic relief to all through his audition song, "Stepsister's Lament." Scatamacchia said, "A performance is something people will have for the rest of their lives. They own it. It becomes a part of who they are."

Built in 1902 to host concerts, balls, minstrel shows, and graduations, the Irvington Town Hall Theater building was the cultural center in the Village. However, from 1960 to 1978, the stunning hall became condemned due to changes in health and fire codes. A group of concerned residents and the Junior League of Westchester-on-Hudson proposed renovations, and the Irvington Town Hall Theater Foundation was formed. By 1980, everything was brought up to code and the theater restored to all her original glory.

Auditions Tuesday ran to just after ten, with some people still waiting to sing for Mcdonald. Hopefully, everyone made it home before their cars turned into pumpkins. Catch the show this November.

Full Cast of Rogers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella"

Kids

Clara Charles

Antonia Cruz-Kent

Mary McArdle Cuff

Paige Harty

Danielle Mark

Nora Mark

Arcadia Wisnik

Cinderella        

1. Sarah B. McCoy  

2. Mary McDonald

Prince 

1. Mark Rosenthal                                   

2. Jonathon Mesisca

Queen

1. Evelyn Milman                                         

2. Lisa Spielman                                          

King

1. Peter Kelly

2. Larry Reina 

Lionel
Micheal Serpe

Step-mother

1. Barbara Salant      

2. Charlie Scatamacchia  

Grace

Liz DiMeo

Joy

Missy Stone

Godmother

Rene O'Neal

CAST 1 ensemble

Ladies:

Lea Richardson, Maris Quagliata, Elaine Healy,

swing: Mary McDonald, Lisa Spielman

featured dancers: Emma Mills, Alicia Fine, Jocelyn Jones, Amanda Vogt, Jillian Greenstein

Gentlemen:

Josh Judin, Lee Richardson, Julian Broughton, Joe Zeolla

swing: Jonathon, Charlie Scatamacchia, Larry Reina

CAST 2 Ensemble

Ladies:

Lea Richardson, Maris Quagliata, Elaine Healy,

swing: Barbara Salant, Evelyn Milman, Sarah Barnett McCoy

featured dancers: Emma Mills, Alicia Fine, Jocelyn Jones, Amanda Vogt, Jillian Greenstein

Gentlemen: 

Josh Judin, Lee Richardson, Julian Broughton, Joe Zeolla

swing: Mark Rosenthal, Peter Kelly