By Katie Phillips | The News-Review
PACKWOOD — Pekin High School students delivered big-city magic last weekend as nearly 50 students took the stage for a vibrant production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, drawing sold-out crowds for both Friday and Sunday performances.
The musical, staged in the school commons, showcased one of the largest casts and crews in recent years. Directors recognized the seniors involved in the production following Sunday’s performance, where the seniors also presented the directors with gifts and expressions of thanks.
Leading the cast was Hayden Miller as Prince Topher, whose heroic battles with a giant and a dragon energized the crowd. Michelle Jacobs shined in the title role, earning enthusiastic applause for her heartfelt rendition of “In My Own Little Corner.” Brinley Phillips delivered a standout, Broadway-worthy performance as Madame, Cinderella’s sharp-tongued stepmother. Phillips brought so much sass to Madame that the audience briefly forgot Cinderella was the main character.
Rounding out the leading roles were Brogan Spray as the impassioned revolutionary Jean-Michel and Anna Hadley as Crazy Marie, whose magical transformation into the Fairy Godmother drew cheers from the audience. Will Daniels brought quick wit and charm to the role of the Court Jester, while Liam Guise portrayed Lord Pinkleton, Prince Topher’s right-hand man, with crisp authority and humor.
Adding to the comedy were the Harbison twins, Tatum and Rannen, who portrayed Cinderella’s stepsisters with perfect timing, and Bo Latcham as the sly and scheming Sebastian. The Court Jester, serving as a narrator and comic guide throughout the show, kept audiences laughing with snappy interjections and lively commentary.
One of the weekend’s most memorable scenes came as the prince and his attendants searched for his “true love.” The ensemble of boys improvised their way through the moment, surprising the crowd with a mock lightsaber duel, a football formation, and even tumbling passes across the stage—earning some of the biggest laughs of the night.
The directors praised the cast and crew for their dedication, noting the months of rehearsal, late-night run-throughs, and careful choreography that transformed raw ideas into a polished, full-scale production of the Broadway version of Cinderella. They emphasized that bringing a show of this magnitude to a small 1A school required not only talent, but persistence—hours of line-running, dance practice, set construction, and problem-solving that ultimately paid off in a spectacular weekend of performances.
The production closed to thunderous applause, cementing the show as one of the school’s most successful musical weekends in recent memory.
