Press Release:
At its weekly lunch meeting today, the Rotary Club of Batavia announced that Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella has been selected to be their 61st Annual Rotary Show. Show dates are November 5th – November 9th at the Batavia High School Auditorium.
The musical based on the age-old fairy tale was first broadcast on CBS television in 1957 and starred Julie Andrews. It was reprised in 1965 as the first color broadcast musical for television and starred Lesley Anne Warren. A more recent adaptation was broadcast that starred Whitney Houston and Brandy.
The selection made by the Batavia Rotary Show Committee will be the original production with one modification added from the 1965 version. It will include a cast of 30 to 35 Adults and 8 to 10 Children. This is the first time that Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella has been selected by the Rotarians.
This year’s production of Cinderella will be directed by Patrick D. Burk. This is Burk’s first time directing for the Rotary Club of Batavia. Burk is widely known as the creator of the Batavia Players Summer Youth Theater Program and the Shakespeare in Springtime Program, which just completed this past weekend.
“I am excited and honored to be offered this opportunity by the Rotary Club, “ Burk stated. “I have always enjoyed working with this group and have had a lot of fun on the Rotary Stage in the past. I am pleased with the show selection and look forward to offering this truly family oriented show to the Rotary audiences.”
Known for its costuming and beautiful sets, the pre-production work will begin with meetings in April and continue with the selection of show and musical staff. Auditions will be held in September. Show Chairperson is Laurie Mastin, Business Manager is John Saville and the President – Elect is Ted Hawley.
Burk previously directed this version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella for the Gates Community Theater at Robert’s Wesleyan College in North Chili. He has performed in countless stage productions as well as directing and producing shows. Some of his Rotary Show appearances include Daddy Warbucks in Annie, the King in The King and I, Bung Foo in Thoroughly Modern Millie and Charlie Cowell in The Music Man.
