GRAND RAPIDS — Erin Whight is filling big shoes — or glass slippers — in her return to community theater.
The physical therapist at Essentia Health in Deer River assumes the role of the fabled rags-to-riches princess Cinderella by night, as she and about 50 others prepare for opening night of the Grand Rapids Players’ production Friday, March 10.
The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical will be staged in the Wilcox Theater at the Reif Center in Grand Rapids.
Whight joined Heidi Holtan and John Bauer Friday on the KAXE Morning Show to share her experiences singing, dancing and learning lots of lines, along with mastering four costume changes and on-stage transformations. She’s no stranger to community theater, but it’s been 15 years since she played a role.
“My last musical was in stark contrast to this one,” Whight said. “I was in ‘Evil Dead: The Musical,’ when I lived in Bend, Oregon.”
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Whight said playing Cinderella is a breath of fresh air for her after a work day — both figuratively and literally.
“I go from wearing a mask all day to going to the Reif and putting on fancy dresses, so it’s really good,” Whight said.
Listen to the entire Morning Show interview about the local production above.
Performances are March 10-12 and March 17-19, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Advance tickets for the Broadway version of the play are $24 for adults and $12 for youths, or $29 for adults and $17 for youths at the door.
Visit grplayers.com/cinderella for more information and to reserve tickets.