Oak Park Actor: 'Kids Are Smart and Will See Right Through You'

Familiar fairy tale characters will pick up where they left off, after the “happily ever after” credits roll on their traditional stories, in the world premiere of “Cinderella… After the Ball.”

The musical, presented by The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences, stars Oak Park resident Dara Cameron as Cinderella, alongside Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel, who must save the kingdom from an evil Pinocchio on their way to find true happiness through the powers of hope, bravery and friendship.

Book and lyrics are by Eddie Sugarman, the score is by Jihwan Kim and Jeff Award nominee Scott Weinstein is directing.

Cameron graciously took time from her busy schedule to answer a few questions for Patch.

Can you tell us a little bit about your background? Where are you from, and how did you get involved in theater?

I grew up in Naperville and attended Northwestern University in Evanston. I did community theatre and was active in my high school theatre program. I studied musical theatre at Northwestern (where I met my husband, who is also an actor and composer/lyricist, Michael Mahler). After graduation I stayed in Chicago and began auditioning around town. I’ve been lucky enough to be a working actor for the last ten years.

How did you come to be a regular performer in children’s theater? Are there any specific rewards and challenges that come with acting for a young audience?

I got my Equity card when I was cast as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at the Marriott Theatre the year after I graduated from Northwestern. I’ve gotten to work with some fantastic directors in the Theatre For Young Audiences world--Rachel Rockwell, Matt Raftery, Dominic Missimi, and now, Scott Weinstein. They, along with the theatre’s production staff, take children’s theatre very seriously. It’s not an afterthought. I’ve learned how important finding the balance between sincerity and silliness is-- kids are smart and will see right through you. But you also have to find the funny and be respectful. It’s not all that different from an evening show, except that you only have an hour to tell your story, so you can’t waste a single moment!

What can the audience expect from this production’s take on classic fairytales?

Audiences can expect to see some familiar characters--Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel, as well as a grown-up cantankerous Pinocchio-- but our story picks up after the Happily Ever After supposedly begins. You won’t see the traditional Cinderella story, but rather, what happens when her expectations aren’t quite in line with the reality of a fairytale ending. But there’s still a handsome prince and beautiful ball gowns, so there’s plenty of eye candy for all those little princesses out there.

How do you approach this well-established character, Cinderella, outside the realm of her usual storyline?

The great thing is, this Cinderella is still warm-hearted, good and kind, and she is an eternal optimist. That much has not changed from the classic Cinderella character. When the world starts swirling around her, she will remain, for the kids in the audience, that wholesome beacon of goodness and virtue. The fun part is, she also gets to assert herself a bit in our story, finding her voice and her strength. The music has a modern freshness to it--it’s very rock and pop based, so it puts the story in a different world from the first downbeat. It’s not your Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and I think it’s really accessible and something different that will speak to both kids and their parents---I certainly love singing it!

What advice do you have for budding actors trying to break into the theater world?

I would encourage young actors to take class--voice lessons, dance class, acting and improv workshops. There is so much theatre out there--audition for community theatre shows, or perform at school or with your church or synagogue. If it’s something you are passionate about, seek out lots of different opportunities to immerse yourself. Also, keep reading! So much about acting comes from knowing about the human experience! The best actors I know are also the smartest, best-read people I know.

What’s your favorite thing about living in Oak Park?

I love living in Oak Park. It was important for us to be centrally located because we work downtown sometimes, but also out in the suburbs. The emphasis on the arts in the community feels incredibly supportive and we hope to one day get to send our kids to the great public schools. I also enjoy being able to ride my bike around town and walk our fat little dog in Taylor Park---that is, if it’s ever nice out again!

“Cinderella… After the Ball,” will run March 3 to May 8 at 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire. Visit MarriottTheatre.com or call 847-634-0200 for an exact schedule and to purchase tickets.

Photo courtesy of Heron Agency.