LM Players Putting On 'Cinderella' Musical Production Next Month

ARDMORE, PA — In just over a month's time, the LM Players will host their production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical "Cinderella."

About 100 members of the show's cast, crew, production design team, and more are in the thick of rehearsals in anticipation of their opening night on Thursday, Nov. 21.

"Cinderella" will run through Sunday, Nov. 24, with 7 p.m. shows Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and a 1 p.m. matinée Sunday.

All shows will take place in the Lower Merion High School Auditorium, 315 E. Montgomery Ave. in Ardmore

While tickets are yet to go on sale, Lower Merion High School senior and LM Players Marketing Director Dylan Silberman told Patch tickets will likely cost $8 for students and seniors, and $13 for everyone else.

While Silberman spoke with Patch via phone, sounds of crew members working diligently on lights, sets, and more could be heard in the background.

"People are constantly building, hanging lights, sewing things," she said.

While rehearsals began in early October, Silberman said "Cinderella" started coming together in May when the LM Players chose the classic fairy tale as their fall musical.

Costume and set designers started working in June to prepare for the November production.

Auditions were held in September, and the cast came together. Silberman added LM Players thrive on inclusivity and have three cast members who are students in the school's special education program, one of whom is in his fifth production.

A full cast list is featured below.

"Everyone is so excited," Silberman said.

"Cinderella" will not only feature a cast of about 28 actors — it will feature a 21-student show orchestra, which will likely be accompanied by a harpist who previously joined LM Players for "Beauty and the Beast" in 2022.

LM Players is fully student run, and is assisted by a slate of coaches, led by Head Coach and Faculty Coordinator John Grace, who teaches social studies at Lower Merion High School. Check out the full list of LM Players coaches online here.

As the premiere grows closer, Silberman said community members can support LM Players by donating directly to them online here or purchasing playbill ads. Email lmplayerspubz@gmail.com or theplayersboard@gmail.com for information on playbill ads.

Funds are used to purchase wood, fabric, lighting gels, and more, as well as maintaining equipment.

Silberman said businesses are welcome to donate raffle baskets that will be available in the lobby of shows. LM Players also auctions off posters its design team makes for their productions as a fundraiser.

She said the group will launch a Snap Raise fundraising effort about a month before the premiere to help support the group's ongoing artistic endeavors.

Below is the "Cinderella" cast list:

• Ella — Sammie Grolnick
• Topher — Elliott Boldin
• Marie — Gwen O'Bannon
• Gabrielle — Giselle Buella
• Jean-Michel — Lou Sasson
• Madame — Eden Charlson
• Charlotte — Zoe Halpern
• Sebastian — Kiri Knight
• Lord Pinkleton — Keith Walsh
• Knight/Featured Ensemble — Guia Betancourt
• Knight/Featured Ensemble — AJ Higgins
• Knight/Featured Ensemble — August Hachadoorian
• Knight/Featured Ensemble — Erin Fox
• Knight/Featured Ensemble — Audrey Gardner
• Knight/Featured Ensemble — Owen Shapiro
• Knight/Featured Ensemble — Harrison Johns
• Knight/Featured Ensemble — Lia Cox
• Footman/Ensemble — Isabel Candeub
• Coachman/Ensemble — Clara Loiter
• Ensemble — Ari Schwadron
• Ensemble — Gillian Steinhart
• Ensemble — Yanna Oler
• Ensemble — Riley Tomilson
• Ensemble — Artemis Synder
• Ensemble — Mia Tatar
• Ensemble — Jonnah Danneman
• Ensemble — Jayden Pappa
• Ensemble — Mason Cohen

Below is the "Cinderella" production design staff:

Acting

• Director — Millie Feaster
• Assistant Director — Rose Warren
• Co-Choreographers — Talia Kasner and Claire Evans
• Stage Manager — Shira Dorff
• Assistant Stage Manager — Matty De Jesus
• Student Vocal Director — Caleb Rosenfeld

Production

• Production Manager — Del Reid
• Production Assistant — Nico Macho Saez

Show Orchestra

• Student Instrumental Director — Sam Fenning
• Assistant Student Instrumental Director — Yimeng Du

Scenery

• Set Designer — Dotun Okunade
• Assistant Set Designer — Lucy Thoen
• Co-Master Carpenters — Charlie McCauley & Isaac Polsky
• Props Designer — Callie Borden
• Assistant Props Designer — Leila Drain

Electrics

• Lighting Designer — Talia Earl
• Assistant Lighting Designer — Matt Izzo
• Sound Designer — Nora Gaub
• Assistant Sound Designer — Lila Anderson
• Master Electrician — Elle Kudic
• Assistant Master Electrician — Kaitlyn FitzSimmons

Costumes

• Costumes Designer — Amelia Candeub
• Assistant Costumes Designer — Lu Laurino
• Co-Head of Wardrobes — Audrey Smith and Gavi Spanier
• Assistant Head of Wardrobe — K Gould
• Hair & Makeup Designer — Miranda Mollick
• Assistant Hair & Makeup Designer — Dylan Knight

Publicity

• Marketing Director — Dylan Silberman
• Assistant Marketing Director — Henry Sniderman
• Graphic Designer — Sam Donagi
• Assistant Graphic Designer — Aerynne Cannan
• Front of House Manager — Gabe Newsome

The 2024-25 LM Players Board comprises President Charlie McCauley, Vice President Millie Feaster, Secretary Del Reid, Treasurer AJ Higgins, and Project Manager Shira Dorff.

Learn more about the LM Players online here.