By Michael Benavides
Staff Writer
JACKSON – Students at Jackson Liberty High School are working diligently to prepare for an upcoming presentation of their fall play, “A Little Princess.”
Director Nicole Mathias said “A Little Princess,” by Frances Hodgson Burnett, has been adapted for the stage by Cynthia Mercati.
The AtLib Players includes students who are members of the Drama Club, Musical Production and the International Thespian Honor Society, according to the Jackson Liberty website.
“A Little Princess” will be presented at Jackson Liberty High School, 125 North Hope Chapel Road, Jackson, at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 17; at 7 p.m. Nov. 18; and at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Nov. 19.
The director said the story is one of her favorite pieces of literature.
” ‘A Little Princess’ is my favorite children’s book,” Mathias said. “In addition, I love the family shows we have produced these past six years or so because it is such a great way to start the holiday season.”
Mathias said the message of “A Little Princess” has to do with promoting the feeling of hope, especially when it comes to personal loss.
“This show is about the magic of hope. It offers us a chance to see a child face loss and learn that the world is not always a cruel place,” she said. “I also wanted to do a play that had more featured female roles.”
According to Mathias, “A Little Princess” is about Sara Crewe, who is an heiress to a fortune and is enrolled at Miss Minchin’s Select Seminary for Young Ladies in Victorian England. Sara’s life starts out happy, but bad news arrives and her fortune is lost.
Sara is forced to become a servant and must live in an attic room that seems no better than a prison cell. When a mysterious gentleman from India takes the house next door, magical things begin to happen, according to Mathias.
The cast of “A Little Princess” includes senior Alexa Weaver (Sara Crewe), junior Jonah Resnick (Ram Dass), junior Emily Bonino (Miss Minchin), senior Mikayla Greenway (Becky), senior Falyn Vega (Lavinia), senior Bianca Asaro (Ermengarde), junior Danielle DeMarzo (Miss Amelia Minchin) and sophomore Emily Soubasis (Anna).
The crew includes production stage manager and artistic design, senior Alanna Trainor; assistant director, senior Maxx Silvan; and assistant stage managers, seniors Faith Alban and Nicole Longo, and junior Abigail Vallaster.
“Rehearsals are moving along and we are entering the technical and costume phase,” Mathias said last week. “We are looking forward to opening night.”
The director said “A Little Princess” will provide audience members with some personal joy.
“People should come out because the world has been filled with negativity for the last several months,” Mathias said. “This is an opportunity to enjoy seeing young people create a feel-good tale that offers hope and reminds us that humans are innately good.”
Tickets for the Jackson Liberty High School production of “A Little Princess” may be pre-ordered by sending an email to [email protected] by Nov. 15. Advance tickets are $8 for students and seniors, and $10 for adults. Pre-ordered tickets may be picked up at the Will Call table 30 minutes prior to showtime.
Tickets purchased at the door will be $10 and $12.