4/10/08
‘Aladdin’ to be performed at Clarendon Hall
By Jerriod Grizzle

Submitted Photo

Cast members Emily Corbett as Razoul, Gary Elenbark as Iago, Zach Sharpe as Jafar, David Tindal as Sultan, Jessica Brazell as Jasmine, Stoney Osbourne as Aladdin and Joshua Jenkinson as Genie practice their parts during the wedding scene at a dress rehearsal for the play which premieres April 12.

“Make Way for Prince Ali,” is one of the most memorable lines from Disney’s “Aladdin,” and come April 12, fans of the movie can enjoy that song and others live and in person.

Members of the Clarendon Hall Drama and Fine Arts Department, aged 12-19, are presenting “Aladdin Jr.” to the delight of audiences young and old alike.

“I love musicals and I like Aladdin; it is a play I previewed some months ago during the summer and thought it was the best one for us to do,” said second grade teacher Cyndi McIntosh. McIntosh is also serving as the play’s director.

McIntosh said that the Drama and Fine Arts Department is actually an impromptu department at the Summerton school.

“That is what we are calling it. The kids love it. We are practicing after school and the kids have worked their hearts out to put on this performance,” she said.

The students of Clarendon Hall who were interested in drama have wanted to do a play for a while but never had the opportunity until now.

“The students are excited and they get more excited the closer it comes to show time,” she said.

McIntosh said that the students in the drama department are already looking forward to the next play they can do and perform.

“The students really want to do another play after this. Already the play is a huge success,” she said.

McIntosh gives her students all the credit, calling her work with them a “labor of love,” but she said that she had some outside help that made the young thespians look more like the real thing.

“Josie Leigh Hudson and Elizabeth Hinson made the costumes and without them I would be nowhere,” she said.

McIntosh said she was grateful to have sponsors who helped with the play’s production costs.

“Sponsors like the Manning IGA, The Manning Times and Scott and Stringfellow Inc. were so nice to help us out and sponsor our event. We are so glad to have them help us with this,” she said.

Disney’s “Aladdin,” will be performed April 12 at noon and April 19 at 6 p.m.

Advance tickets are required and can be ordered through Clarendon Hall by calling the school office at 485-3550 no later than April 10.

Ticket prices include a dinner with either performance.