SURREY - On Wednesday, May 28, the curtains will rise on a unique cast performing its version of Cinderella at Surrey Arts Centre.
Sources Life Skills Resource Centre is a Surrey-based organization that helps people with physical and intellectual challenges gain employability skills.They are putting on an adapted version of Cinderella in which the role of the princess is split to star a pair of twins named Cindy and Ella.Michael Kalmuk, a project manager at Sources, rewrote the script for his actors and actresses."I tried to make it relevant to the work we do - for example, the prince is a man in a wheelchair," Kalmuk said.Sources has also done several things to aid the cast while performing, to ease the pressure on them. They have "ninjas" with scripts behind the actors who may forget their lines, and they also have the lines projected next to the stage for the audience to read in case they can't hear the actors.Michelle Hoare, who plays Cindy, has been working with the organization for 23 of its 26 productions.Hoare believes that being on stage has allowed her to come out of her shell."I used to be so nervous when performing, but now I've gotten much better, and I think that it's helped a lot with the fact that I was a little shy when I started," she said.This isn't the first time the organization has put on a theatrical production.The group regularly puts on performances in smaller venues, but they chose to do this one at Surrey Arts Centre so any profits made from ticket sales can be used in a fundraising effort."We're hoping to make this a fundraiser to buy a bus, because our bus died," Kalmuk said.The fundraising hasn't been very easy because Sources has to pay to make alterations to the venue."This theatre - as lovely as it is - has three seats that people in wheelchairs can sit in," Kalmuk said. "When we do a show, we have at least a dozen people in the audience (who are) in wheelchairs."We have to remove the front, that whole rounded area, of the stage to create an orchestra pit where we can legally put wheelchairs," he added. "And we have to pay for that even though we're renting this facility from the City of Surrey."In joint productions with Events Unlimited, Sources has teamed with Semiahmoo House Society to split the cost of removing the front of the stage by organizing shows during the same week. The society's talent showcase features a variety of performers Friday, May 30 at the arts centre, located at Bear Creek Park.The Sources' production of Cinderella starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 28.Tickets can be purchased at the door, and through Sources, for $25. For details, call 604-501-5566 or visit Sourcesbc.ca.kyle.benning@gmail.com