Post Gazette: "When Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Cats' opens at the Benedum Center next week, on stage will be a cat called Cassandra, an extrasensory Abyssinian who hails from Egypt.
In real life, Cassandra is neither a cat nor from Egypt. She's Schenley High School graduate and former Murrysville resident Stephanie Campbell, 25."
3 comments:
I am happy to see a person like her, who keeps making an effort to make the dream come true.
Even if spending tough time, that is the happiest moment while one is running towards their goal.
I am looking forward to seeing her shining on stage in this show.
In the huge theatre like the Benedum, the musical performances tend to seemingly lack intimacy because the stage is far from most of the seats and also because the sound system can hardly be arranged to create surround effect, which is popular in Broadway theaters.
Although I have never gotten the chance to see, the Japanese production of CATS has been performed for 25 years, changing its theatre around Tokyo in Japan, produced by one of major but few musical companies in Japan, called Shiki Theatre Company.
This company produces Wicked and RUG’s the Phantom of the Opera, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar etc... They are also a producer of Disney’s musicals in Japan, such as Lion King and the Beauty and the Beast. If you are curious about how CAT is performed by Shiki Theatre Company, please check the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh81IjtBNoM&feature=related
or Shiki Theatre Company’s Introduction in English:
http://www.shiki.gr.jp/siteinfo/english/
I agree with Hide. I'm ecstatic to hear this story. There are thousands of young people trying to make a break, and all of those people are remarkable talented. To hear of this young girl from the area catching a HUGE break like this is incredibly remarkable. And yes, Broadway musicals do tend to not be intimate, but it hands talented people a stage to tell a story that has been worked on for years, decades, maybe even over 100 years.
I also believe that a story like this will not only give credit to the incredible talent and luck this young girl has, but will help other kids realize that they too have the possibility to reach their goals, whatever the size and shape.
Although I can't say I'm excited to see Cats at the Benedum, I do agree with Hide and Liz that it's really great to see someone from the area have the opportunity to be in this production. I often remember how these things happen suddenly and unexpectedly as I'm sure it did here. It's really difficult for us, including backstage people, to find work when you're tied to one area at the moment. This kind of opportunity is great not only because of the exposure and the scale of the show, but because it opens so many more possibilities that would not have been possible had she not gotten this role. It's incredible how something so seemingly simple could make a huge difference in our careers.
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