Wish Come True

BY ALLI SCHUCHMAN

PHOTOS BY KEITH BROFSKY

Ovation Director Scott Breitbarth has heard "Cinderella” described as everything from a rags-to-riches story to a woman just looking for a night off.

Though the tale has been told through many a lens—from first-century Greeks, to Renaissance-era Europeans, to Sergei Prokofiev’s 1940s ballet, to Brothers Grimm—Breitbarth believes that it is the soul of the story that makes it worth telling and retelling: “If you are a kind, compassionate person, all you need to do is say yes to yourself and amazing things start to happen.”

This December, Ovation! Performing Arts Northwest will present the slightly more contemporary Enchanted Edition of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, which features a local cast of 25. Some of the actors—including 23-year-old Carin Young, who plays Cinderella—have been performing for years, but for others this will be their first time on a stage.

That’s by design, said Margaret Johnston, president of Ovation’s board of directors. She explained that the non-profit values teaching above all else, an inclusive approach that is embraced by cast, crew and the throngs of volunteers who work in concert to present the shows. “We like to be open to people of all skill levels, meet you where you are,” Johnston said.

“Anybody who wants to be on stage or behind the scenes, we give them opportunity,” added Breitbarth, who pointed out that Ovation is giving him the latitude to grow, too. Although he first worked as a choreographer with the group—a talent honed while at the University of Southern California, where he studied at its Glorya Kaufman School of Dance—he pivoted to directing for Ovation’s 2020 production of “Bye Bye Birdie.”

“I just love directing,” he said. “It’s been one of the great joys of my life. It’s been a fun challenge to jump back and forth between directing and choreographing. I’m always checking in to make sure everyone’s happy and having a good time.”

Young said that she’s personally having a blast working with the troupe for the first time. “I learn new things every day and it’s cool to be there for other people who might not know as much,” she said. “I love that we’re all at different levels.”

In addition to exploring her character’s inner transformation, Young is also loving the production’s enchanted machinations, including Cinderella’s storied ballgown. “I don’t know how much I want to say,” she said. “It’s so magical it made me gasp.”

Young is also excited about Breitbarth’s concept of presenting Cinderella in the framework of the seasons. Breitbarth became intrigued by the idea since the show itself is being staged in wintertime. “I wondered if I could actually make that work with Cinderella’s journey,” he said. “A story of one life ending and another one beginning. To be able to face change and then to grow.”

Around the same time that Ovation is putting on Cinderella, BPA will be presenting its own fairytale: “Beauty and the Beast.” The coincidence is not lost on Johnston or Breitbarth, but neither one minds, believing that when it comes to the arts, more is better.

Johnston acknowledged that the island’s different theater groups fill different needs and have different goals, but feels that they’re all worthwhile. Breitbarth agreed:

“There’s a lot of collaboration happening behind the scenes. I’m actually borrowing some sets from conceptual and musical theater, and in exchange I made a promotion for their upcoming show. We’re also borrowing a few set pieces from Bainbridge Ballet. We all just want to tell stories. I would love to be a director in the community that’s trying to bring more groups together and collaborate. Who knows what you can do when you have a ballet company helping you?”

Of course, everyone wants the audience to enjoy the show, but Breitbarth wants his actors to come away with something, too. “As the fairy godmother says, it’s not about getting a wish. It’s what you do with your wish that counts,” he said. “I think there are wishes everywhere. When we finally realize what they’re meant to do in our lives, what we’re meant to do with them in our lives, great things actually start happening.”

“Cinderella” runs over two weekends, December 1 through 10 at the BHS auditorium and will include a sensory inclusive performance. For more information on Ovation or for tickets, visit ovationmtb.com.