‘THE PERFECT SHOW FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON’

Q‘ TH E P ER FE CT S HO W F OR T HE H O LIDAY S EA SO N ’ A&

A Q&A with Tiffany Taylor, who plays a stepsister in the Paramount’s p erformance of “Cinderella” this winter

By Chris Walker | Costume rendering by costume designer Theresa Ham, headshot provided by the Paramount Theatre

Looking for a family holiday adventure? See if you can “fit” the Paramount Theatre’s presentation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” into your schedule this holiday season. While you probably know the story of this princess, you’ve never seen it like this as this mesmerizing new production brings a reimagined take on the classic children’s story to downtown Aurora. Recently, KendallCountyMagazinetalked with local actor Tiffany Taylor, whose dream to perform at the Paramount will come to life as she plays Joy, one of Cinderella’s wicked stepsisters. This interview has been edited slightly for length.  KENDALL COUNTY MAGAZINE: What are your first memories of “Cinderella”?

TIFFANY TAYLOR: Watching the Brandy and Whitney Houston version as a child. I had the VHS tape of it and I would watch it with my mom so often. I was always a huge princess fan, so seeing a princess that looked like me was eye-opening and exciting even at an early age. I also loved the Filipino prince — I’m half Filipino myself, so I would always pretend like Cinderella

and the Prince were my mom and dad. Not to mention the incredible vocals in that movie. Whitney has always been an influence for me vocally and that started around that time too. I do love the classic Disney cartoon version. It played a big role in my childhood as well.   KENDALL: What do you like most about “Cinderella”?

TT: My favorite thing about “Cinderella” is its message: to always be kind and grateful no matter what life brings you. I have to remind myself of this, and I’m working on being kinder to not only others, but myself especially! Cinderella keeps her head held high in spite of the adversity she faces, which is so admirable.

  KENDALL: Why should folks come out and see the show?

TT: This production is one of a kind. Everyone is incredibly talented and we are so excited to bring this story to the Paramount stage. (Director) Brenda Didier and the rest of the directing and design teams have a vision for the show that is so exciting, and we’ve all been collaborating to make this the perfect show for the holiday season. The designs are incredible!   KENDALL: What’s it like to perform on a stage with such a rich history? TT: Working at the Paramount has been a dream of mine since I was a teenager first starting out in theatre. I went to JCA (Joliet Catholic Academy) and the drama club would take field trips to see the shows and we couldn’t stop talking about them for weeks. It almost doesn’t feel real that I’ve been able to turn my dream into a reality in such a short amount of time. I’ve been coming to see shows here for about eight to nine years and each one has been better than the last. I’m so lucky to be working in such a beautiful space.   KENDALL: Are you more of a glass slippers for a night out on the town or a cozy slippers and snacks, chillin’ on the couch kind of gal? TT: I have strong roots in both. I love stepping out with my friends and having a night on the town, but I also really appreciate my R&R after a long day. If I had to pick, I’d say glass slippers. There’s so much out there to enjoy and I want to soak in every minute of it.

“CINDERELLA” debuts at the Paramount Theatre on Nov. 10 and goes through Jan. 9, 2022!

DON’T LET THE SHOW STOP THERE! CHECK OUT THESE SHOWS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD:

Catch “The Nutcracker” ballet at 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 5 at Sandwich Opera House, performed by Oswego-based Allegro Performing Arts. Learn more and purchase tickets at www.sandwichoperahouse.org. “A Christmas Carol,” the classic tale of Scrooge, is scheduled for two performances each on Dec. 4 and 5 at the Little White School Museum. The show is being put on by the Limelight Theatre Company, run by the Oswegoland Park District. “A Christmas Carol” will be performed as a radio play, in which actors remain stationary and use their voices, expressions and costumes to communicate as opposed to acting out the scenes. According to its website, the Limelight Theatre Company has been performing this type of show for more than a decade. Learn more at www. limelighttheatrecompany.org.