The Christendom Players brought Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella to life with a stunning set of performances of the classic fairytale this past weekend, April 11–13, 2025. As the college’s annual spring musical — following last year’s poignant performance of Little Women — the production delivered four incredible shows for the community, captivating audiences with beauty, heart, and energy.
For alumna director Elizabeth Foeckler (’12), staging Cinderella was a dream come true.
“For years now, the topic of whether the Christendom Players would ever perform Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella has not been so much an ‘if’ but a ‘when,’” said Foeckler, who has directed twelve shows for the Christendom Players thus far. “It checks so many of the boxes we hope to when selecting a show: it’s well written and entertaining, it’s wholesome and family-friendly, and it’s fundamentally a show that Catholics in particular can deeply appreciate.”
Each show featured whimsical music, glamorous choreography, rich vocals, and stellar acting from the Christendom Players. For the first time in a decade, the troupe offered a Sunday matinee as well — an addition that made the magic of the production even more tangible, according to Foeckler.
“The matinee was our most well-attended show in several years. We had close to 350 audience members, many of them children, which was really special for the actors,” she shared. “Acting for children — especially all the little girls who came to see Cinderella — was truly a magical experience. Not only did we have a pumpkin carriage, but we also had a transformation dress so that Cinderella magically transformed on stage. The entire transformation scene was so fun and edifying to watch, knowing that the hard work and creativity of so many people were creating real theatre magic for the audience.”
Though conventionally seen as a beloved children’s fairytale, Cinderella also points to powerful truths of the Catholic Faith, Foeckler noted.
“‘Impossible things are happening every day.’ Those are the words Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother exchange before Cinderella’s life is transformed. For us, impossible things truly do happen every day — and like Cinderella, we experience our own transformations, though ours are more than external,” Foeckler explained. “We experience the transforming power of sanctifying grace in our souls. And what is more impossible than a piece of bread becoming the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord? Or — especially on our minds and hearts throughout this next week — the impossible Paschal Mystery of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ?”
Senior Lauren Bosack, who played the title role of Cinderella in her second show with the Christendom Players (after playing Meg in Little Women last spring), expressed deep gratitude for the bond shared by the cast and the memories made during her final college performance.
“Being a part of the Christendom Players gave me a second family — it’s been a home away from home. There’s no way to convey on paper how special the musical atmosphere is,” said Bosack. “It brings classes together, forming new friendships and rekindling old ones lost in the frenzy of college life. It gives people a chance to come together over their shared love of music and passion for performance. You show up to sing in lights, but you leave with a joy that persists, even when the stage lights dim.”
The Christendom Players, a student-run club, perform a play each fall and a musical each spring. In the past, the group has staged Little Women, Les Misérables, Annie Get Your Gun, Hello, Dolly!, Anything Goes, Murder on the Nile, The Music Man, The Winter’s Tale, and other elaborate productions. While Christendom does not offer a performing arts major, many students make acting an integral part of their college experience. The result is a rich showcase of musical and theatrical talent each academic year — a testament to the passion and dedication of the Christendom community.
See more pictures from Cinderella here.
Watch a video recap of Cinderella here.
Contributed by Bridget Palm ’28.