Washington Middle School’s drama club will present Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella: Youth Edition” on Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium at 159 Buffalo St.

“Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musicals are an important part of musical theatre,” said director Marie Karbacka, a vocal music teacher at Washington. “Their shows are part of the musical theatre ‘Golden Age’ and a wonderful way to expose students to a traditional style of solo and ensemble singing. This year, with all of our talented young people here at Washington Middle School, I thought Cinderella would be an excellent choice as a musical to showcase that talent, as well as being relevant to the students as they are familiar with the fairytale of Cinderella.”

Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella was the most widely viewed program in the history of the medium. Its recreation in 1965 starring Lesley Ann Warren was no less successful in transporting a new generation to the miraculous kingdom of dreams-come-true, and so was a second remake in 1997, which starred Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as her Fairy Godmother. As adapted for the stage, with great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, this enthralling fairy tale still warms the hearts of children and adults alike.

Cinderella: Youth Edition” is presented in special arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. The production is also the recipient of the Jason M. Williams Fund for the Performing Arts at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation in memory of the late Washington Middle School English teacher and musical director. A noted area performer outside of school and beloved friend to many, Williams passed away suddenly in 2019 at the age of 40.

Tickets for the production are $5 and can be purchased at the door or by calling 716-483-4413, ext. 4403.