The prince along with the rest of the cast of the Sing Hosanna! production of “Cinderella” are having a ball preparing for the popular musical.

The Rodgers and Hammerstein show opens March 30 at the Succop Theater at Butler County Community College.

The production is under the direction of Ralph Christy Jr.

The show stars Rachel Creaturo of Penn Township as Cinderella and Nathan Rockcastle of Butler Township as Prince Charming.

Though neither of the pair has been in this particular musical before, they said they are definitely fans of this version, though it doesn't come without challenges.

“It is hard portraying such a meek and mild character because that is really not a typical type of role for me to play,” said Creaturo, who also said the gentleness of the music is something she has been working on.

Rockcastle, for his part, has been trying to perfect royalty. “Walking and functioning with an air of regality is not a natural thing for me,” he said.

These two actors have shared the stage before and each has countless acting credits behind them, so they are drawing on that experience to pull together the chemistry required for the roles.

One character seen in this show who is not usually part of other versions of “Cinderella” is Lionel, the royal steward. He is a quirky, somewhat awkward individual whose main job is to attend to and care for the prince, no small task.

Scott Winter of Renfrew eagerly accepted the role of Lionel, but he has subsequently found it somewhat daunting.

“The biggest challenge for me is the humor Lionel's character has,” he said.

“I've been in only a small handful of shows, and only one very recently, and this is by far the most difficult character I've had to ‘become,' from his French accent to his quirky, odd-ball mannerisms,” said Winter, who believes the show's wit is what makes it so successful.

Stephanie Kobil of Butler Township is getting her comedy and her wicked on as she prepares for her role in “Cinderella” as one of the stepsisters.

“Grace is a role that has a lot of comedy in it, which I love to portray. She is very competitive with her younger sister, Joy (played by eighth grader Jordan Luntz), bossing her around and being right all the time,” Kobil said.

She said her biggest challenge is “keeping up with my younger sister Joy who has way more energy than I do.”

Kobil has had a dream season with Sing Hosanna! With this role, she has landed two parts back to back that she said she's always wanted to try. She last appeared as Yente in “Fiddler on the Roof.”

She loves all the music in this version but said she is partial to her duet. She listed “Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful” as the prettiest song.

“But the most fun song is ‘The Stepsisters' Lament,' ” Kobil said. “I am privileged to share that song with Jordan Luntz. Her talent and enthusiasm are so fun and inspiring to me.”

Jordon, who is from Saxonburg, gets another shot at playing a daughter, but this time she gets to be ditsy, and she said she loves it. She last appeared as one of Tevye's three daughters in “Fiddler on the Roof,” where her role was somewhat more serious.

She describes Joy as a “comical character.”

“I truly enjoy playing such a silly character,” Jordan said.

“Cinderella” was her favorite show growing up.

“When I was younger, my mother would always kiddingly tell me never to try out for the part of an ugly stepsister, because I'd be too good at it! I'm having a lot of fun trying to prove her right,” Jordan said.

Dale Reimer plays Grace and Joy's mother, Cinderella's stepmother. She has had both dramatic and comedic experience, in recent Sing Hosanna! roles such as Golde in “Fiddler” and Miss Hannigan in “Annie.”

This “Cinderella” is the 1997 television version in which singer Whitney Houston starred as the Fairy Godmother and singer Brandy Norwood was Cinderella. Jason Alexander played the stressed-out Lionel.

Audience members are encouraged to dress in character for the April 1 show. Prizes will be awarded for the best dressed.

<B>WHO: </B>Sing Hosanna!<B>WHAT: </B>“Cinderella” by Rodgers and Hammerstein<B>WHEN: </B>7:30 p.m. March 30 and 31 and 2 p.m. April 1<B>WHERE: </B>Succop Theater at Butler County Community College<B>TICKETS: </B>$10 for age 10 and younger and $15 for age 11 and older, available at May's Music Shoppe, 247 E. Jefferson St.<B>INFO: </B>724-287-8362