Westfield senior gets to preview her goal of being a Disney World princess
By Mark Ambrogi
For Westfield High School senior Katie Sinicki, it seems a role she was destined to play.
“Ever since I was little I wanted to be a Disney princess at Disney World,” Sinicki said. “I’m hoping as I continue on the acting track that will happen.”
Rhonda Adams, director of “Beauty and the Beast,” knew of Sinicki’s dream since she stated that life goal in theater production class.
“So it was fitting she went for the role of Belle and won it,” Adams said.
The Westfield High School musical’s performances will be at 7 p.m. on March 19, 20 and 21 and a 2:30 p.m. matinee performance on March 21.
“She is a talented singer and actor and she also dances,” Adams said of Sidicki. “She’s also been involved in CYT (Christian Youth Theater) so a lot of people have seen her face here in Westfield.”
Sinicki played one of the lead characters of the Witch in “Into the Woods,” Westfield’s spring musical in 2014.
“The whole process of getting into the role (as the Witch) made me realize that I wanted to pursue acting,” Sinicki said. “The Witch was a little more challenging but I love both roles.”
As a Disney fan, Sinicki was quite familiar with “Beauty and the Beast.”
“This is one of my absolute favorite Disney stories,” Sinicki said. “I love the character of Belle. Her songs are a little challenging but it’s all part of it.”
Sinicki will attend Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, to study acting. Sinicki said she enjoys both acting and being musical performer, but likes acting more.
“The whole idea of character development I think is so cool,” she said.
Sinicki, 18, hopes to audition to become a Disney princess at Disney World when she graduates from college.
Sinicki has performed in CYT productions since seventh grade. Last summer, Sinicki performed in Summer Stock Stage in Indianapolis. Sinicki played a hippie in “Hair” and loved it.
“There’s is no feeling like (being on stage),” Sinicki said. “I get such a rush of adrenaline from it that I don’t think you can find anywhere else. It’s very gratifying. You put in so much hard work and then at the end of productions when you are taking a bow and see a standing ovation, I don’t think there is a feeling like it.”
In Westfield’s musicals, Sinicki also had roles in “Xanadu” as a freshman and “Holly Dolly” as a sophomore.
Adams said “Beauty and the Beast” is show that many of the performers grew up watching.
“We try to do a different type of show every year,” Adams said. “Last year’s a little bit darker with “Into the Woods.” We like to do a Disney or a light-hearted comedy the next year. We tried to give the students the opportunity to do different types of musicals while they are here at school.”
Westfield’s band provides support with the music. March is Music in Our Schools Month, which is supported by National Association for Music Eduction. Westfield Mayor Andy Cook and Westfield Washington Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Keen have issued proclamations in support of the Music in Our Schools Month.
Be Our Guest character teas
Adams had no trouble coming up with the biggest challenge of presenting “Beauty and the Beast.”
It’s the costumes.
“We always rent costumes for the musicals and to rent them was really expensive,” Adams said. “They are probably double what our normal costume costs are.”
To offset the cost, Adams came up with idea to general some extra revenue. The performers will have a Be Our Guest character tea before the 2:30 p.m. matinee on March 21 and prior to the evening performance.
Belle and the Beast along with all the enchanted characters will be there, Adams said.
“The students and their parents will have the opportunity to get their picture take with their own camera or phones,” Adams said. “They’ll have an autographed book craft the kids can make so they can get the autographs of all the characters. We’ll have some light snacks and tea and punch as well.”
The character teas will be held from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and then again from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
“I can’t wait for it,” Sinicki said.
Tickets are $5 for students and adults for the tea and are available on ticketracker.com.
“If it wasn’t for the successes of our projects like last year’s “Into the Woods” there is no way we would be able to afford to put on a show like this,” Adams said.
Tickets for the performances are $7 for students and $10 for adults.
Meet Katie Sinicki
Personal: Has younger sister Caroline, who is freshman.
Activities: “I’m really passionate about serving through Spanish. I love the Spanish language and like to do outreach things with my Spanish.”
Favorite TV show: “Gilmore Girls.”
Favorite musical: “‘Peter Pan’ with Cathy Rigby is my absolute favorite.”
Favorite music: Regina Spektor.
Favorite vacation spot: “Disney World. I’ve been four times and I’m going to be going again (in the summer of 2016).”
Beauty and the Beast Cast List
Alexa Zavaleta, Silly Girl/Enchanted Napkin
Audrey Panyard, Chip
Cassandra Lent, Lady with Cane/Enchanted Napkin
Connor Buckingham, Male Villager/Tavernsman/Wolf
Cooper Tennent, Cogsworth
Elizabeth Chambers, Egg Seller/Enchanted Spoon
Emma Behrens, Lady with Baby/Enchanted Pepper Shaker
Erilyn Briggs, Villager
Gabriella Mangin, Milkmaid
Hannah Young, Silly Girl/Enchanted Napkin/Dance Captain
Isaac Graff, Enchanted Knife/Tavernsman/Wolf
Isabella Novak, Babette
Jacob Carroll, Monsieur D’Arque/Tavernsman
Jennifer Miner, Narrator/Gargoyle
Jennifer Pearcy, Aristocratic Lady/Enchanted Plate
Jonny Robinson, Beast/Prince
Josephine Collier, Fish Seller
Katie Sinicki, Belle
Katrina Hoetmer, Candle Seller
Korynne Kalen, Hat Seller
Lily Iriti, Villager/Enchanted Spoon
Lily Smith, Silly Girl/Enchanted Plate
Lily Wessel, Mrs. Potts
Matthew Curtner, Baker/Enchanted Plate/Tavernsman/Wolf
Max Trainor, Bookseller/Enchanted Fork/Tavernsman/Wolf
Megan Jones, Villager/Enchanted Napkin
Michael Delaney, Enchanted Knife/Tavernsman/Wolf
Nathan Socrates, Lumiere
Nick Caulfield, Gaston
Noah Ditzler, Shepherd Boy/Enchanted Fork/Crony 2
Oliver Hollaert, LeFou
Paige Penry, Enchantress-Beggar Woman/Enchanted Napkin/Mob Villager
Reilly Woehler, Gargoyle
Riley Tolan, Enchanted Plate/Crony 1
Rhyan Radabaugh, Wardrobe
Ryan O’Hara, Prince-Beast Body Double/Enchanted Whisk/Wolf
Sarah Fitzpatrick, Villager/Enchanted Salt Shaker
Sara Jarvis, Sausage Curl Girl/Enchanted Napkin
Wyatt Ford, Maurice
