Hayward High School students take their Commedia dell’Arte Cinderella to a bigger stage
In August 2024, a Hayward High theater troupe led by teacher Tavis Kammet and Edward Hightower performed their version of Cinderella at the annual Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. This chance of a lifetime event began two years ago with fundraising and the workshopping of the play, with performances at Hayward High, Sun Gallery and the recently-opened Hayward Unified School District Performing Arts Center.
The actors are performing in the Commedia dell’Arte style, with most of the troupe wearing masks which has its roots Venetian theater dating to the 1500s. The play is an adaptation of the classic fairytale with Columbina as Cinderella (Ariana Casiano-Baker). The evil stepmother is performed by Pantalone (Kay Sammis) with step sisters Pulchinella (Alondra Guillen) and Scapino (Natalia Mujica-Herrera). This time, though, through Commedia dell’Arte shenanigans Cinderella ends up not with Prince Charming played by Flavio (Elijah Dumonthier), but with his always hungry servant, Harlequino (Solomon Llamido).
Besides performing in three shows at the SpaceTriplex, the actors got a chance to tour both London and Edinburgh and to participate in some acting workshops. They’ve also been spending their free time watching other shows at the Fringe. The troupe returned to the Bay Area on Friday, August 9.
