Rhode Island Youth Theatre will stage Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical rendition of the iconic “Cinderella” story this weekend at Warwick Vets Middle School. With dazzling costumes made by costume designer Kristine Szrom and larger-than-life sets, this show might be performed by students but is of professional quality.

“It’s the biggest show we’ve done,” says choreographer Molly Wren, who is also a company dancer for the Providence Ballet. “We’ve taken on some big challenges and the kids have really stepped up.” One of these challenges was teaching the young performers to waltz, for some of them while wearing large hoop skirts.

Molly Wren and director Bryn Martin have been with the RI Youth Theatre since they were young performers in elementary school. “It’s a very cool full-circle moment to be able to direct and choreograph together,” said Martin.

Performances are Friday and Saturday night, Aug. 16 and 17, starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are available online in advance on their website, riyt.org, for $18 for adults and $15 for students and children. Don’t leave your glass slipper behind on your way out!

Since 1987, Ann O’Grady and the RI Youth Theatre, previously Fantasy Works, have been bringing magic to the stage through a series of summer performances put on by students.

“Even if you’re not in theater, but you have a school doing it, that leaves an impression,” said O’Grady, founder of the RI Youth Theatre.

O’Grady’s background in theater education included teaching at Aldrich Junior High for several decades and directing shows there for 15 years. She said she designed RI Youth Theatre to inspire kids through the arts and to encourage them to create and perform all elements of theater, whether that be on stage or behind the scenes.

The RI Youth Theatre shows also serve as training programs for students in partnership with Skills for RI’s Future and their Prepare RI program. Prepare RI provides internship opportunities funded by a federal grant to rising high school seniors. Five of these interns are working with RI Youth Theatre on their production of “Cinderella.”

The two performances of “Cinderella” are the culmination of a 3-week camp program that is one of four major productions this summer, which will in total feature about 150 students. Another one of these productions is an original musical written by high school students participating in the program.

“We take some community story and make it into a musical,” said O’Grady. “I like history, but how do you get the kids engaged? You give them a real story.” Previous original musicals have included topics such as Rocky Point and the Aldrich family.

This year’s original musical, titled “Frieze Frame,” is about the mysterious disappearance of a 56-foot long replica of the Parthenon Frieze that once decorated the assembly hall of the Wickford Grammar School. The program for students ages 7-15 runs from Aug. 19-24, culminating in performances at the end of the week.

For more information, contact Ann O’Grady at annjogrady1@gmail.com or (401) 447-0458.