Dressing up for the final rehearsals in Glen Head

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Before making their big debut last Friday night, the cast and crew of “The Adventures of Gingerella” were hard at work rehearsing ahead of opening night.
“The Adventures of Gingerella,” a “musical whimsy” written by mixed media artist Ginger Balizer-Hendler, of Glen Head, tells the story of a child’s transformational journey in a fictional kingdom where prejudice and war do not exist.
The eight-member cast is a multigenerational group comprising residents from across the county who enjoy theater as a hobby while they work day jobs as therapists, hair stylists, teachers and sales reps. Some were friends before rehearsals began, or knew one another through small-world connections.
“These people are originating a role, and a lot of this has been geared and retooled to feature the talents of the people we have,” said director Patrick A. Reilly. “They bring their own personality to it, and that adds layers to what we do.”
Though the medium in which “Gingerella” is presented has changed — it was originally a painting and a children’s book — its message hasn’t. “The story is about peace and compassion, love and kindness, and not judging each other so harshly,” Balizer-Hendler said.
Don’t miss your chance to see the last few showings of “Gingerella” at the The Glenwood Life Center, 71 Grove St., Glenwood Landing, on May 25 and 26 at 8 p.m. and May 27 at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at https://pwp.booktix.com/.