Stage lights are dimmed, a beautiful voice fills the air, singing “It makes you wish that the world could be as lovely as it looks,” expressing her wish for a world as beautiful and kind as her dreams. Corinne Milling appears as Ella in an ordinary blue dress with an apron, singing the prologue from Cinderella.
Milling steps into the role of Ella in Poway High School’s production of Cinderella, opening on Jan. 31, at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. With six years of theater experience, Milling is ready to bring magic to the stage.
Milling’s passion for theater started in sixth grade, inspired by musicals she attended.
“I saw Wicked and Thoroughly Modern Millie on stage, and after that, it was part of my church. I just kind of started in sixth grade, and then it was really in high school that I got really into it,” Milling said.
She hopes to major in theater at NYU and dreams of moving to New York to perform on Broadway.
Regarding landing the role of Ella, Milling shared her excitement. “I was ecstatic. It was one of my favorite roles to play,” Milling said.
Jessica Schemmel, the vocal director, explained why Milling earned the role.
“She is a fantastic singer. She is an excellent actress. Her voice is just so large that it can fill a hall like the PCPA, which has about 800 seats,” Schemmel said. “When she is on stage singing, she captures your ears and your eyes.”
Having starred in multiple lead roles throughout high school, including “Ariel” in The Little Mermaid and “Wednesday” in The Addams Family, Milling is no stranger to the spotlight.
“She has been the lead three years in a row in our musicals,” Schemmel said.
Milling’s co-star, senior Antonio Vargas, plays Prince Topher. The two have been friends since sixth grade and have acted together throughout high school.
He says her dedication to theater is matched by her vibrant personality, which energizes every rehearsal. “It is fun. There’s never a dull moment working with her,” Vargas said.
He has been influenced by Milling.
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I have been inspired by her integrity to get better at what she’s passionate about. If she struggles with something, she never fails to persist and to persevere, to better her talents,” Vargas said.
Milling balances rehearsals with college applications and school work. She is preparing for auditions at schools like NYU and UCLA. Despite her busy schedule, she maintains her sense of humor and humility.
“Even though she’s very talented and you expect her to just be together all the time, she does make mistakes, and she is very humorously self-conscious of them and makes fun of herself,” Schemmel said.
“She has good friends in class and we just have a jolly time,” she added.
Milling dreams of playing Christine Daaé from The Phantom of the Opera. “It’s a very soprano role. I never got to play that kind of thing and she’s just torn between darkness and light. I love the musical and the songs so much.”
One of Milling’s favorite theater memories is being nominated as one of the top ten actresses in Broadway San Diego.
“The ending moment of that, and the bows, were my favorite memory that I’ve ever had on stage,” Milling said.
Milling is set to make Poway High’s Cinderella a performance to remember.