Fairytales do come true – just ask 16-year-old Kelsey Bacon.

Little did she imagine when she auditioned for a part in the upcoming Bermuda Musical & Dramatic Society's Christmas pantomime that she would walk away with the title role of 'Cinderella'.

Although she is no stranger to the stage and felt comfortable auditioning, when she learned that she would also be required to sing, she was nervous because that was not something she enjoyed doing in public.

However, savvy musical director Mark Dorrell won her confidence and convinced her that she could succeed.

"I was always terrified of singing in front of people because it was not something I usually did, but Mark is great.

"He helped me to get over being nervous.

"He always helps to bring the best out in you," Miss Bacon says.

"I have two duets and a solo, and have been working on them with composer and rehearsal pianist, James Burn."

Like her Prince Charming (Jennie Campbell), the teenager has high praise for Mr. Burn's lyrics and music, and indeed is very enthusiastic about her role in general.

"I love having the opportunity to do something like this – singing and acting – especially in panto, which is very hard because it tends to be very exaggerated and stylised," Miss Bacon says.

"I am very excited to be playing the lead.

"It is a huge opportunity."

Describing Cinderella's character as "very innocent and inexperienced in the world, but also very stereotypical panto heroine – sweet, reserved, emotional, but not too", the young actress says she aims to convey those qualities while at the same time putting her own stamp on the role.

"I just saw 'Urinetown' in New York, which is a complete play on all musicals, but the lead is very ditzy with a lot of personality, but intelligent in her own way, so I have taken a bit of my character from her."

Having studied ballet from age three, the fact that Miss Bacon's role included dancing did not bother her, although she admits that choreographer Paula Maguire's routines are more complex than she anticipated.

"But the choreography has grown on me, and it is definitely looking good," she assures.

Confessing that she loves musicals, Miss Bacon's ultimate dream is to be on stage on Broadway.

"I want to be in 'Mamma Mia' some day.

"I just want to be up there having fun," she says.

This represents a sea-change from her early childhood when all she wanted to be was a ballerina.

"I have been on stage since I was big enough to walk, but I didn't actually get into theatre until 'Dick Whittington and his Cat', another pantomime at City Hall, when I was second lead as the cat.

"Suddenly that transferred me to other aspects that incorporated dance with acting and singing, and doing the whole lot."

As a result, Miss Bacon says she would definitely like to see her future in musical theatre, and she is currently studying voice with Janet Budden at the Bermuda School of Music.

"I definitely won't be doing ballet, but I am keeping dance to help enhance my other skills because in musical theatre you need to be versatile."

Meanwhile, she will complete her education at the Bermuda High School for Girls, where she is in year one of the International Baccalaureate programme, following which she wants to go on to university to gain her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

"New York University looks interesting because it has a musical theatre programme," Miss Bacon says.

For now, however, she is content to balance her curricular and extra-curricular activities, both of which have enthusiastic parental support, and is looking forward to opening night on December 5.

While Jennie Campbell auditioned for the lead role in 'Cinderella', she too had a surprise.

Instead, she was cast as Prince Charming, and is delighted.

"It was something I hadn't thought about doing before," she says.

"It never occurred to me to audition for 'principal boy', although I am tall and long-legged.

"In fact, it is a very sexy little role, and it is also my first panto lead."

In true pantomime tradition, of course, the principal boy is always played by a woman.

"That stems from the days when a woman was not allowed to show her legs on stage, so having her play a male role allowed the rare treat of seeing her legs in fishnet stockings and high heels," Miss Campbell says.

Both she and Miss Bacon have worked together before, and are enjoying working together again.

No stranger to the stage, Miss Campbell studied performing arts at Dalhousie University, from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in voice performance, with a minor in acting, before going on to the Canadian College of Performing Arts for further studies, where she gained her diploma in performing arts.

Returning home this year, she was cast in Shakespeare's 'Love's Labour's Lost' at Daylesford Theatre, and is very enthusiastic about her latest role.

"I think the principal boy always has a certain elegance," she says.

Miss Campbell describes composer James Burn's original music as "fabulous" and "phenomenal".

"It is such a privilege to sing original music, and in this case the world premi?re of this score."

'Cinderella' is the second pantomime in which she has participated, the first being 'Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood' in 1995, when she was in the chorus.

Her first musical was 'The Sound of Music' in 1987, and her first stage experience was at age three as a budding ballet student.

Although Miss Campbell was a classically trained singer at Dalhousie, at the Canadian College of Performing Arts she had an opportunity to explore different styles, which has stood her in good stead as Prince Charming.

"I have spent a lot more time on this music than for most shows because I had to get used to different shapes of my face, and not opening my mouth as much – all the nitty-gritty."

Miss Campbell now studies voice with Dr. Gary Burgess.

As for her future, having been unsuccessful in finding work in her chosen field, the young Bermudian will be moving to London, England in the near future in search of a job that utilises her extensive training.

"Theatre is my focus, and I love Bermuda, but unfortunately I cannot find (paid) work here," she says.