There is indeed a graceful way to gallop like a horse. At least that’s what Jessa Hendricker, M.S. ’19, discovered in her role directing Cinderella with the Community Players Theatre in March.
“We realized a little late in the game that we had no actual way to build two horses to pull Cinderella’s carriage, so we had to improvise and assign two actors to the role,” said Hendricker. “And one of our actors just could not get a handle on a graceful gallop! We all died of laughter, but it really taught us how to take a step back and soak up the laughs in a stressful moment.”
Stress comes with the director role, but Hendricker is a pro after her six-year connection to the Community Players Theatre, a local hidden gem here in Bloomington-Normal.
“After I graduated from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais with a bachelor’s degree in communication, I moved back to Central Illinois in 2017, right before starting my master’s program in the School of Communication at Illinois State University,” said the Clinton native. “I saw online that the Community Players were doing a production of The Little Mermaid and that was all I needed to see to know how I would spend my summer. And here I am many years later!”
Hendricker is no stranger to the stage. Having done everything from acting, to choreography, to directing, she has worked on at least one production every year since 2009—including a virtual year during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I grew up doing church musicals and was enrolled in dance lessons since the time I could talk. My dad is a music teacher. And my mom was heavily involved in theatre before her professional career. The arts were very ingrained in me as a child,” she said.
Hendricker’s directorial debut with the Community Players Theatre was Miscast Cabaret in 2021, but her true passion project can be attributed to her most recent show, Cinderella.
“I really wanted to direct this show because of my mom. She passed away when I was 12, and Cinderella was the only show where she ever got to dive into the stage mom life for me. Obviously, I didn’t know it at the time, but that performance was the single time we’d share the theatre experience together. So, when this opportunity came around, I knew I had to take it,” said Hendricker. “My mom really embodied empathy and just brought life to everyone around her. And I wanted to feel that passion again and inspire others the way she inspired me.”
Cinderella itself is a coming-of-age-story with a message grounded in confidence.
“I think I’m not only drawn to the story because of my mom, but also because it taught me how to believe in myself,” added Hendricker. “Magic is the catalyst that spurs the plot along, but at the heart of the story it teaches us how to be kind and generous to others.”
The Community Players play-reading committee selected the Douglas Carter Beane 2013 Broadway revival, based on the French story Cendrillon, ou la petite pantoufle de verre (“Cinderella, or The Little Glass Slipper”) by Charles Perrault.
“Beane made several updates to the 1957 Rodgers and Hammerstein performance that brought the original 1950s storyline to a 21st century audience,” said Hendricker.
The director’s role is limitless. In addition to Hendricker’s task of bringing the script to life for a modern audience, she was also responsible for making magic on a very small budget. The Community Players Theatre is a 100-year-old nonprofit organization run solely by volunteers. While the cast and crew on each performance varies, Cinderella saw a cast of 21, a crew of 19, and several more helping hands ushering folks into the theatre for each performance.
“Every show is a true labor of love,” added Hendricker. “But every minute of Cinderella was worth it.”
And that includes the differing of opinions on and off the stage.
“One of my largest tasks was mediating conflict and working toward camaraderie.”
Hendricker is no stranger to conflict resolution, having studied interpersonal and instructional communication while pursuing her master’s degree in the School of Communication from 2017-19.
“Communication is everywhere. It’s such an important and vital thing to understand and practice. Knowing the value of multiple perspectives was absolutely crucial to me in this director role. Sometimes it really just came down to listening instead of leading.”
During her tenure in the School of Communication, Hendricker served as a graduate teaching assistant, instructing COM 110 Communication as Critical Inquiry, a foundational course in the Illinois State general education curriculum.
“Jessa took every opportunity to provide social support for her graduate student colleagues. In fact, her final project allowed us to make improvements to our training program and office climate. I imagine she brings this same commitment to her directing duties. It’s who she is,” said Dr. Cheri Simonds, professor in the School of Communication and co-director of the basic communication course.
“My love for teaching easily transferred into my role as director,” added Hendricker. “Learning to be adaptable and how to pivot on the fly was essential. And I owe that to my experience teaching COM 110 in the School of Communication.”
Hendricker’s love for teaching has transcended the stage and has influenced the role she currently assumes in University College as an academic advisor. With a caseload of 200 students, she works primarily with technology, math, computer science, cybersecurity, business, and a small group of theatre and dance majors. In April, Hendricker celebrated her one-year anniversary as an academic advisor.
“Everything just melds together in my brain—working in theatre, teaching in the classroom, and advising students. It all converges and transfers. Theatre taught me how to pivot and adapt but teaching in the School of Communication reinforced that skillset for me.”
Not only did Hendricker excel as a teaching assistant, but her work as a graduate student impressed several graduate faculty during her tenure.
“Jessa was always a hardworking student curious about communication and the world around her. We have kept in touch frequently since she completed our program, occasionally sharing a pot of blueberry black tea at Coffee Hound! I’m so proud of her work at ISU and recently in her job directing the Cinderella musical, which we saw, and thought was just so amazing!” said Dr. Aimee Miller-Ott, professor of Communication and director of the graduate program.
In addition to Hendricker’s impressive work in the classroom, she also found the time and passion to assist Dr. Jodi Hallsten Lyczak, instructional assistant professor in the School of Communication with COM 111 Introduction to Communication Theories.
“I’m not surprised that Jessa’s work on Cinderella was successful. In my time spent with her, I noticed her fabulous ability to motivate and inspire students and I can see that transferring easily to a cast and crew. She met the most interpersonally challenging situations with an open mind, demonstrating compassion and understanding—qualities I’m sure she utilized when working with a variety of creative individuals in a performative environment. She was unquestionably the perfect person for this role,” said Hallsten Lyczak.
Perfect indeed. In fact, the School of Communication’s graduate program was the seemingly perfect fit for Hendricker’s continued path in higher education.
“ISU was the only place I applied,” she admitted. “My mom studied education here, so it just felt really right—like she helped me choose the right path. I grew so much during my time in the School of Communication. I learned a lot about myself.”
Hendricker’s success—both personally and professionally—is just beginning.
“I’m in this great pocket of time right now where I’m starting to dig deeper and establish roots in all facets of my life. I’m getting married later this year and am just loving the little moments. It’s all adding up in a really positive way,” said Hendricker.
Much like Cinderella learned to believe in herself and her journey, Hendricker has found that the glass slipper fits her own foot.
