March 4, 2013

CINDERELLA at The Broadway Theater

The Broadway Theater

1681 Broadway at 53^rd St.

Rogers and Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA

As you are ushered to your seats you will already be oohing and aahing over the forest stage set. And when the show begins, you are a child again. Just let me see fairy godmothers flying through the air and I’m flying, too. The right-before-your-eyes instantaneous change of wardrobe from the ash-bedaubed, raggedy step-daughter and step-sister to the breathtaking future princess makes you believe in magic.

RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN CINDERELLA was originally written for TV in 1957 by the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. This debut for Broadway has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, but the new, wisecracking book is by four-time Tony nominee Douglas Carter Beane (XANADU, SISTER ACT, LYSISTRATA JONES, THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED) makes it so today. Grimm doesn’t feel so grim anymore.

What a job the director, Mark Brokaw (CRY BABY, THE LYONS, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE) and the choreographer Josh Rhodes have done. The music, adapted by David Chase, will have you humming.

Tickets to RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA are on sale now through Tele-charge and can be purchased by calling 212 239 6200 or online atwww.telecharge.com.

Besides the original score which I remember my mother singing at the kitchen sink–“In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible,” “Ten Minutes Ago” and “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?,” this CINDERELLA includes other Rodgers + Hammerstein songs.

Laura Osnes (Tony nomination Award for Frank Wildhorn’s BONNIE & CLYDE, SOUTH PACIFIC, ANYTHING GOES, GREASE) hits all the right notes as both Cinderella and ballerina. Santino Fontana (THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, Drama Desk Award for BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS , OBIE Award for SONS OF THE PROPHET) is the prince who needs prodding by Cinderella to let his better nature rule. What more can I say about Victoria Clark (Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA) who was as convincing as a madwoman as she was the flying fairy godmother? Harriet Harris (Tony and Drama Desk Awards for THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, TV’s “Frasier” and “Desperate Housewives”); played the hilariously wicked stepmother. Ann Harada(AVENUE Q, 9 TO 5, “Smash”) was an unforgettable stepsister, plumped up in a way that reminded me of Chris Christie. Marla Mindelle(SISTER ACT, SOUTH PACIFIC) was refreshingly silly and kind. Gabrielle; Peter Bartlett (THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST) as Sebastian, Prince Topher’s mentor and Lord Chancellor; Greg Hildreth (PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON) as the rebel Jean-Michel; and Phumzile Sojola (The Gershwin’s PORGY & BESS) as Lord Pinkleton. The rest of the cast was Jill Abramovitz, Kristine Bendul, Drew Franklin, Heidi Giberson, Stephanie Gibson, Shonica Gooden, Kendal Hartse, Robert Hartwell, Laura Irion, Adam Jepsen, Andy Jones, Andy Mills, Linda Mugleston, Alessa Neeck, Peter Nelson, Nick Spangler, Kirstin Tucker, Cody Williams, Branch Woodman and Kevin Worley.

For more information please visit www.CinderellaOnBroadway.com