ROYAL NEW: Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber has been making the rounds of press today celebrating the return of The Phantom of the Opera as it re-haunts Broadway tonight. Moments ago while being interviews on MSNBC, the legendary composer confirmed that his new musical adaptation of Cinderella will be coming to Broadway next year!!!
This new Cinderella comes following the success of the show’s debut in London’s West End earlier this Summer. Talks are still being made that the production is expecting to be led by its original London star Carrie Hope Fletcher.
PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a stage version of the Disney film we love or a revival of the Rodgers & Hammerstein version (that was previously on Broadway back in 2013), This is a brand new contemporary take on the classic story we all know in love. The story is still the same…. a young girl with big dreams who is forced to work as a household servant by her jealous stepmother and stepsisters. One day, an announcement is made for a Royal Ball which the handsome Prince seeks for a bride. However, the stepmother and sisters prevent the household servant girl from attending. Luckily everything changes when the girl has her wish become a reality by her Fairy Godmother. What’s also different about this version is that “Cinderella” is more of a rebel. It also explores very familiar what’s going on in the world today how gender relationships are rethought. Plus, it deals with the critical thematic element concerns beauty shaming. Some of the songs have already become singles including BAD CINDERELLA, SO LONG, ONLY YOU, LONLEY YOU, I KNOW HAVE A HEART, FAR TOO LATE, and more.
This new version was originally developed through a set of readings and workshops at the Other Palace Theatre in May 2019. It was well received that the next steps were to do a full-scale production.
This new CINDERELLA was initially slated to have its premiere in the West End originally in the Summer of 2020. However, it was delayed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being in quarantine, the company still held continued development labs from home.
Most recently, the show finally premiered in London’s West End at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Under the direction of Laurence Connor and choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, the cast was is led by…
Carrie Hope Fletcher and Georgina Onuorah alternating as the title role,
Olivier nominee Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as “The Wicked Stepmother”,
Newcomer Ivano Turco as “Prince Sebastian”,
Rebecca Trehearn as “The Queen”,
Gloria Onitiri as “The Godmother”,
Laura Baldwin as stepsister “Adele”,
Georgina Castle as stepsister “Marie”,
and more.
CINDERELLA originally began previews on June 25th, 2021 under extreme COVID-19 and Delta Variant safety precautions. The show originally was performed at a limited 50% capacity. The show was slated to officially open on July 20th, 2021. However, the plug was pulled after a cast member tested positive for COVID-19. A few days later, it was revealed that the show will go on. The company took a 4 week hiatus and officially had its long awaited Opening Night on August 18th, 2021 earning RAVE reviews and now playing to a FULL CAPACITY.
Along with the production, a full concept album of the musical’s entire score was released on July 9th, 2021. It included its main cast including Fletcher, Onitri, and Turco, it featured an all-star lineup of some familiar faces appearing just for this recording including….
Helen George,
Todrick Hall,
and
Webber’s ex-wife Sarah Brightman
.
We know this version will be getting TONS of buzz during Awards season!!
No word has been said on what Theater the show will run in, the starting time, or casting. Stay tuned.
Who is excited?!!
VIDEO: Andrew Lloyd Webber Confirms CINDERELLA Broadway Transfer on MSNBC (broadwayworld.com)
