Photos courtesy of Carol Rosegg and Allied
Cinderella is traveling to Columbus, but not in a pumpkin-turned-carriage or with help from a magic wand.
Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella is the next national tour to visit as a part of PNC Broadway in Columbus, opening the 2016-17 Broadway season.
Cinderella was originally written by the classic theater duo as a television movie in 1957 and starred then-newcomer Julie Andrews. The movie has been remade twice: first in 1965, then in 1997 starring Brandy Norwood as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother.
In 2013, a revamped version of the show opened on Broadway, starring Laura Osnes in the title role. The show was nominated for nine Tony Awards and received one for best costumes. Now, the musical is traveling across the country as a national tour.
The production has a new script written by playwright Douglas Carter Beane. Partially based on the original 1957 musical’s script, the updated script introduces new characters, new subplots and new twists to the original story, all while retaining the iconic elements audiences know and love.
“I think it’s brilliant they redid the script. It was a smart choice to give it a little makeover,” says Mimi Robinson, who plays one of Cinderella’s stepsisters, Gabrielle. “It’s more modernized and accessible for today. It’s witty now, too. I’ve heard this material over and over, and I still laugh.”
One of the changes to the production is a new interpretation of the stepsisters. Robinson says her character is now more developed and has new relationships that change the family dynamic from the original story.
“Gabrielle changes over the show,” says Robinson. “She wants to please her mother; she loves her. But she recognizes the importance of kindness. Cinderella teaches her kindness and that causes trouble. It’s exciting to have that twist to it.”
Joanna Johnson plays Cinderella’s other stepsister, Charlotte, who stays closer to the sister’s traditional wickedness, though Johnson says she is more of a comedic character than a villain.
“She’s fun and silly,” Johnson says. “There are lots of facets to her. It’s been so fun to find and explore that.”
The production features the iconic Rodgers and Hammerstein songs including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Ten Minutes Ago” and “Impossible.” The show has also incorporated other original Rodgers and Hammerstein songs that were written for other productions.
“It would be so easy to restage the original, but I think this production, because it’s fleshed out more, (has) more meat to it,” says Johnson. “It’s really fun to get to do those elements everyone knows, to sing ‘A Lovely Night’ or ‘Stepsister’s Lament,’ wonderful songs we all know and love and get to share new music people aren’t familiar with. It’s exciting for patrons who don’t know what’s coming next.”
Robinson is happy that the show retains that classic score, which she says is a rarity nowadays.
“Rodgers and Hammerstein have a lot of soprano parts,” says Robinson. “In modern musicals, we don’t hear that as often. So you get these beautiful harmonies with sopranos. It’s refreshing.”
Both Robinson and Johnson believe in the importance of national tours and spreading theater across the country.
“I didn’t grow up in New York City, so tours were my first exposure to the quality that musical theater can be,” says Johnson. “This is what set me on the path of wanting to do this profession. I feel excited and fortunate to share that with kids and pay it forward to someone else.”
The two agree that kids will enjoy the show, saying it is a show that families and theater-goers of all ages can appreciate.
“I feel like, because it’s a story everyone knows, you don’t have to be an aficionado to know the show. Cinderella is a great introduction to musical theater – not just to a child, but an adult,” says Johnson. “It’s a wonderful show for a first-timer or less experienced theater-goer.”
“It really is a show the whole family can see. They could have a family night out together and hang out and see it,” says Robinson. “Parents aren’t going to be rolling their eyes. There’s something for everyone, every single audience member out there.”
Lindsey Capritta is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
Broadway Across America presents Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella
- Nov. 22-27, Ohio Theatre
- columbus.broadway.com
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