Bravo Cinderella! (LAArtsOnline.com)

Cinderella plays at the Ahmanson Theatre March 17-April 26

BRAVO CINDERELLA!

By KEN WERTHER
Photo Courtesy of CTG

Well known fact: the story of Cinderella (the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical) is based on the classic fairy tale Cinderella, (here comes a lesser known fact) in particular the French version by Charles Perrault, called Cendrillon, ou la Petite Pantoufle de Verre. We all know the story — a young woman abused by her cruel stepmother and stepsisters, her Fairy Godmother arriving and turning her into a ravishing beauty so she can go to the Prince’s Ball…I’m guessing I needn’t continue.

The legendary Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II originally wrote the book and songs for a 1957 television broadcast starring Julie Andrews that was viewed by 107 million people. It was remade twice for television, most famously in 1965 starring Lesley Ann Warren (raise your hand if you saw the original broadcast so I’ll know your age), and adapted for the stage in various versions. The new production arriving at the Ahmanson Theatre this month opened on Broadway in 2013, racked up 769 performances, and was nominated for nine Tony Awards!

Perhaps the most interesting fact: the book for this latest stage version of Cinderella is by Douglas Carter Beane, the playwright responsible for, among many others, The Little Dog Laughed (one of my favorite plays of all time). A musical fairy tale—what could be better? Your lovely night awaits you.

Cinderella plays at the Ahmanson Theatre from March 17 to April 26.