The romance classic that compelled viewers across the nation to believe in true love is coming to the Columbus stage. “Cinderella” is presently showing until Sunday at the Palace Theatre.
This adaptation of “Cinderella” uses the Rodgers and Hammerstein stage production, which comes from a collection of fairy tales published in 1697 by famous children’s author Charles Perrault. The timeless story of the underprivileged, overworked stepdaughter that falls in love with a handsome prince with help from her Fairy Godmother has been handed down for about four centuries.
Several generations have grown to love “Cinderella” and have fallen under the spell of hope that true love will win over evil in their own lives. “Cinderella” was also the only musical score written for television by Rodgers & Hammerstein. It was first shown on CBS in 1957 starring Julie Andrews. That broadcast alone received the largest television audience to date. It was then re-made once again with Lesley Ann Warren in 1965 and most recently seen in 1997 with Brandy, Whitney Houston and Paolo Montalban.
Starring Eartha Kitt as the Fairy Godmother, 19-year old “Sopranos” star Jamie-Lynn Sigler as Cinderella and Paolo Montalban as Prince Charming, this production makes an easy transition to the stage. Other productions of “Cinderella” appeared in theaters around the country as early as 1961, but now with a new script adaptation by Tom Briggs, the musical is once again brought to life in front of our eyes.
Known throughout the world for her versatility and style, Eartha Kitt, who first portrays the Fairy Godmother, has been nominated for three Tony Awards, an Emmy Award and two Grammy Awards. She received critical acclaim nationwide for her role as the Wicked Witch in the national tour of “The Wizard of Oz.”
Long Island native Jamie-Lynn Sigler is best known for her role as Meadow Soprano on the Emmy Award-winning show “The Sopranos.” She received the 1999 and 2000 Hollywood Reporter Young Star Award for Best Young Actress/Performance in a Drama TV series.
Paolo Montalban (The Prince) most recently starred opposite Brandy and Whitney Houston in the 1997 ABC version of Cinderella. In 1998, People magazine named Montalban one of their “50 Most Beautiful People.”
Gabriel Barre is directing this ageless tale. He has also directed the original production of “Honky-tonk Highway” in New York, where it ran for eight months and won three Bistor Awards, including Best Direction and Best Review. As an actor he was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in “Starmites” and won a Bistro Award for “Forever Plaid.” One of his many film credits include acclaimed director Spike Lee’s “Summer of Sam.”
Other key people assisting in the production are choreographer Ken Roberson; musical supervisor Andrew Lippa; scenic designer James Youmans; costume designer Pamela Scofield and lighting designer Tim Hunter.
Relive your childhood and attend “Cinderella,” which will play at the Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad Street, with the final performance set for Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Other show times include Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
