CINDERELLA Begins Rehearsals, Shifts Opening Night Again; Will Now Open March 3

Rehearsals for RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella will begin Thursday, December 6 with preview performances starting January 25 prior to Opening Night on Sunday, March 3. (The previously announced opening date of February 24 turned out to be Oscar Night.) The box office at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd St.) will open Monday, December 17 at 10 a.m.

Tickets to RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella are on sale now through Telecharge and can be purchased by calling 212-239-6200 or online at www.telecharge.com.

Written for television in 1957 by the legendary musical theatre duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, this new production of RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella, in fact, marks the Broadway premiere for the beloved romantic musical.

RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, a new book by Douglas Carter Beane and original book by Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is directed by Mark Brokaw. Josh Rhodes is choreographer. Music adaptation, supervision and arrangements are by David Chase. Andy Einhorn is music director and conductor.

Leading the cast of RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella are Laura Osnes as Cinderella and Santino Fontana as the Prince, along with Tony winner Victoria Clark as fairy godmother Marie, Tony winner Harriet Harris as Madame, Cinderella's stepmother; Ann Harada as stepsister Charlotte; Marla Mindelle as stepsister Gabrielle; Peter Bartlett as Sebastian, Prince Topher's mentor and Lord Chancellor, and Greg Hildreth as the rebel Jean-Michel.

MR. Beane's book for RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN's Cinderella offers a new romantic twist on the ultimate makeover story of a maid-turned-princess, mixing fresh comedy and wit with the beloved tale's classic elements -- the pumpkin, glass slipper, masked ball and more. In addition to musical numbers from the original score -- including "In My Own Little Corner," "Impossible/It's Possible," "Ten Minutes Ago" and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?" -- this Cinderella will include four additional songs from the Rodgers + Hammerstein "trunk."

RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella, one of their most popular titles, was written for television, debuting in 1957 starring Julie Andrews. The musical has never been performed on Broadway, although stage adaptations have been performed worldwide since 1958. Along with Cinderella, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's legendary musicals include OKLAHOMA!, CAROUSEL, THE KING AND I, SOUTH PACIFIC and THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella will have production design by a team with numerous Tony Awards and nominations to their credit: Scenic Design by Anna Louizos (Tony nominee IN THE HEIGHTS, HIGH FIDELITY; also AVENUE Q, Irving Berlin'S WHITE CHRISTMAS); Costume design by William Ivey Long (5-time Tony winner for HAIRSPRAY, THE PRODUCERS, GREY GARDENS, CRAZY FOR YOU, NINE); Lighting design by Ken Posner (Tony winner THE COAST OF UTOPIA; also WICKED, HAIRSPRAY, OTHER DESERT CITIES);
Sound design by Nevin Steinberg (The Gershwin's PORGY AND BESS, LA BOHEME; BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO, HAIR, IN THE HEIGHTS).

Laura Osnes was nominated for the Tony Award for her performance in Frank Wildhorn’s BONNIE & CLYDE (Bonnie Parker, San Diego Theatre Critics Circle Award). She also starred as Nellie Forbush in SOUTH PACIFIC and appeared in the recent revival of ANYTHING GOES. She made her Broadway debut as Sandy in GREASE, having won NBC’s reality competition “Grease: You’re the One That I Want.” In addition to portraying Rodgers + Hammerstein's Nellie Forbush and Cinderella, she recently appeared in their musical PIPE DREAM at New York City Center ENCORES! and starred in THE SOUND OF MUSIC in concert at Carnegie Hall.

Santino Fontana's Broadway credits include THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, for which he received a 2010 Drama Desk Award, Billy Elliot: THE MUSICAL and the 2007 revival of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. Off Broadway credits include Roundabout's acclaimed production of SONS OF THE PROPHET for which he received the 2012 Obie Award, and Matt in the 2006 Off Broadway revival of THE FANTASTICKS.

Victoria Clark is the recipient of 2005 Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her performance in THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. Other Broadway: TITANIC, HOW TO SUCCEED…URINETOWN, CABARET, GUYS AND DOLLS, A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING, SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. Encores!: FOLLIES, BYE, BYE BIRDIE. Off-Broadway: LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE, WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING (Drama Desk nom.), A PRAYER FOR MY ENEMY, THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO. She recently starred in the acclaimed revival of FOLLIES at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, and also starred as Mother Superior in SISTER ACT on Broadway.

Harriet Harris won the 2002 Tony and Drama Desk Award for Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE. Her other Broadway credits include PRESENT LAUGHTER, CRY-BABY, Old Acquaintance and THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER. She appeared regularly on the TV series "Frasier" and "Desperate Housewives."

Ann Harada originated the role of Christmas Eve in AVENUE Q on Broadway and also appeared in the original London cast of the musical. Her other Broadway appearances include 9 TO 5, as Madame Thenardier in the revival of LES MISERABLES and M BUTTERFLY. She has appeared as a regular on the hit TV series "Smash."

Marla Mindelle appeared on Broadway in SISTER ACT and SOUTH PACIFIC, and was in the first national tour of THE DROWSY CHAPERONE. Other credits: THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE (Paper Mill, Philadelphia Theatre Company), THE WILD PARTY, and SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD (Princeton Opera).

Peter Bartlett has performed on Broadway in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, A FREE MAN OF COLOR, NEVER GONNA DANCE, VOICES IN THE DARK, BOOM BOOM ROOM and A PATRIOT FOR ME. He appeared at Lincoln Center Theatre in THE NEW CENTURY and THE FROGS.

Greg Hildreth is currently in PETER AND THE STARCATCHER and made his Broadway debut in BLOODY BLOODY Andrew Jackson, having appeared in both productions Off Broadway. Film and television credits include WALL STREET: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS,“The Good Wife,” “Royal Pains, and “Kings."

Phumzile Sojola is a South African Native and made his Broadway debut last season in The Gershwin's PORGY & BESS. Off-Broadway/Tour THREE MO' TENORS, NYCO: L'Etoile. Regional: LA BOHEME, LOST IN THE STARS, THE CRUCIBLE.

Members of the ensemble include Jill Abramovitz, Kristine Bendul, Heidi Giberson, Stephanie Gibson, Shonica Gooden, Kendal Hartse, Robert Hartwell, Laura Irion, Andy Jones, Andy Mills, Linda Mugleston, Peter Nelson, Nick Spangler, Cody Williams, Branch Woodman and Kevin Worley. Swings are Drew Franklin, Adam Jepsen, Alessa Neeck and Kirstin Tucker.

Douglas Carter Beane is the author of numerous plays: THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED (Best Play Tony nomination) and AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN. He received Tony nominations for Best Book of a Musical for XANADU and SISTER ACT, and wrote the Tony-nominated book for the musical LYSISTRATA JONES.

Mark Brokaw's credits on Broadway include directing the musical CRY BABY along with the plays THE CONSTANT WIFE, RECKLESS, AFTER MISS JULIE and THE LYONS. He directed the musicals A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Kennedy Center), MARTY (Huntington Theatre), and OUT OF THIS WORLD (Encores!). He directed the Pulitzer Prize-winning production of HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, along with AS BEES IN HONEY DROWN and LOBBY HERO. He is the Artistic Director of the Yale Institute for Music Theatre.

Robyn Goodman produced two Tony Award-winning musicals: AVENUE Q and IN THE HEIGHTS. Other Broadway credits include BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO, METAMORPHOSES, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK and WEST SIDE STORY (2009). Also this season on Broadway she produced THE PERFORMERS by David West Read. She was co-founder and artistic director of Second Stage Theatre for 13 years and is currently the artistic consultant to Roundabout Theatre Company, where she is the Producer of its Underground Series, including its newest production, BAD JEWS.

Jill Furman's Broadway productions include IN THE HEIGHTS, which won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2008, SEMINAR, WEST SIDE STORY, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, SLY FOX, and FORTUNE'S FOOL. Current projects include the hip-hop comedy group Freestyle Love Supreme, which will soon shoot a television pilot for Adult Swim, the upcoming film "Greetings From Tim Buckley," which she executive produced, and the upcoming Broadway revival of THE HEIRESS. In 2011 Jill received the Robert Whitehead Award for Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Theatre Producing

Stephen Kocis is Vice President of Aged in Wood, LLC a Broadway Production Company which has been involved in such hits as AVENUE Q and IN THE HEIGHTS (both recipients of the Tony Award for Best Musical). Other Broadway credits include: BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO, AMERICAN IDIOT, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK (Associate Producer) and STEEL MAGNOLIAS (Associate Producer). Off-Broadway: ALTAR BOYZ.

Center Theatre Group is Los Angeles' leading theatre company and one of the nation's preeminent arts organizations, programming theatre year-round at the Mark Taper Forum, the Ahmanson Theatre and the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Center Theatre Group's recent productions on Broadway include CLYBOURNE PARK, BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO, BLOODY BLOODY Andrew Jackson, 9 TO 5, CURTAINS and THE DROWSY CHAPERONE.

Tickets to RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella can be purchased by calling Telecharge at 212 239 6200 or online at www.telecharge.com.