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.

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