Tell me about CINDERELLA

[Pammylicious]

Is this going to be based on the original remake television production with Leslie Ann Warren or is there a new book? Wasn't it a Disney production in 1965? I love the music and can't wait to see this.

Laura Osnes is one of my favorites right now. Perfect Cindy.

[Wilmingtom]

Completely re-imagined by Douglas Carter Beane but using the R&H songs.

[Pammylicious]

Is this the first time this is going to be on Broadway? If so, it's going to be a pretty difficult ticket to get.

[dramamama611]

Yes, but that isn't a guarantee of anything. Personally, I have no desire to see it.

[FANtomFollies]

Praying the new book is better than Lyssie Jones.

[CATSNYrevival]

Nothing was wrong with the old book. I'm not really interested in seeing this one.

[Pammylicious]

well how much can you change the story of Cinderella and her wicked stepmother and sisters....

[bwayphreak234]

I just can't wait to see Anna Louiznos's set design.

[goldenboy]

The slipper fits and she gets the prince in the end.

[CurtainPullDowner]

SPOILER ALERT!

Pleaseeee....

[Jordan Catalano]

I'm told it's going to be a very "updated" book. And that scares me.

[Pammylicious]

So no gorgeous ballroom gowns or golden carriages. This I would not like one bit!

[darquegk]

I did the "original book" production a few years ago, before they licensed the "Music In You" tour edition.

It ran VERY short, barely over an hour, and the book was extremely lean and extremely earnest. Almost no jokes, if I remember. Very straightforward vanilla Cinderella. Whether or not the new book will be any good remains to be seen, but I'm certain tehre will at least be more of it.

[CATSNYrevival]

^By "old book" I was actually referring to the tour version by Tom Briggs. I really liked that one.

[darquegk]

I have heard that the tour book is vastly superior to the original version.

[Phantom4ever]

The high school I work at just produced Cinderella last spring and I was surprised at how hard I fell in love with that R&H score. Just beautiful.

With that said, the book was nothing special. I noticed one of the other posters characterized it as "vanilla". I would agree, except for one line by the Stepmother. When she is leaving the kitchen scene toward the beginning, she says she is on her way to get a massage. She says "sometimes all I need is a good pounding. Or at least that's what your father used to always say. "

We performed 3 nights, and only one night did it get a "ohhhhhhhh" from the audience.

[Dollypop]

There really isn't much to the story of CINDERELLA. Disney padded it with birds and animals coming to Cindy's rescue, but even the animated film isn't more than 90 minutes.

About 25 years ago I directed the version that the R&H Library was leasing. Its book was rather lean, too. With the Library's permission, I added a few scenes and brought the stepmother on stage.

It was a successful production but the libretto wasn't its stron point.

[degrassifan]

I think it's going to be a great production. I wish I was able to see it! I'm more excited about Ever After though, but this should be just as good! Then again, the Cinderella story is my favorite fairy tale and I welcome all incarnations of it, so I may be biased.

[degrassifan]

Dollypop, I think there is so much one can do with the Cinderella story. Just look at various versions like Ever After, The Slipper and the Rose, Ella Enchanted, The Glass Slipper, A Cinderella Story, etc. When I took a Disney class and we got to the Cinderella topic, we analyzed to death both the original by Perrault and the German version by the Grimm, and while it comes off as a simple story, there's just so much detail to explore.

[darquegk]

The "good pounding" line is the only one I remember in the original script as well... Is it in the tour version as well?

Everyone in the cast wondered if that entendre was intended by R&H or not- it seems not only out of character for their work, but for the earnest joke-free nature of the rest of the script.

Also, in that version, I believe Cinderella has the awkward catch phrase of "Oh, la!"

[CATSNYrevival]

^That pounding line is definitely not in the tour version. Sounds too misogynistic.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

If there are dumb ass Twitter jokes in this, I will be so pissed.

[Wilmingtom]

I understand there are going to be a lot of surprises. He's keeping it period but there are several clever plot twists.

I really like the Briggs adaptation as well. I loved the idea that the Fairy Godmother is an incarnation of Cinderella's mother, and doesn't step in to help until Cinderella takes responsibility for herself. Setting the transformation scene in a pumpkin patch was also a nice idea.

[finebydesign]

"Is this the first time this is going to be on Broadway? If so, it's going to be a pretty difficult ticket to get."

This show will be lucky to weather the winter.

[Smaxie]

God, you are a nasty piece of work.

[finebydesign]

I'm just being rational. I don't understand where all these "family" audiences are going to come from. Look at all the new family shows coming this season. It's gonna be bumpy.

The music sure is lovely, but there is no star and it's competing with Annie, and FINALLY something new... Matilda. Not to mention the holiday shows and the Disney (Lion King, Mary Poppins, NEWSIES!!) shows currently on Broadway.