Laura Osnes & Santino Fontana Set to Lead Broadway-Bound CINDERELLA

Laura Osnes will play Cinderella and Santino Fontana will portray the Prince in the new Broadway-bound production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, it has been announced by the musical's producers. CINDERELLA -- which is aiming for a Broadway opening during the 2012-13 season -- is produced by Robyn Goodman, Stephen Kocis and Jill Furman in association with Center Theatre Group.      

This new production of 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.  Mark Brokaw directs. 

MR. Beane's new book for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA re-invents the classic tale of a maid-turned-princess with fresh comedy, wit and satire:  with pumpkin, glass slippers, Fairy Godmother and other story elements intact, it is now Cinderella's turn to rescue the Prince, reminding us once again that in a cruel world the act that matters most is kindness. 

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 new production of CINDERELLA will include several songs from the Rodgers & Hammerstein trunk. 

One of Rodgers & Hammerstein's most popular titles, CINDERELLA -- which was written for television and debuted in 1957 starring Julie Andrews -- has never been performed on Broadway, although stage adaptations have been performed worldwide since 1958.    Along with CINDERELLA, Rodgers & Hammerstein's legendary musicals include OKLAHOMA!, CAROUSEL, THE KING AND I, SOUTH PACIFIC and THE SOUND OF MUSIC.  

Laura Osnes was last seen on Broadway 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 current 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.” She recently appeared in the ENCORES! production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's PIPE DREAM at City Center.  

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, Matt in the 2006 Off Broadway revival of THE FANTASTICKS and PERFECT HARMONY.

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 book for LYSISTRATA JONES.

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). 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. 

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 MAGNOLIA (Associate Producer).  Off-Broadway:  ALTAR BOYZ.

Jill Furman is currently represented on Broadway by SEMINAR. Past Broadway productions: IN THE HEIGHTS, which won the Tony Award(r) forBest Musical in 2008, WEST SIDE STORY, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, SLY FOX, FORTUNE'S FOOL.  Past Off-Broadway productions: ON THE LINE, ADULT ENTERTAINMENT.  Currently: the hip-hop comedy group Freestyle LoveSupreme, which will soon shoot a television pilot for a cable network,and the upcoming film "Greetings From Tim  Buckley," which she executive produced. In 2011 Jill received the Robert Whitehead Award for Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Theatre Producing. Boards: MCC Theater, David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. Member: National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.

Center Theatre Group (Michael Ritchie, Artistic Director; Edward L. Rada, Managing Director) 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 BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO and BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON.