Rebecca Luker Joins Cast of CINDERELLA Tonight!

Three-time Tony Award nominee Rebecca Luker will join the cast on Broadway as Cinderella's Fairy Godmother, Marie, starting tonight, September 6 through January 19, 2014. Ms. Luker takes over the role from Victoria Clark, who leaves Cinderella temporarily for a new project, returning to the musical on January 21.

RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella is the Tony Award-winning musical now in its 8th month at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway).

Rebecca Luker was last seen on stage in NYC in the world premiere of Maury Yeston's DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY, for which she received an Outer Critics Circle nomination. On Broadway she has appeared in MARY POPPINS (Tony Nomination), NINE, THE MUSIC MAN (Tony Nomination), THE SOUND OF MUSIC, SHOWBOAT (Tony Nomination), THE SECRET GARDEN, and THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA.

Off-Broadway Credits include WHERE'S CHARLEY and THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE (Encores!), A. R. Gurney's INDIAN BLOOD (Primary Stages), THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES and CAN'T LET GO (Keen Company).

She has appeared in the films PROFESSOR with Hugh Grant and Chris Elliot, NOT FADE AWAY (David Chase, Director - 2012) and the television shows BOARDWALK EMPIRE, THE GOOD WIFE, LAW & ORDER: SVU, CBS movie CUPID AND CATE.

Concerts appearances include solo evenings at Lincoln Center's American Songbook Series, at Carnegie Hall: NO, NO, NANETTE, GAY DIVORCE and MY FAVORITE BROADWAY; THE LEADING LADIES. As well, she has performed with numerous symphony orchestras in London, Stockholm, American, Alabama, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago and the Hollywood Bowl.

Ms. Luker's recordings: I Got Love, Greenwich Time, Leaving Home, Anything Goes: Rebecca Luker sings Cole Porter, Aria, Aria 2 and Aria 3, Wonderful Town, Jerome Kern Treasury, Broadway Showstoppers, Brigadoon, Strike up the Band and many more.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Luker received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts Degree from her alma mater, the University of Montevallo. She resides in NYC with her husband, actor, Danny Burstein and stepsons Alex and Zach.

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. Orchestrations are by Danny Troob. Andy Einhorn is music director and conductor.

One of the legendary musical theatre duo Rodgers + Hammerstein's most popular titles, Cinderella was written for television -- debuting in 1957 starring Julie Andrews -- and only now makes its Broadway premiere 56 years later. 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.

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 includes songs from the Rodgers + Hammerstein "trunk."

Leading the cast of RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella are Laura Osnes as Cinderella and Santino Fontana as the Prince, 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, Greg Hildreth as the rebel Jean-Michel and Phumzile Sojola as Lord Pinkleton. Jill Abramovitz, Kristine Bendul, Heidi Giberson, Stephanie Gibson, Shonica Gooden, Kendal Hartse, Robert Hartwell, Laura Irion, Adam Jepsen, Andy Jones, Brandon Leffler, Nathan Lucrezio, Andy Mills, Linda Mugleston, Alessa Neeck, Nick Spangler, Kirstin Tucker, Cody Williams, Branch Woodman and Kevin Worley complete the cast.