Salonga Led CINDERELLA Completes First Leg of Int'l.Tour 1/22, US Slated for Future

After successful engagements in the Philippines, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Thailand, the international tour of RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA, starring Lea Salonga will wrap up the first leg of its accomplished international tour on Thursday, January 22, 2009 in Singapore.

Details of the next leg of Asian engagements are to be announced and include such markets as Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Malaysia. Broadway Asia Entertainment producer Simone Genatt comments, "Cinderella is a gorgeous production and has already pleased audiences in major territories across Asia. We look forward to the next leg of international touring later in 2009." After its Asian tour, CINDERELLA is slated to make its way to the U.S. to embark on a national tour produced by NetWorks Productions.

Press notes describe,"The magic of this enchanting story is brought to life in a spectacular stage fantasy filled with timeless characters, irresistible romance and the unforgettable songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein".

The production features an international and Broadway renowned creative team including direction by Bobby Garcia, who supervises an all-new version of this enchanting story aimed at both the adult and family audience. Costume design is by couture fashion designer Renato Balestra. Balestra has dressed some of the world's most famous women, from Hollywood royalty ElizaBeth Taylor and Lauren Bacall to leading ladies of the international jet-set such as the Queen of Thailand and the empress of Iran.

Set design is by Tony Award winner David Gallo (The Drowsy Chaperone, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Blue Man Group); Gallo's work appears in the Smithsonian Institution's Permanent Collection. Gallo is joined by famed Broadway lightening designer Howell Binkley (Kiss of a Spider Woman, Avenue Q, Jersey Boys and Gypsy), book writer Mark Waldrop (Bette Midler's 1999 Divine Miss Millennium tour; Bea Arthur, Just Between Friends on Broadway), Choreographer Vince Pesce and orchestrator Larry Blank (Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, The Drowsy Chaperone).
Rodgers and Hammerstein, arguably the most famous Broadway composer/lyricist team, created a sophisticated world where the impossible can happen, and every young princess-to-be can imagine Prince Charming waiting in the wings. Their Cinderella is one of the most famous productions in the history of musical entertainment and premiered to the largest television audience in history during that time.

The Emmy-award winning CINDERELLA features the classic songs "Ten Minutes Ago," "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful," "Impossible" and "A Lovely Night," among many others. The Associated Press called Cinderella "a thorough, total delight, full to overflowing with magic and romance." The New York Times said "What a revelation it is to reconnect with Mr. Rodgers's beautifully shaped melodies and with the witty, sophisticated lyrics of Mr. Hammerstein," and "Even those who have no transportation as lavish as Cinderella's are likely to leave this show smiling."

Recent and upcoming Broadway Asia Entertainment productions include Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, starring Tony Award winner Lea Salonga; The Sound of Music; Swing!; 42nd Street; The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber; SpongeBob SquarePants Live: The Sponge Who Could Fly!; The King And I and I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change in Mandarin.