Photo Flash: Northwest Children's Theater's CINDERELLA Opens Today

Grab your tap shoes and get ready for a lavish re-telling of this classic tale presented in the classic musical style. Inspired by the Broadway of Cole Porter and George Gershwin, this story of a girl, a gown, and a glass slipper will keep your toes tapping 'til the stroke of midnight.

This original adaptation of Cinderella marks the close of NW Children's Theater's 20th Anniversary Season, and is NWCT's second world premiere this year, running today, April 27-May 26, 2013. It is also NWCT's first major tap musical since 2004's Crazy for You. This fast- paced, comedic update on the fairy tale focuses on self-empowerment, following your dreams, and dancing your way to a new kind of happily-ever-after.

BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Cinderella features an ensemble cast of NWCT all-stars. Making her fourth appearance on the Mainstage, Sophie MacKay as Cinderella trades in her glass slipper for a pair of tap shoes. NWCT student and parkour-enthusiast Martin Tebo "puts on a show" as Prince Bobby, the reluctant royal who "just wants to dance!" His horrified parents, the Queen and King, are played by veteran performers Melody Bridges and Erik James (in his 50th Mainstage performance). Resident Artist John Ellingson leads us through the story as Armando, the page, and Elizabeth Gibbs delivers comedic relief as Cinderella's 'ballet mistress' of a fairy godmother.

Cinderella springs to life from the imagina- tion of Ezra Weiss, who wrote the script, music, and lyrics. Weiss, an internationally acclaimed jazz composer and pianist, was recently listed in the 2012 DownBeat Magazine Critics Poll. In addition to numerous albums as a band leader, Weiss wrote music and lyrics for NWCT's Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and Alice in Wonderland (named one of the "Top 10 Cast Albums of 2009" by TalkinBroadway.com).

Weiss was offered the project by director Sarah Jane Hardy with the charge to create a Cinder- ella who was strong and empowered. "I said to myself, 'What if Ethel Merman were going to play Cinderella?'" says Weiss, "This is the first show I've written since becoming a parent, and I didn't want to propagate the myth of the help- less girl needing a handsome and wealthy prince to come save her." In creating the finished play, Weiss drew inspiration from the works of the Gershwins, Cole Porter, and Rogers and Hart.

More than 3,000 school children will tap their toes with Cinderella and company during twelve student matinee performances. Original cast recording available on request.