Imagination Stage Presents the World Premiere of CINDERELLA: THE REMIX, Now thru 5/25

Don't expect any glass slippers in this remixed version of a popular fairy tale. Instead, get ready to be immersed into the world of Hip-Hop Hollywood, where being a DJ is a dream come true - especially for a girl. Directed and written by Psalmayene 24 (Psalm) with hip-hop beats by Nick Hernandez, Cinderella: the Remix is the final production of The Hip-Hop Children's Trilogy and teaches an extraordinary lesson in girl power.

Best for ages 5-10, Cinderella: the Remix runs in Imagination Stage's Annette M. and Theodore N. Lerner Family Theatre today, April 9-May 25, 2014. Tickets start at $10, and may be purchased online at www.imaginationstage.org, at the Imagination Stage box office, or via phone at 301-280-1660. Group rates are available.

Cinderella: the Remix - making its world premiere - is the story of a young girl living in the basement of her step-mama's house, mixing beats and dreaming of becoming a DJ. But in Hip-Hop Hollywood, girls are not allowed to DJ and "frontin'" - using pretense to impress - is a crime. When the super-famous J-Prince announces auditions for his "Jam," Cinderella disguises herself as a boy to get the gig. With some help from her Fairy Godmother Hope-rah, Cinderella DJs the Jam (at least until midnight). Will she ever be allowed to spin as her true self? Or will Cinderella be convicted of frontin' and sentenced to solitary confinement with only the music of Kenny G for company?

Imagination Stage received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support the creation and presentation of Cinderella: The Remix. This is the second NEA grant given for a collaboration between Imagination Stage and playwright Psalmayene 24 (his P.Nokio: A Hip-Hop Musical also earned a $25,000 award).

Paige Hernandez, choreographer for Cinderella: the Remix, will play the title role of Cinderella. Paige is a multifaceted artist and master teaching artist, having taught dance, acting, and various forms of hip-hop to all ages throughout the country. She has previously performed and choreographed at Imagination Stage for Zomo the Rabbit: A Hip-Hop Creation Myth and P.Nokio: A Hip-Hop Musical. She has performed at numerous local and national theatres, including Arena Stage, The Kennedy Center, Paramount Theatre, and Cleveland Playhouse, among others.

Baye Harrell will play J-Prince and was previously seen at Imagination Stage as the title role in Zomo the Rabbit: A Hip-Hop Creation Myth. Baye has performed locally with Mead Theatre Lab, Theatre of the First Amendment, and The Studio Theatre 2ndStage. Kellee Knighten Hough will play Bad Ma'amajama and Hope-rah. This is Kellee's first time performing at Imagination Stage. She has toured nationally with Fame the Musical and has been seen locally at Ford's Theatre, Signature Theatre, and Shakespeare Theatre Company.

Katy Carcuff will play Chin Chilla and previously performed at Imagination Stage in P.Nokio: A Hip-Hop Musical. Katy has performed with many local theatres, including The Keegan Theatre, Arena Stage, Folger Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, and Constellation Theatre Company, where she is an associate artist. Mark Hairston will play Chocolate Ice and is making his Imagination Stage debut. Mark has most recently been seen at Shakespeare Theatre Company and has also performed at Ford's Theatre, Theatre J, Round House Theatre, and Studio Theatre.

Psalmayene 24 (Director/Playwright) has been recognized as one of the pioneers of hip-hop theatre. Psalm performed at the first NYC Hip-Hop Theatre Festival in 2000. His influential solo play, Free Jujube Brown!, was published in the first hip-hop theatre anthology, Plays from the Boo Box Galaxy: Theater from the Hip-Hop Generation. His first play for young audiences was Zomo the Rabbit: A Hip-Hop Creation Myth (2009), followed by P.Nokio: A Hip-Hop Musical (2012). These two productions, plus Cinderella: the Remix, make up The Hip-Hop Children's Trilogy.

The remainder of the creative team for Cinderella: the Remix includes Composer and Music Director Nick Hernandez, Set DesignerEthan Sinnott, Lighting Designer Zachary Gilbert, Costume Designer Kendra Rai, and Sound Designer Christopher Baine. Psalm, Paige, Nick, and Ethan have worked together on all three productions in the trilogy.

Public performances of Cinderella: The Remix are on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Tuesday-Friday field trip performances are also available.

$10 Preview tickets (applies to most seats) are available for the performance on April 12 at 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. A sensory-friendly performance will be on April 27 at 11:00 a.m. An ASL-interpreted performance will be on April 27 at 4:00 p.m. The Children's Ball will be on May 10 at 3:30 p.m. A Friday night performance and dance party will be on May 16 at 7:00 p.m. A limited number of $10 tickets are available for each performance by calling the Box Office, courtesy of the Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation. These tickets go on sale Monday mornings at 10:00 a.m. for that week's performances.

All performances will take place at 4908 Auburn Avenue in Bethesda, MD. The remaining 2013-14 season shows include Rumpelstiltskin (Feb. 5-March 16), Cinderella: the Remix (April 9-May 25), and The BFG (June 25-Aug. 10). Subscriptions and individual tickets are now available at 301?280?1660 or www.imaginationstage.org.

Founded in 1979, Imagination Stage is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to inspire creativity through theatre and arts education programs that nurture, challenge, and empower young people of all abilities. It offers year-round professional theatre for young audiences and classes in creative drama/acting, musical theatre, dance, and filmmaking for ages 1-18.

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