In a joint statement issued by Lyndon Terracini from Opera Australia and John Frost from Crossroads Live, Melbourne and Sydney season dates have been confirmed for the upcoming Australian production of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella. The season will commence at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre from 20 May 2021, followed by the Sydney Lyric Theatre from 23 October 2021. Whether the Melbourne season will run through until October or another season will be snuck into the mix is unclear. Tickets for both legs of the Australian tour will go on-sale in the near future, with interested theatre-goers encouraged to sign up for the waitlist HERE.
One of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s most popular titles, Cinderella was written for television, debuting in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, who was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance. More than 100 million viewers saw the broadcast, more people than any other program in the history of television at the time. Cinderella was re-made for television in 1965 starring Lesley Ann Warren in the title role, Ginger Rogers and Walter Pidgeon as the King and Queen, and Celeste Holm as the Fairy Godmother. A further television remake followed in 1997 with Brandy as Cinderella, Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother, Bernadette Peters as the Stepmother, Whoopi Goldberg as the Queen and Jason Alexander as Lionel.
While most popularised via the classic Disney animated feature film, the theatrical production is more faithful to the original material. This Broadway production, debuting in January 2013, features a new book by Douglas Carter Beane and direction by Mark Brokaw. The creative team sought to combine story’s classic elements – the glass slippers, pumpkin, a beautiful masked ball and more – along with some surprising twists.
More than just a pretty face with the right shoe size, this Cinderella is a contemporary figure living in a fairytale setting. A spirited young woman with savvy and soul, she not only fights for her own dreams, but forces the prince to open his eyes to the world around him and realise his dreams too.
A reunion of two former Aladdin the Broadway Musical cast members, leading this new production of a Rodgers + Hammerstein classic is Shubshri Kandiah as Ella and Ainsley Melham as Prince Topher. Also joining them in the leading cast includes Silvie Paladino (Mamma Mia!, Les Misérables) as Marie, the Fairy Godmother; Tina Bursill (TV’s Doctor Doctor, Wentworth) as Madame, Ella’s stepmother, and Todd McKenney (The Boy From Oz, Shrek) as the Lord Chancellor, Sebastian.
Daniel Belle (My Fair Lady, Les Misérables) will play Lord Pinkleton, the second-in-command in the Royal household, while Josh Gardiner (Billy Elliot, Rent) is Jean-Michel, the poor revolutionary who is in love with Gabrielle. Completing the cast will be William Brougham, Mackenzie Dunn, Danielle Evrat, Luke Haberecht, Matthew Jenson, Lauren Jimmieson, Leah Lim, Rubin Matters, Joshua Russell, Greta Sherriff, Lewis Shilvock, Suzanne Steele, Tom Struik, Daniel Szesiong Todd, Alexis van Maanen, Dean Vince, Daniel Wijngaarden, Erica Wild and Emily Wood.
Jump over to the next page for quotes from key stakeholders in the new Australian production!
