In the far off land of QPAC, in Castle Lyric Theatre, a royal ball hosted by a prince is set to commence soon, and all are invited to attend. In a late-night announcement, Opera Australia and Crossroads Live today confirmed that their Australian tour of the new Broadway production of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella will be performed at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre starting 5 August 2022. The limited-time Brisbane season will take place between their already confirmed Melbourne Regent Theatre (Commencing 20 May 2022) and Sydney Lyric Theatre (Commencing 23 October 2022) seasons.
Keen to nab yourself tickets to the Brisbane season? Tickets are set to go on pre-sale starting 21 March 2022, with general public pre-sales commencing 25 March 2022. Those keen to be some of the first to purchase tickets should head to the official Cinderella Australian Tour website and register their details. As with all productions at QPAC, ticket bookings will almost certainly be managed through the QPAC Website or by phoning their QTIX Box Office on 136 246.
Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella will see the reunion of two actors who first came together on the Lyric Theatre stage several years ago as part of Disney Theatrical Production’s Aladdin. Leading the cast of this lavish production will be Brisbane’s own rising musical theatre star Shubshri Kandiah as Ella (Cinderella), a strong and intelligent young woman who dreams of escaping her endless chores so she might see the world. In addition to Aladdin, Kandiah has also taken on roles including Ismene in Antigone with Queensland Theatre, performed in The Pearlfishers, and starred in the 2021 national tour of Belvoir’s Australian musical Fangirls.
Playing opposite her is Ainsley Melham as Prince Topher, the charming Prince of the kingdom who needs guidance and inspiration to realise his full potential. Ainsley most recently starred as Charlie in Merrily We Roll Along at the Hayes Theatre Co, following the title role of Pippin at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre. He featured in the title role of Disney’s Aladdin across Australia and on Broadway and also played Molina in MTC’s Kiss of the Spider Woman and Sonny in Xanadu at the Hayes.
This new Broadway production of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella sets out to deliver a fresh new take on the classic tale. The story combines the 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 pitched as “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”.
We’re so excited to bring this Broadway favourite to Brisbane for the first time, especially starring Brisbane’s own Shubshri Kandiah. Cinderella is one of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s greatest scores and this production with beautiful orchestrations, magnificent costumes and sets, jaw-dropping transformations and all the moments you love from the classic story, will have audiences clamouring for more.
Lyndon Terracini (Opera Australia) and John Frost (Crossroads Live Australia)
