Rehearsals For Australian National Tour of Cinderella Are Underway

Ainsley Melham, Shubshri Kandiah and Cast of Cinderella (c) David Hooley

Mere weeks from the show’s debut season at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre, rehearsals are officially underway for Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella at Opera Australia’s HQ in Sydney. Reuniting Shubshri Kandiah (As Ella “Cinderella”) and Ainsley Melham (As “Prince Topher”) for the first time since their debut mainstage roles as Aladdin and Jasmine in Disney Theatrical Productions’ Australian tour of Aladdin, the rehearsals will run for approximately three weeks before performances commence.

Viewers should expect to experience the dazzling sights and love bloom of the iconic Cinderella narrative, alongside what is described as a “fresh new take on the beloved tale”. 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.

With the production one step closer to being fully realised on Australian stages, producers Lyndon Terracini for Opera Australia and John Frost for Crossroads Live Australia had this to say about the news:

We’re so excited that rehearsals are underway in Sydney for the Premiere of this Broadway favourite. 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.

We’re thrilled with our outstanding cast led by Shubshri and Ainsley, and know that they are going to relish bringing this much-loved story to life. Audiences will be enchanted by this glorious and uplifting musical. Rush to get a ticket!

Rehearsals For Australian National Tour of Cinderella Are Underway 1
Cast of Cinderella (c) David Hooley

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella will commence its tour at Melbourne’s Regent Theatre from 20 May 2022, followed by seasons at QPAC, Brisbane from 5 August 2022 and the Sydney Lyric Theatre starting 23 October 2022. Tickets for the QPAC season are set to go live starting Friday 6 May 2022 via the official QPAC website or by calling their box office on 136 246.

Alongside Kandiah and Melham, the Australian 2022 cast of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella includes Silvie Paladino (Mamma Mia!, Les Misérables) as Marie, the Fairy Godmother; and Tina Bursill (TV’s Doctor Doctor, Wentworth) as Madame, Ella’s stepmother, in Melbourne and Sydney. Todd McKenney (The Boy From Oz, Shrek) plays the Lord Chancellor, Sebastian, during the Melbourne season, while Nicholas Hammond (The Sound of Music) takes over as Sebastian in Brisbane and Sydney.

Matilda Moran (Titanic: the Musical, Les Misérables) and Bianca Bruce (In the HeightsMemphis the Musical) play Ella’s stepsisters Gabrielle and Charlotte. Daniel Belle (My Fair LadyLes Misérables) is 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 are William BroughamDanielle EvratLuke Haberecht, Matthew JensonLauren JimmiesonLeah LimKassie MartinRubin MattersJoshua RussellGreta SherriffLewis ShilvockSuzanne SteeleTom StruikDaniel Szesiong ToddAlexis van MaanenDean VinceDaniel WijngaardenErica Wild and Emily Wood.

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