Rogers + Hammerstein's Cinderella: First look
The musical is running in the UK for the first time
The stage version of Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella has begun its run at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester.
It is the first time that this version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical has been performed in the UK and is running through until 11th December 2022.
In Photos: Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella
The musical stars Grace Mouat* (she/her) (SIX, & Juliet,) who plays Ella and Jacob Fowler (he/him) (Heathers the Musical, Little Mix: The Search) who plays Prince Topher.
*Due to an injury, Grace Mouat, is unable to perform until next week, whilst she takes some time to recover. The role of Ella will be covered by Ria Tanaka until Grace returns.
Also in the cast is Annie Aitken (she/her) (The Phantom of the Opera) as Madame, Julie Yammanee (she/her) (Carousel) as Marie/Fairy Godmother, Lee Ormsby (he/him) (Les Misérables) as Sebastian, Matthew McDonald (he/him) (HMS Pinafore) as play Lord Pinkleton (U/S Prince Topher), Katie Ramshaw (she/her) (Jeremy Jordan in Concert) as Charlotte, Olivia-Faith Kamau (she/her) (Million Dollar Quartet) as Gabrielle and Adam Filipe (he/him) (The Prince of Egypt) as Jean-Michel.
Completing the cast will be featured ensemble members Morgan Broome (she/her) (U/S Madame/ Gabrielle), Lois Glain Postle (she/her) (U/S Marie/ Fairy Godmother), Ria Tanaka (she/her) (U/S Ella), Ella Valentine (she/her) (U/S Charlotte), Jamie Jonathan (he/him) (U/S Sebastian), Will Fisher (He/Him) (U/S Pinkleton), Trevor Lin (he/him) and Milo McCarthy (they/them) (U/S Jean-Michel).
Also joining the company is Tarik Frimpong (The Wiz Hope Mill Theatre, Mary Poppins Returns) as Assistant Director.
Grace said: “I genuinely cannot explain how excited I am to be playing Cinderella. It has been a dream of mine to be part of a Rodgers & Hammerstein musical and obviously the film is ICONIC! I cannot wait to meet the incredible company and get started on this new version in Manchester. ‘Impossible things are happening every day!’ Pinch me!”
The production runs from Tuesday 1st November to Sunday 11th December 2022 with press night on Sunday 6th November.
The Hope Mill Theatre's founders, Joseph Houston (he/him) and William Whelton (he/him) will lead the creative team with Joseph directing and William co-directing and choreographing.
Completing the creative team is Musical Supervisor Leo Munby, Musical Director Audra Cramer, featuring New Musical Arrangements by Jason Carr, Set and Costume Designer Elly Wdowski, Assistant Designer Alfie Heywood, Projection Designer George Reeve, Lighting Designer Aaron J Dootson, Sound Designer Adam Fisher, Associate Choreographer Charise Renouf, Wig Designer Richard Mawbey, Assistant Costume Designer Eve Salter, Sound No 1. Josh Evans, Casting by Jane Deitch and Artwork by Steph Pyne. Images by Michael Wharley and Video by Umbrella Rooms.
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II originally wrote the musical for the 1957 live TV broadcast which starred Julie Andrews in the titular role. Two more films were made in 1965 and 1997, the latter of which starred Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother and Brandy Norwood as Cinderella.
The musical finally came to Broadway in 2013 with a new book by Douglas Carter Beane and featured new characters and songs. Apart from the one-night concert in 2019, this will be the first time this version is staged in the UK.
Tickets for Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella are now available from the Hope Mill Theatre website.
Scroll through Rodgers & Hammerstein's iconic musicals:
Oklahoma!
The first musical the legendary writing duo worked on was Oklahoma! which was based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. The musical first opened on 31st October 1943 at the St. James Theatre and went on for 2,212 performances which was unprecedented at the time.
Oklahoma! continues to be revived to this day with the most recent UK revival being the 2022 revival at the Young Vic.
Carousel
The second musical that Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote was Carousel. The musical was based on the 1909 play Liliom by Ferenc Molnár and told the story of carousel barker Billy Bigelow 's romance with millworker Julie Jordan. Carousel premiered at the Majestic Theatre on 19th April 1945.
Carousel features the song 'You'll Never Walk Alone' which has become a football anthem with Liverpool F.C. fans since the 1960s.
The most recent UK production of Carousel was Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's revival which ran in the summer of 2021. Their version of the show moved the story's setting from the American state of Maine in the 1870s to the UK in the mid-20th century.
South Pacific
Based on James A. Michener Pulitzer Prize-winning novel 'Tales of the South Pacific', South Pacific opened at the Majestic Theatre on 7th April 1949.
The most recent revival seen in the UK was the Chichester Festival Theatre's 2021 production which returns in 2022 for a West End run and UK tour.
The King and I
Based on Margaret Landon's novel Anna and the King of Siam, The King and I tells the story originally inspired by Anna Leonowens' memoirs of her time as the governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam (now Thailand) in the 1860s.
The musical first opened on Broadway in 1951 at the St James Theatre and first arrived in the West End two years later with a run at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
The musical hit the big screen in 1956 with Deborah Kerr as Anna and Yul Brynner reprised his role as King Mongkut of Siam which he originated on Broadway.
Cinderella
Rodgers and Hammerstein took on the classic fairy tale of Cinderella for a musical that first went to the small screen instead of the stage. Cinderella was originally broadcast live on CBS in the United States in 1957 and starred Julie Andrews in the titular role.
Two more television films were made in 1965 and 1997 with the latter starring Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother.
The musical finally got the Broadway treatment decades later when it ran at The Broadway Theatre in 2013 with an updated book by Douglas Carter Beane. The production is set to get its UK premiere in late 2022 when it runs at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester.
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is one of the most beloved musicals written by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Based on Maria Von Trapp's memoirs The Story of the Trapp Family Singers.
The musical opened at the Shubert Theatre with Mary Martin as Maria, the musical opened in London two year later at the Palace Theatre.
The 1965 film adaptation starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer is regarded as one of the most beloved movie musicals of all time.
Oscar Hammerstein II passed away nine months after the musical premiered on Broadway making The Sound of Musical the last musical written by the pair.
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