Cinderella (1990)

Cinderella

Music by Richard Rodgers
Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

source: Concord Theatricals

Cast List

Production Staff 

Performances at
Elm Street Jr. High School Auditorium
November 9-11, 1990

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Acknowledgments

International Fare
Party Time
The Little Shoe Store
Pheasant Lane Mall
Angela Stricklett

The story of Cinderella is one of the greatest fairy tales of all time. The musical, “Cinderella,” is just as fascinating as the original story itself. In 1956, Julie Andrews was making her Broadway debut in “My Fair Lady”. Composers, lyricists, and playwrights were anxious to create roles and songs for the new star. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were approached by Miss Andrews’ agent to showcase her talents in a television premiere of “Cinderella.” The concept of producing musicals based on fairy tales was made popular a few years earlier by Mary Martin who starred in “Peter Pan.”

While writing the script, Hammerstein stayed true to the original tale with minor exceptions. In his version, the stepsisters were used as comic relief and the Fairy Godmother was young and attractive.

Ironically, “Cinderella” aired on the 13th anniversary of the opening night of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma”. Over 13 years of performances, “Oklahoma” was viewed by approximately 12 million people. The television audience for the premiere of “Cinderella” was well over 107 million viewers.

Unfortunately, “Cinderella” aired a few years before the advent of videotape; thus the original broadcast was seen only once. In 1965, a remake was filmed starring Leslie Anne Warren as Cinderella, Walter Pidgeon as the King, Ginger Rogers as the Queen, and Celeste Holmes as the Fairy  Godmother.