NewsPhoto Call: Lou Diamond Phillips, Charles Shaughnessy, Kevin Richardson, Shirley Jones Celebrate L.A. Premiere of CinderellaTwo-time Emmy Award nominee and Golden Globe nominee Fran Drescher ("The Nanny") joins the touring company of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella for the Los Angeles engagement of the award-winning Broadway musical. The company celebrated their L.A. opening night March 18.
By
Matthew Blank
March 19, 2015
Drescher reprises the role of the wicked stepmother Madame, a part she played on Broadway in 2014, for the musical's run through April 26 run at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre.
The company also features Paige Faure, who played the role of Ella on Broadway, and Andy Huntington Jones as Prince Topher, Kecia Lewis as Marie, The Fairy Godmother, David Andino as Jean-Michele, Kaitlyn Davidson as Gabrielle, Aymee Garcia as Charlotte, Antoine L. Smith as Lord Pinkleton and Branch Woodman as Sebastian.
Rounding out the ensemble are Adrian Arrieta, Adrian Baidoo, Summer Broyhill, Audrey Cardwell, Jennifer Evans, Alexandra Frohlinger, Richard Gatta, Jordana Grolnick, Eric Anthony Johnson, Danielle Jordan, Ben Lanham, Sean Seymour, Blakely Slaybaugh, Lauren Sprauge, Paige Williams, Thad Turner Wilson, John Yi and Alexandra Zorn. Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, press notes state, "combines the story's classic elements – glass slippers, pumpkin and a beautiful ball 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. She is a spirited young woman with savvy and soul who doesn't let her rags or her gowns trip her up in her quest for kindness, compassion and forgiveness. She longs to escape the drudgery of her work at home and instead work to make the world a better place. She not only fights for her own dreams, but forces the prince to open his eyes to the world around him and realize his dreams too."
The production also has scenic design by Tony Award nominee Anna Louizos, costume design by six-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner and sound design by Tony Award nominee Nevin Steinberg.
The tour is produced by Robyn Goodman, Jill Furman, Stephen Kocis, Edward Walson, Venetian Glass Productions, The Araca Group, Caiola Productions, Roy Furman, Peter May, Sanford Robertson, Eric Schmidt, James Spry and Blanket Fort Productions.
Tickets are available online at CenterTheatreGroup.org, by calling (213) 972-4400, and in person at the Center Theatre Group box office at the Ahmanson Theatre.
Lupita Nyong'o, Katrina Lenk, Jelani Alladin, and more were on hand to celebrate the October 31 opening night of Michael R. Jackson and Anna K. Jacobs' new musical.