Renaissance Players give musical Cinderella a unique look Dec. 5-20

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Release Date: 11/19/2003. Expired: 12/20/2003

Cinderella, the classic fairy tale that proves that dreams can come true, comes to The Renaissance Center stage when the Renaissance Players present a community theatre production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Dec. 5-20.

Sponsored by TriStar Bank, Cinderella will be presented at 7 p.m. Dec. 5-6, 12-13 and 19-20 with 2 p.m. matinees Dec. 6, 13 and 20. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $7 for children 13 and under.

“Cinderella is a story that everyone knows from the classic Disney animated movie from 1950 based on various fairy tales that date back to the late 1700s,” said Kim Leavitt, director of Theatre Education and managing director of the Renaissance Players. “The stage version was created by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II for a 1957 television special that became at that time the most watched TV program in history.”

Rodgers and Hammerstein were commissioned by CBS to create the musical in response to the success NBC had enjoyed with its airing of Peter Pan. The musical was written specifically for 21-year-old Julie Andrews, who was starring on Broadway in My Fair Lady at the time. When it aired on March 31, 1957, live and in color on the east coast and then three hours later in black and white on the west coast, it drew more than 107 million viewers, the largest audience for any television program to that time.

The program was remade in 1965 with Lesley Ann Warren in the title role and then again in 1997 with pop star Brandy as Cinderella and a cast that included Whitney Houston, Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Alexander and Bernadette Peters.

“This is a wonderful musical with a large cast, stunning costumes designed by Amy Arrington and a terrific set designed by Robert Cooper and built by our award-winning Toy Shop,” said Leavitt, who is directing the play. “It truly is a magical story with a classic happy ending.”

The Renaissance Players production of Cinderella will stand apart visually from all other versions of the show. Leavitt and Arrington have developed a costuming and staging concept that maintains the classic storyline but adds to the visual appeal for the patron.

“I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say that this is not your typical Cinderella,” Leavitt said.

Katherine Jett, currently also appearing as Juliet in the Renaissance Repertory Theatre Company’s Romeo and Juliet, plays Cinderella, while Joshua Arnold of Houston County, a newcomer to The Renaissance Center stage, is the Prince.

Carey Thompson of Dickson and Jeanne Roland, two regulars from past Renaissance Players shows, portray the King and Queen, while Sandra Harris, previously seen in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, A Christmas Carol and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, is the Fairy Godmother.

Rachel Gunn is the Stepmother while Tawny Frey and Kristin Butler play the mean stepsisters Joy and Portia, respectively.

The cast of more than 40 includes many familiar faces as well as several newcomers to the Renaissance Players. Ned and Kay Mann direct the Renaissance Players Orchestra and Kim Brownfiel Cantu of Bon Aqua is stage manager.

For more information on the Renaissance Players production of Cinderella, call (615)740-5600. The Renaissance Center is an arts and technology education and performing arts center at 855 Highway 46 South in Dickson, just 35 miles west of Nashville on Interstate 40 at exit 172.

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