Cinderella on tour.

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 10/16/14 at 1:17pm

The tour opened last Friday in Providence. Has anyone seen it yet?I am curious to hear how the tour differs from the Broadway production.

[JenM9]

Posted: 10/17/14 at 4:53am

I saw the Broadway production towards the beginning of the run so it's not too fresh in my mind, but I saw the touring cast on Tuesday. The biggest difference that I've noticed was during Who Am I when Prince Topher fights this praying mantis creature instead of the Tree monster. Something wasn't quite the same in the Impossible/It's Possible carriage ride scene, I think it maybe the horses' legs didn't have the articulation they did for the Broadway production. Aside from that the sets and staging seemed very similar to the Broadway production. Also Marie's dress was different; it was purple instead of pink.

[slmlbl]

Posted: 10/17/14 at 11:43am

Saw this on Sunday, there is still magic there. But not nearly as much as on Broadways. There's a lot that's been scaled back.

As Jen said- the tree monster has been traded in for a less effective but I'm guessing easier to travel preying mantis.

The impossible transformation has a new variation on Cinderella's dress change which is not the same as the Tony version or the Broadway version. It's still effective, but perhaps less so than the other two.
Marie's dress is different- though i think its the same that Judy Kaye is presently wearing on Broadway too. I like it less, but that's just me.
Overall the impossible sequence seems to be very similar though.

The pursuit sequence is where I really missed the broadway production- it just felt a little empty to me. instead of ending in Cinderella's yard where she sings the lovely 'He was tall' it ended inside the cottage and 'he was tall was cut' . This meant her pursuit costume change into the peasant dress is different too.

The cottage is a little scaled back, the 'prince is giving a ball' scene no longer has buildings. just carts/vendors.

The palace now has chandeliers that move around instead of arches.

The biggest problem that I had with the show was the cast.
I missed the original cast more than I've ever missed a cast before.
Without them, a lot of the jokes that were delivered impeccably now show how weak the book is. Watching someone else in the role of Cinderella just proved to me what a talent Laura is and what an outstanding job she did.

[starcatchers]

Posted: 10/17/14 at 12:04pm

I I haven't seen the tour yet (planning on seeing it in Philly), but the fight with the monster has been eliminated entirely on Broadway. I'm excited to see Paige Faure as Ella again. Loved her on Broadway.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 10/17/14 at 1:06pm

Oh no! "He Was Tall," while short, is my favorite song from the show. It's a beautiful song. It sort of reminds me of "When He/She Danced with Me" from "The Slipper and the Rose" and "I Could've Danced All Night." I wonder why they cut it? First, they cut out "I Have Loved and I've Learned" during previews, and now this? Hmph.

Was anything added? Btw, thanks for letting us know what the tour is like!

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 10/17/14 at 1:18pm

Oh no He was tall my one of my favorite new additions. I wonder why they decided to cut it? Does Kecia Lewis sing in her upper register or has it been lowered?

[slmlbl]

Posted: 10/17/14 at 1:46pm

Kecia sings it as written, she soars during 'There is music in you' however, 'Impossible' seemed to be a bit in a weird spot for her.

'He was tall' was my fave addition too, very sad for its loss, such a charming moment.

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 10/17/14 at 2:36pm

Yes it is a shame, especially since it's still present in its Broadway counterpart. I understand cutting moments for technical reasons, but it was a great story moment. From seeing pictures on Instagram it also looks like they've cut the wedding costumes too. I'm still very excited to see Paige and Andy though. They seem like the perfect pairing.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 10/17/14 at 2:59pm

Is the set for Cinderella's house the same?

[slmlbl]

Posted: 10/18/14 at 3:34pm

Yes, the wedding costumes are cut and Cindy's wedding dress is a different material and slightly different shape.

Cinderella's house is bit different and scaled back.

[Playmagic]

Posted: 10/18/14 at 10:22pm

We saw it on the opening night from the 5th row. Costume changes were seamless and we thought the cast was wonderful.The only odd thing I noticed is that the fox that was in the tree in the woods looked different than the one that was being held later in the show.We thought the music isn't R&H's best but the show is better than most that we get out here in the boondocks.

[faithzilla]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 11:15am

"The biggest problem that I had with the show was the cast.
I missed the original cast more than I've ever missed a cast before."

I'm a huge fan of the OBC. Do you think seeing a different cast would likely just feel like a disappointment? Trying to decide if I should see Cinderella or BoM on tour this year...

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/23/14 at 12:30pm

I saw this on Bway last night, and it seems odd they'd cut songs. I felt like it almost needed more songs and cut those lengthy book scenes. It's a kids show. They don't care about politics.

[THEATRICAL100]

Posted: 10/23/14 at 2:05pm

Do you mind expanding on the transformation dress? I'm so curious as to any other way they might effectively stage it.

[THEATRICAL100]

Posted: 10/23/14 at 2:11pm

and, ugh -- I love He Was Tall and the clever transformation back to her rags.

[THEATRICAL100]

Posted: 10/23/14 at 2:11pm

and, ugh -- I love He Was Tall and the clever transformation back to her rags.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 12/8/14 at 1:53am

Caught the tour in Buffalo tonight, and WOW what a production.

Sadly I have not seen the New York production, but I can only imagine how great it must be if the tour is this good. The physical production is just stunning. I know the costumes got most of the design praise, but I LOVE the set and how it functions. Throughout the entire evening I was blown away by just how beautiful this production is.

I loved the new book by Douglas Carter Beane. Yes some of the political tones are a bit forced, but it's a 200% improvement over the dated & frankly just plain awful original book. The musical arrangements are also stunning. I went back to the cast recording after the show tonight & I had forgotten just how much I loved them.

The cast is also excellent. Paige Faure is a splendid Ella, but is a tad overwrought on a few occasions. Her voice is nice, but 'In My Own Little Corner' sits in an odd place for her. Once she passed that song I was sold, but it look a bit. She's also looks so much like Laura Osnes...

Andy Jones & Kecia Lewis were great. I love how the book handles the Topher character. He's a real person now as opposed to a lifeless Prince. Whoever said that 'Impossible' sits oddly for Kecia Lewis was correct, but her 'There Is Music In You' is spot on, and she more than makes up for any lack of power in the earlier number.

If the tour comes near you, RUN and see it.

Updated On: 12/8/14 at 01:53 AM

[bwayrose7]

Posted: 11/2/15 at 6:07pm

Bumping this thread to say congratulations to Andy Jones (Topher) and Audrey Cardwell (u/s Ella), who were married this past weekend! Ashley Park officiated and posted this adorable clip on Instagram: https://instagram.com/p/9mBiDdsvQE/

Wishing the very best to two of the sweetest (and most talented) people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting!

Updated On: 11/2/15 at 06:07 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 10:45am

Kaitlyn Davidson was listed as Ella last evening in Orlando- it would appear as if Page Faure has left the company.  She was quite good- nice voice. Apparently she also understudied the role on Broadway?

I was surprised how much I enjoyed the show.  The cast was uniformly wonderful. Liz McCartney has taken over as Marie, and she was great, as was the new Madam, Blair Ross. Andy Jones as Topher was a highlight- what a voice! 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 2:14pm

When's the new cast take over?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 4:36pm

RippedMan said: "When's the new cast take over?

 

Kaitlyn Davidson just began last week in Atlanta, I think.  No clue when Liz McCartney and Blair Ross replaced Kesha Lewis and Beth Glover, though.  Blake Hammond has also returned to the cast, but I don't know when that happened. 

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 5:32pm

does anyone know why Paige left?

[DAME]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 5:51pm

Probably tired of it.  She has been doing it a long time.  I am surprised more people have not left.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 6:18pm

I know Liz joined sometime after July, and Blair had to have joined sometime in the last month or so. I saw the show in Louisville and Beth Glover was still Madame. I'm very excited for Blair Ross though. She was great in the Side Show revival

[notalwaysontime]

Posted: 11/12/15 at 9:20pm

I think it was just time for paige to get back to her family. She had been with the tour for a year, minus 2 months off around the halfway point, and I know they were juggling visiting with her son, sometimes he'd be on tour with her, sometimes back home with his dad, so I'm guessing she was just ready to be back home and be with both him and her husband on a regular basis.

 

edit: i thought you were talking about paige, but I think you were talking about Kaitlyn understudying ella on broadway? either way, both she and paige did, yeah. I think Kaitlyn was second in line though, after jessica hershberg, so I think she only went on a couple times

Updated On: 11/12/15 at 09:20 PM