Lew, Brennan, Chittick, Etc. Set for NSMT Cinderella

Deborah Lew, Maureen Brennan, Terry Burrell, Natalie Joy Johnson, Joyce Chittick and more will be featured in North Shore Music Theatre's upcoming staging of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, which will run from August 22nd through September 10th at the theatre in Beverly, MA. It will open on August 24th at 7:30 PM.

The production was originally announced for last year, but a devastating fire that scorched NSMT (which is now restored) caused it to be cancelled after only four performances. Directed by Charles Repole, it will star Lew (The Threepenny Opera) in the title role, Ryan Silverman as the Prince, Tony Award-nominee Brennan (Candide, Little Johnny Jones), Burrell (Threepenny Opera, Thoroughly Modern Millie) as Queen Constantina, Johnson (Bare) as Portia, Chittick (The Pajama Game, Sweet Charity) as Joy, David Coffee as King Maximilian, Lisa McMillan (Moose Murders) as the Stepmother and Gregory Sheppard as Herald.

The ensemble will include Tabb, Kristen Calgaro, Debbi Fuhrman, Paul J. Gallagher, Thom Graham, Kathleen Hatch, Garett Hawe, Arielle Jacobs, Jane Labanz, Andrew Pacho, Katie Rayle and Nathan Scherich. Eleven children from local neighborhoods will also be featured in the production.

"We are thrilled to bring back the magic of Cinderella this summer," said Jon Kimbell, NSMT's Artistic Director and Executive Producer. "As we welcome many familiar faces, we are also excited to work with new cast members and creative staff. Their fresh vision combined with NSMT's theatrical magic, a beautiful Rodgers and Hammerstein score and memorable characters promise to make Cinderella a favorite for all generations."

The show "was originally created for television in 1957 by the legendary musical team of Rodgers and Hammerstein (Oklahoma!, The Sound of Music, Carousel). When it was later adapted for the stage, Cinderella became an instant success and has captivated audiences ever since. This elegant and clever story about love and hope will doubly thrill its audiences with dazzling special effects and beautiful music." The scores includes "Impossible," "In My Own Little Corner," and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?".

Choreographed by Karen Azenberg, the production will feature sets by Dex Edwards, costumes by Joanna E. Murphy, lighting by Martin E. Vreeland, sound by John A. Stone, with musical direction by Edward Reichert.

A multi-racial 1997 ABC/Disney telemusical of Cinderella starred Brandy in the title role, Montalban as the Prince and Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother. It was the second remake of the beloved 1957 television classic, which featured a book by Hammerstein. Julie Andrews beamed as Cinderella, and it also starred Jon Cypher as the Prince, theatre couple Howard Lindsay and Dorothy Stickney as the King and Queen, Alice Ghostley and Kaye Ballard as the Stepsisters and Edie Adams as the Fairy Godmother. The first 1965 remake would star Lesley Anne Warren as the rags-to-ballgown heroine, Stuart Damon as the Prince, Walter Pidgeon and Ginger Rogers as the King and Queen, and Celeste Holm as the Fairy Godmother. While the musical has never been on Broadway, it's had a national tour with Deborah Gibson, Eartha Kitt and Montalban; the latter two joined Jamie-Lynn Sigler for its production at Madison Square Garden.

NSMT is located at 62 Dunham Rd. in Beverly, MA. Tickets, which range from $35-$70, can be purchased by calling (978) 232-7200 or by visiting www.nsmt.org.