Hartford Children's Theatre Presents CINDERELLA EATS RICE AND BEANS: A SALSA FAIRY TALE 1/15-31/2010

Hartford Children's Theatre (HCT) presents CINDERELLA EATS RICE AND BEANS: A SALSA FAIRY TALE, the second production of it's 20th Anniversary Season, "The Year of Enchantment." Under the direction of Joshua Lee Ramos with Musical Direction and Choreography by Carolyn Paine, CINDERELLA EATS RICE AND BEANS opens on Friday, January 15, 2010 at HCT's Carriage House Theatre (360 Farmington Avenue) where it will continue through Sunday, January 31, 2010. Tickets are now on sale.

CINDERELLA EATS RICE AND BEANS: A SALSA FAIRY TALE is a critically acclaimed, bilingual children's musical by the award-winning team of playwright Karen Zacarias and composer Deborah Wicks La Puma. The contemporary, Latin-American musical delightfully turns the classic fairy tale on its head, telling the story from both Cinderella and her stepsisters' perspectives. Cinderella, an exchange student from Puerto Rico, comes to the United States to visit her "stepsister" Rosa. The two girls must work together to cross language barriers and cultural differences in order to come to an understanding at the (basket) ball game. With a Fairy Godfather and other delightful twists to the original story, CINDERELLA EATS RICE AND BEANS teaches a subtle lesson on empathy, sportsmanship and respect in the form of a fresh and lively salsa musical.

The cast of CINDERELLA EATS RICE AND BEANS includes Ashley Hamel as "Cenicienta / Cinderella," Jennifer Murillo as "Rosa," Jonathan Escobar as "Joey" and Mark Ohanesian as "Padrino."

CINDERELLA EATS RICE AND BEANS features Scenic Designs by Nick D'Angelo, Costume Designs by Brenda Alexander and Hair Designs by Linda Stanhope.

Performances of HCT'S production of CINDERELLA EATS RICE AND BEANS will take place at HCT's Carriage House Theatre (360 Farmington Avenue), easily accessible from I-84 and I-91. The performance schedule is as follows: Friday, January 15 at 7 pm; Saturday, January 16 at 2 pm;
Sunday, January 17 at 2 pm; Saturday, January 23 at 2 pm and 7 pm; Sunday, January 24 at 2 pm; Friday, January 29 at 7 pm; Saturday, January 30 at 2 pm and 7 pm and Sunday, January 31 at 2 pm.

Tickets for HCT's CINDERELLA EATS RICE AND BEANS are $18 for Adults, $13 for Children (13 and under) & Senior Citizens and are available online at www.hartfordchildrenstheatre.org. Group rates are available by calling 860.249.7970 ext. 12.

The mission of Hartford Children's Theatre is to enrich the lives of the children of Greater Hartford and surrounding communities by providing access and exposure to high quality theatre for young audiences and related educational opportunities. Executive Director Dulcie Giadone helms HCT's staff which includes Artistic Director Ryan Ratelle, Education Director Lisa Foss and Office Manager Atla DeChamplain.

For more information, please call 860.249.7970 or visit us online at: www.hartfordchildrenstheatre.org.