CINDERELLA Comes To The Starlight Theater, Closes 7/31

Kansas Citians will believe that dreams come true when the timeless fairy tale Cinderella brings its magic to Starlight Theatre on July 25-31. All seven shows start at 8 p.m. on Starlight's Jeannette and Jerome Cohen Community Stage.

Families are encouraged to arrive early for a pre-show event featuring a variety of fun, free activities. "Cinderella's Royal Celebration" begins at 6 p.m. nightly in Starlight's north pavilions and will feature activities including face painting, magic and puppet shows, inflatables, games and crafts.

It's interesting to note that Cinderella is the only musical the genius duo of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II wrote specifically for television. The allure of working with 21-year-old Julie Andrews, who at the time was making her name in My Fair Lady on Broadway, drew the pair into the project in 1956. Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote the 90-minute production in six acts to fit the needs of TV's commercial breaks. Their beloved musical score features such favorites as "In My Own Little Corner," "Impossible," "Ten Minutes Ago" and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?"
When CBS aired the live broadcast of Cinderella on March 31, 1957, more than 24 million U.S. households - an estimated 100 million people - tuned in. It was later remade for TV in 1965 with Lesley Ann Warren making her debut and, again, in 1997 with Brandy in the title role.

"Starlight is thrilled to produce this show and to bring the magic and music of Cinderella to our stage. Not only will it be a special night for the little ones in our audience, but it will be a treasured trip down memory lane for their parents and grandparents who grew up watching the fairy tale come to life on their TV screens," said Denton Yockey, Starlight president and executive producer. "Starlight has long been a summer entertainment destination for families throughout metropolitan Kansas City and the Midwest region. This musical definitely continues that tradition in 2011."

Playing the title role of Cinderella in Starlight's stage production is Kara Lindsay. She returns to Starlight after performing here last season as Laura Ingalls in the national tour of Little House on the Prairie, The Musical. The versatile New York actress also starred as Sally Bowles earlier this year in the Kansas City Repertory Theatre's production of Cabaret. The show's handsome Prince is played by Claybourne Elder; the New York actor also has been seen at the Kansas City Rep playing the roles of Clifford Bradshaw in Cabaret and the Wolf/Cinderella's Prince in Into the Woods. This fall Elder will start rehearsals for the Broadway premiere of Frank Wildhorn's Bonnie and Clyde in the role of Buck.

The production's remaining principal roles are played by Tina Johnson (Fairy Godmother), Paula Leggett Chase (Stepmother), Laura E. Taylor (Stepsister Joy), Shannon Connolly (Stepsister Portia) and Whit Reichert (King Max). Kansas City actors Seth Golay and Melinda MacDonald play the principal roles of the Herald and Queen Maisie, respectively.

The cast for Cinderella also includes a number of Kansas City professional actors in ensemble roles. They are Kevin Dean Albert (Chef), Lauren Braton, Christina Burton, Stephanie Cain, Charles Fugate (Minister), Sarah LaBarr, and Kip Niven (Steward).

Additionally, three dozen Kansas City youth have been cast in the children's chorus and teen Blue Star All-Star Chorus. They will appear in roles including children of the kingdom, palace attendants and ball guests.

Mark Madama directs the Starlight production of Cinderella. He has previously directed The Producers at Starlight in 2010. Linda Goodrich is the show's choreographer, and musical direction is provided by Anthony Edwards. Lighting design is by Sean Glass, and Veronika Vorel provides sound design.

Tickets for Cinderella at Starlight Theatre are on sale now for $10 to $85. Best seats and discount ticket prices are available for the special preview performance on Monday night, July 25. Tickets are available online at www.kcstarlight.com, by calling 816.363.STAR (7827) or at the Starlight box office at 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, MO 64132. All performances begin at 8 p.m.
Discount prices for groups of 15 or more are available. For information about group pricing, contact group sales manager Felicia Goodison at 816.997.1137 or felicia.goodison@kcstarlight.com.

Starlight Theatre
Presenting Broadway entertainment since 1951, the non-profit Starlight Theatre Association is Kansas City's oldest and largest performing arts organization. The Association operates, programs and maintains the largest stage in the United States, as well as the 16-acre Starlight Theatre complex. While assuming all annual operating costs for the complex, the Association also raises funds for capital improvements and a variety of programs, including national Broadway musical performances, concerts, community outreach and education. Since 2000, the Association has contributed more than $25 million of privately funded improvements to the Kansas City, Mo.-owned Starlight Theatre. Each Broadway season, Starlight donates more than 11,000 tickets to its performances to regional non-profit organizations serving the disadvantaged.

In 2010, Starlight Theatre was selected as the "Favorite Performing Arts Venue" and the "Favorite Concert/Live Music Venue" in the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association's Visitors' Choice Awards program. Starlight also received a Gold Award for "Best Performing Arts Venue" and Silver Award for "Best Theater" in Ingram's 2010 Best of Business Kansas City Awards, as well as the award for "Best Live Theater Venue" in the KC Magazine City's Best 2010 competition.
Starlight Theatre seats approximately 8,000 and is located in Swope Park.

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