‘Cinderella’ Musical to Open at Youngstown Playhouse

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – There are several stage versions of “Cinderella,” but the one that will open at The Youngstown Playhouse this weekend is the 1957 Richard Rodgers-Oscar Hammerstein II production that was written to be performed as a televised musical.

“The idea was to bring Broadway to the masses,” Emma Wason, director of the Playhouse production, said of the Rodgers and Hammerstein TV special. “There have been other versions … but we chose the traditional one, and we wanted to stay as true to the original.”

Julie Andrews played the title role in the 1957 show.

The 50-person cast of the Playhouse production is led by Elizabeth Huff as Cinderella, Connie Cassidy as the Stepmother, Elizabeth Conrad as the Fairy Godmother and Wayne Bonner III as the Prince.

Rounding out the principal actors are Sierra Ellis, Kayla Fenstermaker, Terry Shears, Amy Burd, Craig Conrad, Arcale Peace and Kathryn Stanton.

The 22-person ensemble includes eight children. The show also includes eight dancers from the James Dance and Performing Arts Studio in Howland.

Emelia Sherin is the choreographer of the show, which includes several large dance numbers.

“It’s a Golden Age musical, and the songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein have stood the test of time,” Wason said. Those songs include “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible” and “Ten Minutes Ago.”

The Playhouse show is proving to be a family activity, according to Wason.

“Parents and grandparents are buying tickets so they can take their children and grandchildren,” she said.

Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1, 2, 8 and 9; and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and 10.

Tickets are $27, $22 and $17 and can be purchased by phone at 330 788 8739 or at experienceyourarts.org.

Pictured at top: Elizabeth Huff and Elizabeth Conrad in a scene from “Cinderella” at The Youngstown Playhouse.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.