Ann Harada Plays Cinderella’s Stepsister Charlotte in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Ann Harada

Fresh from playing Linda, the stage manager on the Golden Globe nominated NBC musical drama “Smash”, Ann Harada (AVENUE Q, 9 TO 5, Les Misérables, M. Butterfly) is currently appearing as the stepsister Charlotte in the Broadway premiere of RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’s Cinderella, at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd Street), alongside Laura Osnes (Tony nomination Award for Frank Wildhorn’s BONNIE & CLYDE,SOUTH PACIFIC, ANYTHING GOES, GREASE) as Cinderella; Santino Fontana (THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, Drama Desk Award for BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, OBIE Award for SONS OF THE PROPHET) as the Prince; and Victoria Clark (Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards forTHE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA) as Marie, the Fairy Godmother, in the Broadway premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd Street). RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’s Cinderellabegan previews on January 25, 2013, and will open on March 3, 2013.

Directed by Mark Brokaw (CRY BABY, THE LYONS, HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE), this new production has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a new book by four-time Tony nominee Douglas Carter Beane (XANADU, SISTER ACT, LYSISTRATA JONES, THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED), based on the original book by Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical has choreography by Josh Rhodes, and music adaptation, supervision and arrangements by David Chase. Opening Night is Sunday, March 3, 2013. Tickets to RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’S Cinderella are on sale now through Tele-charge and can be purchased by calling 212 239 6200 or online atwww.telecharge.com.

The celebrated musical RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’S Cinderella, originally written for television in 1957 by the legendary musical theatre duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, starring Julie Andrews. Although stage adaptations have been performed worldwide since 1958, RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’S Cinderella, in fact, marks the Broadway premiere for the beloved romantic musical. Along with Cinderella, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s legendary musicals include OKLAHOMA!, CAROUSEL, THE KING AND I, SOUTH PACIFIC and THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

Mr. Beane’s book for RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’s Cinderella offers a new romantic twist on the ultimate makeover story of a maid-turned-princess, mixing fresh comedy and wit with the beloved tale’s classic elements — the pumpkin, glass slipper, masked ball and more. In addition to musical numbers from the original score, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible,” “Ten Minutes Ago” and “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?,” this Cinderella includes four additional songs from the Rodgers + Hammerstein “trunk.”

The cast also features Harriet Harris (Tony and Drama Desk Awards forTHOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, TV’s “Frasier” and “Desperate Housewives”); as Madame, Cinderella’s stepmother; Marla Mindelle (SISTER ACT, SOUTH PACIFIC) as stepsister Gabrielle; Peter Bartlett (THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST) as Sebastian, Prince Topher’s mentor and Lord Chancellor; Greg Hildreth (PETER AND THE STARCATCHER,BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON) as the rebel Jean-Michel; and Phumzile Sojola (The Gershwin’s PORGY & BESS) as Lord Pinkleton. Jill Abramovitz, Kristine Bendul, Drew Franklin, Heidi Giberson, Stephanie Gibson, Shonica Gooden, Kendal Hartse, Robert Hartwell, Laura Irion, Adam Jepsen, Andy Jones, Andy Mills, Linda Mugleston, Alessa Neeck, Peter Nelson, Nick Spangler, Kirstin Tucker, Cody Williams, Branch Woodman and Kevin Worley complete the cast.

RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’S Cinderella has scenic design by Anna Louizos (Tony nominee IN THE HEIGHTS, HIGH FIDELITY; also AVENUE Q, IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS); costume design by William Ivey Long (5-time Tony winner for HAIRSPRAY, THE PRODUCERS, GREY GARDENS, CRAZY FOR YOU, NINE); lighting design by Ken Posner (Tony winner THE COAST OF UTOPIA; also WICKED, HAIRSPRAY, OTHER DESERT CITIES); and sound design by Nevin Steinberg (The Gershwin’s PORGY AND BESS, LA BOHEME;BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO, HAIR, IN THE HEIGHTS). Andy Einhorn is music director and conductor.

RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’S Cinderella is presented on Broadway by Robyn Goodman, Jill Furman, Stephen Kocis, Edward Walson, Venetian Glass Productions, The Araca Group, Luigi and Rose Caiola, Roy Furman, Walter S. Grossman, Peter W. May/Sanford Robertson, Glass Slipper Productions LLC/Eric Schmidt, Ted Liebowitz/James Spry and Center Theatre Group. Lawrence C. Salameno is the associate producer.

RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’S Cinderella will be performed at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd Street). The schedule is as follows:
Previews:
Friday, January 25 – Friday, February 9:
Monday – Saturday at 8pm, Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm;
Tuesday, February 12 – Sunday, February 17:
Tuesday – Saturday at 8pm, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm;
Tuesday, February 19 – Sunday, February 24:
Tuesday – Saturday at 8pm, Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm, Sunday at 3pm;
Beginning Tuesday, February 26:
Tuesday at 7pm, Wed at 2pm and 7:30pm, Thurs at 7pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm, Sunday at 3pm.
Tickets to RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’S Cinderella can be purchased by calling Tele-charge at 212 239 6200 or online at www.telecharge.com.
For more information please visit www.CinderellaOnBroadway.com

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Lia Chang

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist.