Hairspray's Adam Epstein is producing the reading of the new work, which is based on the 1988 Twentieth Century Fox film of the same name.
Ever After was penned by Zina Goldrich (music) and Marcy Heisler (book and lyrics) and features direction by Doug (Doubt) Hughes, choreography by Rob (Thoroughly Modern Millie) Ashford and musical direction by Robert Billig. The starry cast for the reading includes Elena Shaddow as Danielle, Max von Essen as Prince Henry, Jan Maxwell as Baroness Rodmilla, Brynn O'Malley as Marguerite, Emily Walton as Jacqueline, Tim Jerome as Leonardo da Vinci, Ron Holgate as King Francis, Mary Beth Peil as Queen Marie, Jonathan Root as Laurent, Jonathan Rayson as Gustave and Stephen Bogardus as Le Pieu.
The ensemble comprises Jill Abramovitz, Lindsey Alley, Nathan Balser, Tracee Beazer, Daniel Bogart, Joseph Dellger, David Eggers, Colleen Fitzpatrick, Marya Grandy, Howard Kaye, Ken Krugman, Darius Nichols, Lindsay K. Northen, Daniel Torres and Betsy Wolfe.
There are plans for an out-of-town tryout in late fall 2008 in anticipation of a Broadway bow in spring 2009.
Producer Epstein previously described the new musical to Variety thusly: "Cinderella as not told by the Brothers Grimm — no magic pumpkin, no talking mice, no fairy godmother. It tells a real-life story about a heroine who fights societal constraints against all odds." The 1998 film "Ever After" featured a screenplay by Susannah Grant and direction by Andy Tennant. A new take on the classic "Cinderella" fairy tale, the motion picture starred Drew Barrymore as Danielle De Barbarac, a young woman who is made a servant by her stepmother after the death of her father. The cast also featured Anjelica Huston, Dougray Scott, Patrick Godfrey, Megan Dodds, Melanie Lynskey, Timothy West, Judy Parfitt and Jeroen Krabbé.
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Songwriters Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler's credits include Dear Edwina, the Lucille Lortel-nominated musical Junie B. Jones and the cabaret favorite "Taylor, the Latte Boy," which has been performed by Kristin Chenoweth and John Tartaglia. Ever After would mark their Broadway bow.
