Kathleen Marshall Will Direct Broadway Debut of Ever After, Based On 1998 Cinderella Film

By Adam Hetrick
15 May 2012

Kathleen Marshall
Kathleen Marshall
Photo by Monica Simoes

Ever After, Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler's Cinderella musical that was to debut out-of-town in 2009 prior to a Broadway bow, is now aiming to arrive on Broadway during the 2013-14 season, producers Scott Landis and Philip Morgaman announced May 15.

Inspired by the 1998 film of the same title that starred Drew Barrymore, Ever After was first announced to have its world premiere in 2009 at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco prior to an anticipated Broadway run. "Smash" and Seminar scribe Theresa Rebeck was originally attached as co-book writer, with Doug Hughes (Doubt) as director. The project was postponed.

Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes, Nice Work If You Can Get It) has been tapped to direct and choreograph the upcoming Broadway production of Ever After, which will arrive in New York following an out-of-town try-out.

It has music by Goldrich and book and lyrics by Heisler. Rebeck is no longer attached. Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Company, Sweeney Todd) will serve as musical director.

Ever After, according to producers, "tells the story of Danielle de Barbarac, the daughter of a Nobleman in 16th Century France, who embarks on a series of adventures, standing up to her scheming stepmother, befriending Leonardo DaVinci and winning the love of the crown prince of France. This new musical sets the record straight on the fable of Cinderella, showing how a strong-willed, independent girl can make her dreams come true without the help of fairy godmothers, talking mice, or magic pumpkins."

The New York Times first reported news of the production.

Heisler and Goldrich also authored the children's musicals Junie B. Jones and Dear Edwina. Heisler was named a 2012 recipient of the Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre May 14.