Carolee Carmello, Grace McLean, Jordan Dobson, and more will join the previously announced Linedy Genao in the upcoming Broadway bow of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Bad Cinderella, set to begin performances February 17, 2023, at the Imperial Theatre. Opening night is March 23.
Carmello, currently starring in Broadway's 1776, will take on the title role's "Machiavellian" stepmother, with Great Comet alum McLean playing the Queen and A Beautiful Noise's Dobson as Sebastian. Also newly joining the company are Morgan Higgins as stepsister Marie, Sami Gayle as stepsister Adele, and Christina Acosta Robinson as Godmother.
The ensemble will include Raymond Baynard, Michael Baerga, Lauren Boyd, Tristen Buettel, Kayleigh Cronin, Josh Drake, Ben Lanham, Angel Lozada, Cameron Loyal, Mariah Lyttle, Sarah Meahl, Christian Probst, Larkin Reilly, Julio Rey, Lily Rose, J. Savage, Tregony Shepard, Dave Schoonover, Paige Smallwood, and Aléna Watters, with Alyssa Carol, Gary Cooper, Robin Masella, Michael Milkanin, Chloe Nadon-Enriquez, and Lucas Thompson rounding out the company as swings. Savy Jackson will serve as the Cinderella alternate.
The news was announced by the production on Instagram with a cheeky promo video featuring the new cast as "The Real Townspeople of Belleville." Watch below.
The musical reimagines the classic fairytale to center around a damsel—but this one is not in distress. "I'm not your Cinderella. I'm Bad Cinderella," teased Genao at a press event announcing the production in October.
The Broadway bow follows a short-lived West End premiere that began performances in June 2021 even as COVID restrictions still in place limited audience sizes to 50% of the Gillian Lynne Theatre's usual capacity. Following an opening night postponed by cases of COVID within the company, the musical ultimately shuttered June 12, 2022, with Lloyd Webber describing the decision to open the show while the industry was still dealing with the pandemic a "costly mistake."
The musical features a book by Oscar-winning screenwriter Emerald Fennel, music by Lloyd Webber, and lyrics by Tony winner David Zippel. Genao will star in the title role. Laurence Connor is back at the helm for the Broadway bow after staging the 2021 West End premiere, then titled simply Cinderella. Also returning for the Broadway run is choreographer JoAnn M. Hunter, scenic and costume designer Gabriela Tylesova, lighting designer Bruno Poet, and sound designer Gareth Owen. Luc Verschueren will provide hair and wig design. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting.
