Casting is complete for the previously postponed U.K. theatrical premiere of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, which will begin previews November 1 prior to an official opening November 6 at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester, England.
Directed by Joseph Houston with co-direction and choreography by William Whelton, performances will continue through December 11. Tarik Frimpong is the assistant director.
Joining the previously announced Grace Mouat (SIX) as Ella and Jacob Fowler (Heathers the Musical) as Prince Topher will be Annie Aitken (The Phantom of the Opera) as Madame, Julie Yammanee (Carousel) as Marie/Fairy Godmother, Lee Ormsby (Les Misérables) as Sebastian, Matthew McDonald (HMS Pinafore) as Lord Pinkleton, Katie Ramshaw as Charlotte, Olivia-Faith Kamau (Million Dollar Quartet) as Gabrielle, and Adam Filipe (The Prince of Egypt) as Jean-Michel.
The ensemble will include Morgan Broome, Lois Glain Postle, Ria Tanaka, Ella Valentine, Jamie Jonathan, Will Fisher, Trevor Lin, and Milo McCarthy.
Cinderella, the only musical written for TV by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, premiered in 1957 starring Julie Andrews and was seen by more than 100 million people. Subsequent TV broadcasts featured Lesley Ann Warren in 1965 and Whitney Houston and Brandy in 1997. A Broadway adaptation, with a Tony-nominated book by Douglas Carter Beane, premiered in 2013. (Following a one-night concert in London in 2019, the Hope Mill production will be the first time a fully staged version of the show has been performed in the U.K.)
Director Houston said, “We are thrilled to finally share our full cast for Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella. The whole Cinderella casting process was a joy from beginning to end, and the sheer talent that we have assembled is truly remarkable. Having Grace Mouat in the title role is so exciting, and I know audiences are in for a treat, seeing her take on such an iconic role, alongside Jacob Fowler, who is also set to stun audiences. We have assembled an incredible creative team to help bring this show to life, and we can’t wait for audiences to experience our most ambitious show to date.”
The creative team also includes musical supervisor Leo Munby, musical director Audra Cramer, musical arranger Jason Carr, set and costume designer Elly Wdowski, projection designer George Reeve, lighting designer Aaron J Dootson, sound designer Adam Fisher, wig designer Richard Mawbey, and sound designer Josh Evans. Casting is by Jane Deitch with artwork by Steph Pyne.
Visit HopeMillTheatre.co.uk.
