“Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella" at the New Era Community Building -- October 4 through 6.
Friday, October 4, through Sunday, October 6
New Era Community Building, 3455 New Era Road, Muscatine IA
One of the most beloved stage musicals in American history and a Tony Award winner that has entertained family audiences for generations, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella serves as this year's fundraising performance by Muscatine's New Era Dinner Theatre, its October 4 through run finding its proceeds benefiting Lutheran World Relief, the Muscatine Center for Social Action, and New Era Lutheran Church.
Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s enchanting adaptation of the timeless fairytale, Cinderella was their only musical originally composed for television. When the television program, starring Julie Andrews as Cinderella, first aired in 1957, it was, at the time, the most widely viewed TV presentation in the history of the medium. Since then, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella has continued to charm audiences in productions on stage and on television, among then a 1965 version starring Lesley Ann Warren and a 1997 tale with Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as Fairy Godmother. All the enchanting Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II songs from the original score are included in New Era's presentation, among them: “The Prince Is Giving A Ball," “In My Own Little Corner," “Impossible," “Ten Minutes Ago," and “Stepsisters’ Lament." This stage version is adapted by Tom Briggs from the 1997 teleplay by Robert L Freedman, and boasting great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, it's sure to warm the hearts of children and adults alike.
The New Era production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella is directed by Teri Walsh, with musical direction by Stevie Whitehead. The cast includes Andrea LaPage as Cinderella, Courtney Cooper as Fairy Godmother, Hunter Haller as the Prince, Jenni Colbert as the Stepmother, Kari Thoren and Kim Feuerbach as the Stepsisters, Chelsea Geldenhuys as the Queen, Presley Reimers as the King, and Antonio Martinez as Lionel. They are joined by a singing ensemble and combo of instrumentalists.
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella will be presented from October 4 through 6 in the New Era Community Building next to Wild Cat Den State Park in rural Muscatine, with dinner served at 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. (Sunday is a 2 .m. show-only performance.) This year’s dinner will consist of princess fluff salad, sloppy joes, vegetable sticks, chips, pumpkin dessert, and beverage, with the performances starting immediately afterward at 7 p.m. The dining room, theatre, and restrooms at New Era are handicap accessible.
Tickets for the dinner and show are $30 for adults and $20 for children through age 10, and can be ordered by calling Joan Dietrich at (563)299-4710 or Nancy Henke at (563)263-0881. Tickets may also be ordered by mail at Cinderella Tickets, c/o Joan Dietrich, 2854 Rolling Meadow Lane, Muscatine, IA, 52761.
