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Eartha Kitt is Purr-fectly Wonderful in CinderellaReviewed by Madelyn Miller
Eartha Kitt stars as the Fairy Godmother in Rodgers & Hammerstein�s CINDERELLA. The show, directed by Gabriel Barre, will be presented by Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park July 10-22, 2001. Known throughout the world for her versatility and style, Ms. Kitt has been nominated for three Tony Awards, an Emmy Award, and two Grammy Awards. Eartha Kitt was recently nominated for a Tony for her role in The Wild Party and she also received critical acclaim nationwide starring as the Wicked Witch in the national tour of The Wizard of Oz. Other stage credits include Dr. Faust, New Faces of 1952, Monotonous, Mrs. Patterson, Shinbone Alley, The Skin of Our Teeth, The Owl and the Pussycat, Timbuktu, Bunny, The High Bid, and Follies. The voice of Eartha Kitt is one of the stars of Disney�s blockbuster animated film The Emperor�s New Groove. Other films include Monotonous, The Mark of the Hawk, St. Louis Blues, Anna Lucasta, Monty Python�s Erik the Viking, Ernest Scared Stupid, Boomerang, Fatal Instinct, and she was featured in Isaac Mizrahi�s Unzipped. Her portrayal as Catwoman in the television series "Batman" continues to be seen worldwide, and her concert and cabaret career has taken her to over 100 countries where she has sung in 10 different languages. Director Gabriel Barre recently directed Andrew Lippa�s The Wild Party at the Manhattan Theatre Club (winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical and nominated for 13 Drama Desk Awards). He has directed numerous original works, including john & jen, Houdini, Zorro, The Curse of Capistrano, Honky-Tonk Highway, Fanny Hill, Dorian, the musical version of Summer of �42, and revivals of Sweeney Todd (winner of four Connecticut Critics Circle Awards including Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical) and Finian�s Rainbow (nominated for five CT Critics Circle Awards). The collaboration between Gabriel Barre and Andrew Lippa continues with musical arrangements and supervision by Lippa. The Wild Party was produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club last year, winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical and Drama Desk Award for Best Music, and nominated for 13 Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical. Ken Roberson, choreographer, has performed and choreographed numerous shows including the Broadway production of John Lequzamo�s Freak and Jelly�s Last Jam; Off-Broadway, The Mineola Twins, Stupid Kids, Avenue X, Insurrection, Blade to the Heat, Meteor Girl, Brief History of White Music, and Songbird, and the national tours of The Civil War, Showboat, and The All Soldier Army Show. The cast for Rodgers & Hammerstein�s CINDERELLA includes award-winning actor Everett Quinton (Stepmother) one of the founders of The Ridiculous Theater Company who recently won the Drama Desk and Obie Awards for his starring role in The Mystery of Irma Vep; Paolo Montalban, in the role of Prince Charming (which he also played in the 1997 Disney TV movie of "Cinderella," starring Whitney Houston and Brandy); Ken Prymus (King), Leslie Becker (Queen), Victor Trent Cook (Lionel), Alexandra Kolb (Stepsister Joy), and NaTasha Yvette Williams (Stepsister Grace). The design team includes Jim Youmans, sets; Pamela Scofield, costumes; Tim Hunter, lights; Duncan Edwards, sound; Bernie Ardia, hair; and Greg Meeh, special effects. Tickets for CINDERELLA are on sale now at The Box Office at Preston Center, 6013 Berkshire Lane, or any Ticketmaster outlet including Foley�s, Fiesta or Kroger Stores. Tickets are priced from $10 to $56, depending upon seat location, time and date of performance. To charge by phone, call 214-631-ARTS or purchase online at Ticketmaster. All performances will be in the Music Hall at Fair Park. The remaining shows for the 2001 Dallas Summer Musicals season are: July 24-29, DAME EDNA, one-week subscriber�s special based on the popular comedy character, Dame Edna (created and performed by Barry Humphries). Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals are The Dallas Morning News, WFAA TV Channel 8, Memories 96.7 Radio, American Airlines, and Massey Cadillac. For more information about the season or any of the shows, visit the Dallas Summer Musicals website. CALENDAR LISTING FOR CINDERELLA Fri. July 13 8 p.m. All performances will be at The Music Hall at Fair Park. For more information about the Music Hall, call 214-565-1116. -Updated 07-12-01- |
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Several generations have fallen under the spell of Rodgers & Hammerstein�s enchanting musical CINDERELLA, first shown on CBS Television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, re-made with Lesley Ann Warren in 1965, and most recently seen on "The Wonderful World of Disney" with Brandy and Whitney Houston in 1997. Now this small-screen classic comes to life in a spectacular stage fantasy filled with timeless characters, irresistible romance, and the unforgettable songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein all brought together with the kind of dazzling stagecraft that will leave audiences feeling happy ever after.