Iconic Broadway composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and Oscar-winning writer Emerald Fennell give a beloved fairytale a fresh makeover in Bad Cinderella on Broadway. Get Bad Cinderella tickets on New York Theatre Guide.
Bad Cinderella premiered in London in 2021; at the time, the show was simply titled Cinderella. Its planned 2020 debut was postponed amid the pandemic, and the show ultimately ran in London's West End for a year. A four-star review on London Theatre reads, "[The] grunge-punk princess is more Olivia Rodrigo than Disney... She's a new kind of princess, one that little girls and big girls alike could all use."
The review also reads, of Lloyd Webber's songs, "I defy you to leave the theatre without humming any of them. Highlights include 'Only You, Lonely You,' 'Bad Cinderella,' and 'Cinderella's Soliloquy,' but there's not a dud in the bunch and the orchestrations soar, particularly at the ball. David Zippel's clever lyrics offer a surprising rhyme at every turn."
What is Andrew Lloyd Webber most known for?
Lloyd Webber is one of the most celebrated modern theatre composers. His The Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running Broadway show in history, and his other musicals, including Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Sunset Boulevard, are all modern classics. For the Bad Cinderella musical, he teamed up with lyricist Zippel and bookwriter Emerald Fennell, a renowned writer herself who won an Oscar for writing the film Promising Young Woman. She's also written for Killing Eve and acted on The Crown.
What is Bad Cinderella about?
The Bad Cinderella musical is set in Belleville, a kingdom that values beauty above all. That makes Cinderella — a brash, goth, unruly maid — the town outcast. Her one friend is Sebastian, the awkward younger brother of Prince Charming, and neither he nor Cinderella realize their feelings for the other are mutual. Cinderella sets out to become beautiful to win him over, with the help of a plastic-surgery "godmother" — but as the fairytale goes, the transformation only lasts until midnight. Afterward, she's left to discover that inner beauty is what really matters.
What age is Bad Cinderella the musical suitable for?
Bad Cinderella is recommended for ages 10 and up. The musical contains some strong language.
Tickets to Bad Cinderella in New York are available now.
