Cinderella welcomes 3 new principal cast members

The Broadway premiere of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella welcomes three new principal members of cast on 28 Jan 2014.

Joe Carroll plays the lead male role of 'Prince Topher' assuming the role from original cast member and Tony Award nominee Santino Fontana, who concluded his year-long run in the musical on 26 Jan 2014.

Carroll comes to Cinderella directly from the recent Broadway revival of 'Romeo and Juliet' featuring Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad, where he played 'Balthazar' and understudied 'Romeo.' He also appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award winning Best Musical 'Once.'

Todd Buonopane replaces original cast member Greg Hildreth as the rebel 'Jean-Michel.'

Buonopane appeared on Broadway as 'Roger' in 'Grease,' 'Amos' in 'Chicago' (also National Tour) and many, many roles in the original company of 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.'

Finally, Cinderella ensemble member Stephanie Gibson replaces original cast member Marla Mindelle as stepsister 'Gabrielle.'

They join Victoria Clark who returned to her Tony nominated role as 'Marie' on 21 Jan 2014.

As previously announced Canadianian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen will make her Broaday debut from 04 Feb - 27 Apr 2014 when she assumes the lead role of Cinderella from Tony Award-nominated original cast member Laura Osnes.

Fran Drescher will also make her Broadwy debut on the 04 Feb 2014, assumming the role of 'Madame' from original cast member Harriet Harris.

Cinderella opened at the Broadway Theatre on 03 Mar 2013, following previews from 25 Jan 2013, and is currently booking through to 29 Jun 2014.

The musical opened to mixed, but mostly excellent reviews: Glittery patchwork of a show (NY Times); Crowd-pleasing family entertainment (Hollywood Reporter); A solid and congenial framework for Rodgers and Hammerstein's wonderful songs (Record).

Directed by Mark Brokaw and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, the production's principal cast currently stars Heidi Giberson and Alessa Neeck (Cinderella until 02 Feb 2014),' Joe Carroll (Prince Topher), Victoria Clark (Marie), **Jill Abramovitz (Madame untill 02 Feb 2014), Stephanie Gibson (Gabrielle), Peter Bartlett (Sebastian), Todd Buonopane (Jean-Michel) and Phumzile Sojola (Lord Pinkleton).

Laura Osnes, who was nominated for a Tony for originating the lead role of Cinderella left the cast on 26 Jan 2014, the role is currently covered by understudies Heidi Giberson and Alessa Neeck until Carly Rae Jepsen assumes the role on 04 Feb 2014.

**Harriet Harris who originated the role of 'Madame' left the cast on 26 Jan 2014, the role is currently covered by understudy Jill Abramovitz until Fran Drescher assumes the role on 04 Feb 2014.

Cinderella features music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, with a new book by Douglas Carter Beane adapted from the original book by Oscar Hammerstein II.

Douglas Carter Beane's new book for Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella re-charts the journey of the tale's maid-turned-princess: with pumpkin, glass slippers, fairy godmother and other classic story elements intact, it is now Cinderella's turn to rescue the Prince.

In addition to musical numbers from the original score, including 'In My Own Little Corner,' 'Impossible/It's Possible,' 'Ten Minutes Ago' and 'Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?,' this new production will include several songs from the Rodgers & Hammerstein trunk.

The creative team features scenic design by Anna Louizos, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Ken Posner and sound design by Nevin Steinberg.

One of Rodgers & Hammerstein's most popular titles, Cinderella - which was written for television and debuted in 1957 starring Julie Andrews - has never been performed on Broadway, although stage adaptations have been performed worldwide since 1958.

The musical is being produced on Broadway by Robyn Goodman and Aged in Wood Productions.