K. Palmer & S. Shepherd debut in Cinderella tonight

The Broadway production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella welcomes two new principals debuting tonight. Keke Palmer and Sherri Shepherd begin performances as Cinderella and Madame, the evil Stepmother, respectively.

Palmer and Shepherd will make history tonight as the first African-American Cinderella and Madame on Broadway. The production has already been awarded the Actors Equity "Extraordinary Excellence in Diversity on Broadway" Award in 2013.

Sherri Shepherd takes over the role from current 'Madame' Nancy Opel and plays a limited engagement through to 22 November 2014, when she will hand over the reigns to NeNe Leakes for the remainder of the run until 3 January 2015.

Keke Palmer replaces Paige Faure in the title role and will continue until the show's closure.

Cinderella is currently in its second year on Broadway and will be celebrating its 600th performance on Saturday 9 August 2014. The production opened at the Broadway Theatre on 3 March 2013, following previews from 25 January 2013, and is currently booking through to 3 January 2015.

The current cast of Cinderella includes Keke Palmer as Cinderella, Sherri Shepherd as Madame, Joe Carroll as Prince Topher, Victoria Clark as the Fairy Godmother, Ann Harada as stepsister Charlotte, Stephanie Gibson as stepsister Gabrielle, Peter Bartlett as Sebastian, Prince Topher's mentor and Lord Chancellor, Todd Buonopane as the rebel Jean-Michel and Phumzile Sojola as Lord Pinkleton.

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. The musical opened to mixed 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).

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

- by Tom Millward