Keke Palmer is Broadway's Newest Cinderella
Producers of the Broadway production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella have announced that actress, talk show host and recording artist Keke Palmer will make her Broadway debut by stepping into the title role from 9 September 2014.
Palmer will make history as the first African-American Cinderella on Broadway. The show was awarded the Actors Equity "Extraordinary Excellence in Diversity on Broadway" Award in 2013.
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 03 March 2013, following previews from 25 Jan 2013, and is currently booking through 3 Jan 2015.
Keke Palmer will take over the role from current Cinderella Paige Faure, who will play her final performance on Sun 7 Sept 2014. Palmer will join the current cast which includes 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.
In a statement following the announcement, 21 year old Palmer said: "I have an infinite amount of gratitude to show, I am thankful to be able to do this and excited for the discipline it will bring."
Her talents span film, television, and music alike, recently making TV history for being the youngest person to ever have her own talk show, "Just Keke", which premiered in June on BET. She can also be seen in the second season of Showtime's "Masters of Sex" in which she stars alongside Michael Sheen. She also recently starred opposite Cicely Tyson, Blair Underwood and Vanessa Williams in Lifetime's TV adaptation of "A Trip to Bountiful", and her film credits include 'Ice Age: Continental Drift', 'Joyful Noise', 'Shrink', and 'The Longshots'. She is also working in the music studio on her next album.
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.
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