Broadway Favorites: Cinderella at the Straz!

Disclaimer: I received complimentary tickets to see Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella from the Straz Center and the Tampa Bay Bloggers. All opinions are my own.

I was so excited to see Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella during the Broadway Favorite Tour at the Straz center! The first reason I was excited was because I had never been to the Straz center. What a beautiful theater! I don’t think there is a bad seat in the house. We sat near the back and I could see perfectly. If you are thirsty or hungry they have refreshments and even a restaurant to choose from. The seats are comfy too!

The music was beautiful! The actresses and actors had wonderful voices. The songs gave us insights into the characters. Two of my favorite songs involved Prince Topher. The first song was called “Me, Who Am I?” Topher had just battled a dragon and was unhappy and wondering what his purpose was. The second one was “The Prince Is Giving A Ball.” The reason I liked the second song so much was that it had me giggling. The announcement used the Prince’s full name which is rather long.

One aspect of the play that had me in awe was the transformation scenes. Two different times Cinderella got transformed. I was wondering how they were going to transform her into the beautiful clothes. I am still wondering! It was purely magic! No fog machine, no curtains. She just changed right before your eyes!

If you are expecting just singing and dancing, you will be disappointed. Comedy is a huge aspect of the musical. One of the sisters, Charlotte, will have you cracking up! Her one liners and and modern twists had me laughing out loud! All of the characters have comedic elements, but Charlotte stood out to me the most.

I do have to say that one of the cutest moments of the evening was this little boy in the audience who stole the show for a couple seconds. The prince was kissing Cinderella on the hand and the boy said “ewww” really loudly and my whole section burst out laughing. I am sure the people on stage had no idea what we were reacting to. It was so cute though! I also saw lots of cute little princesses in the crowd wearing their Cinderella dresses.

If you can see Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella at the Straz center, you should!

You can also be a Fairy Godmother yourself!

“Now go – to the ball. In the name of every girl who has ever wished to go to a ball in a beautiful dress. In the name of every girl who has ever wanted to change the world she lived in. Go! with the promise of possibility!” – Fairy God Mother in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Book by Douglas Carter Beane

The Straz Center, Belle of the Ball Project and the company of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella are pleased to announce that through Sunday, Oct. 26, donations of formal gowns, shoes and accessories will be accepted at the Straz Center during the performances of the Tony-award winning production. The partnership benefits Belle of the Ball Project, a nonprofit organization that provides homecoming and prom dresses to young women in need.

This partnership is especially close to Cinderella cast member Danielle Jordan’s heart. Jordan, who is spearheading this initiative, references the following as part of her basis for inspiration: “Beauty in a woman is a rare treasure that will always be admired. Graciousness, however, is priceless and of even greater value. Without it nothing is possible; with it, one can do anything.” – Charles Perrault

Jordan explains, “The message of Cinderella is so inspiring and full of hope and possibilities. Being a part of this tour and sharing Ella’s spirit of kindness and generosity with the country is a dream come true. With this partnership, our goal is to spread the show’s message in a more tangible way, by providing items of beauty to girls who may not otherwise be able to afford them.” For additional information, please visit http://www.strazcenter.org/Events/1415_Broadway/Cinderella.aspx

Images Courtesy of the Straz Center (text added)