Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella

by Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II

Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella is the new Broadway adaptation of the classic musical. This contemporary take on the classic tale features Rodgers & Hammerstein's most beloved songs, including "In My Own Little Corner," "Impossible/It's Possible" and "Ten Minutes Ago," alongside an up-to-date, hilarious and romantic libretto by Tony Award-nominee Douglas Carter Beane.
Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella was twice remade for television, first in 1965 for Lesley Ann Warren and again in 1997, featuring Brandy and Whitney Houston. The original Broadway production of Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella opened in 2013 and starred Laura Osnes, Santino Fontana, Victoria Clark and Harriet Harris.
Nine 2013 Tony Awards, including Best Book of a Musical and Best Revival of a Musical Winner! 2014 Tony Award for Best Costume Design for a Musical Winner! Three 2013 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Orchestrations

Genres: Plays, Theatre, Romance, Fantasy, Music

108 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American composer who worked primarily in musical theater.

With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the best-known American composers of the 20th century, and his compositions had a significant influence on popular music.

Richard Rodgers was in the inaugural group of Kennedy Center Honorees in 1978 for lifetime achievement in the arts.
In 1990, the 46th Street Theatre was renamed the Richard Rodgers Theatre in his memory.

Reviews

[Nicoleta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of my favorite musicals! I got cast as Portia one of the stepsisters in this play with KBP!

[Asher Burns · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a big fan, don't feel like the script is that engaging or funny. Characters are all very flat. There's an attempt to inject some complexity into the Prince during his opening musical number but it makes no sense because it's never revisited and no reason is ever given for his feelings of insecurity, which seem completely unwarranted.

Even the songs are lacking lyrically, crazy repetitive. Word on the street is the prince is giving a ball. A ball. The prince is giving a ball. The prince is giving a what? A ball. The prince is giving a ball. He's giving a ball. The prince is giving a ball. The prince is giving a ball.

[Martin Denton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Call me sentimental; call me an overgrown kid--as an adult, I find much of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella magical. To give just one example--the ball itself: 20 minutes or so of bliss, framed by two of Richard Rodgers's loveliest dance pieces, the "Gavotte" and "Cinderella's Waltz," with a pair of love songs ("Ten Minutes Ago" and "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful") in between and a can't-miss comic duet "The Stepsisters' Lament" sandwiched in the middle:

Why would a fellow want a girl like her
A girl who's merely lovely?
Why can't a fellow ever once prefer
A girl who's merely me?

We must have no illusions about this, however: Cinderella is hardly great art, not even first-rate Rodgers & Hammerstein. But it is quintessential Rodgers & Hammerstein, in its way. The music soars in those dances and love songs I mentioned; there's also the infectious "Impossible," the charming "A Lovely Night," and the wistfully sweet "In My Own Little Corner." The book and lyrics, meanwhile, offer a take on the famous tale that only Hammerstein could have supplied. Who else would have given Cinderella and her wicked step-sisters and step-mother a post-ball post-mortem that finds them all in happy, dizzy accord; who else would have come up with a cockeyed optimist of a fairy godmother who urges good old fashioned American determination as the way to make dreams come true:

But the world is full of zanies and fools
Who don't believe in sensible rules
And won't believe what sensible people say
And because these daft and dewy-eyed dopes
Keep building up impossible hopes
Impossible
Things are happening every day.

When I was a kid, seeing re-runs of the Lesley Anne Warren version of Cinderella on TV, I thought the show was sappy. Now I find it worth treasuring.

[Michael Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella is a musical take on the classic. This version differs from its Disney counterpart and even its grim fairy tale versions. Topeher has returned to the kingdom from school and is thrust into a plot to find him a wife while distracting the peasants. Sebastian his advisor is running the kingdom with a greedy hart and doesn’t want the king to be to catch on. A ball there will be to find Topher a wife. Ella (called Cinderella by her wicked step mother) is an optimistic and kind girl. Madame hopes to marry off one of her daughters into royalty. Marie the crazy old lady is Ella’s fairy godmother and uses magic to help Ella, as Ella is the only person who has shown her kindness. Jean-Michael hopes to marry Gabriella (one of Ella’s step sisters) but Madame is not having it. Jean Michael is a revolutionary leader and poor. With the help of Ella and the godmother the people are heard, a vote is established to over throw Sebastian and Topher finds his wife.

[Scott Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly…..I am pretty sure I didn’t read this exact script. It is hard to find scripts on Goodreads.. with that being said, the one I read was still Rodgers and Hammerstein but reimagined by Douglas Carter Beane. Which is the 2013 Broadway score.

This timeless classic was reimagined to the finest. I don’t want to give away spoilers, but all I can say is that I feel in this version, we actually get to learn about the prince. He is not just a prince giving a ball. If you get a chance to read it, you should read this version.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Officially off book for Cinderella (understudying the step family)! But Rodger’s and Hammerstein have it out for me bc actually what the heck is this wording (and give the girls who can’t sing a chance like there’s no need for harmonies this tight 😭) Anyway, it’s really cute, an interesting and fresh take on the story and I can’t wait to perform it ❤️

[Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This forgotten Rodgers & Hammerstein musical is a lot of fun. A little corny here and there, but lots of good music.

For more on our favorite musicals tune in to this special episode of the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ep...

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Garbage. No decent parts for men, painfully few decent parts for women (spoiler: Cinderella herself is not one of the decent parts, nor is Prince Charming), boring songs, tired plot. Just awful. A low point in Rodgers & Hammerstein's catalog.

[Jessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It isn’t my favorite version. I am a huge Rogers & Hammersteins fan, but this show just doesn’t peak my interest as much as others. It does have a few cute one liners. I’m in a community theater production as the stepmom playing in January 2023.

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

VHS

Very enjoyable. Yep--prince was cute!

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the script while listening to the soundtrack for accompaniment. Loved some parts, didn't love others. A few added jokes are great and some are painfully corny.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet and modern retelling of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella.

[Madeline Rossell · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are parts that are really good, and there are parts that tell instead of show.