ALW Cinderella extends booking period

Andrew Lloyd Webber, Emerald Fennell and David Zippel's very different take on Cinderella,  finally officially opened earlier this week and  has already extended its West End run by three months from February to 29th May 2022 with tickets now on sale  for the new dates

Carrie Hope Fletcher is excellent in he in the lead role and is joined by a very strong cast including Ivano Turco as Prince Sebastian, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as the Stepmother, Caleb Roberts as Prince Charming, Rebecca Trehearn as the Queen, Laura Baldwin and Georgina Castle as the Stepsisters and Gloria Onitiri as the Godmother. 

You can see the latest trailer for the show here

ALW Cinderella performances to resume on 18th August

The West End production of Andrew Lloyd Webber´s Cinderella was due to have its opening night on Monday at the Gillian Lynne Theatre when it was forced to close by a positive Covid case. It has now  revealed fresh opening plans with performances now on sale from 18th August, pushing back its opening for a number of weeks. This is after the track and trace rules change, meaning double-vaccinated individuals do not need to isolate if they come into contact with a Covid-positive individual. This may prevent further cancellations and give both the production and audiences more confidence.

Press night is on Wednesday, August 25th. Ticket holders for dates before 18th August will be contacted by the production.

You can see the first trailer from the show here

Release date and featured performers on original cast recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella

The original cast recording of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella release date has been revealed as 16th April 2021

Listed as featured performers on the  recording are Sarah Brightman (The Phantom of the Opera), Helen George (Call The Midwife), Laura Baldwin (Waitress), Georgina Castle (9 to 5 the Musical), Sam Robinson (We Will Rock You), Gloria Onitiri (Hadestown), Adam Lambert (Queen + Adam Lambert) and Todrick Hall (Kinky Boots).They join the previously announced Carrie Hope Fletcher, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt and Ivano Turco.

The world premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical adaptation of Cinderella with a contemporary twist is  due begin performances at London's Gillian Lynne Theatre on Wednesday 7th April 2021, with previews from 19th March 2021

Ivano Turco cast as Prince Sebastian in ALW Cinderella

Andrew Lloyd Webber has just announced that newcomer Ivano Turco has been cast as Prince Sebastian in his new musical Cinderella which is scheduled to have its first preview on 30th April 2021 with an opening night on 19th May at the  Gillian Lynne Theatre  

Turco , a graduate of Urdang Academy in Islington,  will make his West End debut in the role.  He was due to appear in West Side Story at the Royal Exchange Manchester, but the run was cancelled due to the pandemic. He is  a Zimbabwe-born dancer who  went to his first audition back in July for an ensemble part. After getting through the first rounds, he performed in front of Lloyd Webber - who asked him to stay for further auditions and  was plucked from obscurity to play a lead role in the show.

Speaking about Turco, Lloyd Webber said: “I’m overjoyed to introduce Ivano Turco as our Prince Sebastian in Cinderella. I’m convinced audiences will fall in love with him, as we did. Straight out of college, Ivano initially came in to audition as a dancer but has a natural acting talent, a wonderful voice and an innate charm and warmth and from the day we met I just knew I’d found our Prince!”

Also starring Carrie Hope Fletcher in the titular role and Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as the Stepmother, Cinderella has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by David Zippel and a book by Emerald Fennell.Cinderella will be directed by Laurence Connor, with choreography by JoAnn Hunter. 

You can hear him sing the second track Only You, Lonely You – from the forthcoming album from the show.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella reschedules opening date to end of April 2021

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella has set a rescheduled opening date  at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, and is now scheduled to have its first preview a month later on 30th April 2021 with an opening night on 19th May. Ticket holders will be contacted regarding their booking, with tickets for new dates on sale now.

Lloyd Webber said: "50 years ago I couldn't get Jesus Christ Superstar on stage as nobody wanted to produce it, so it appeared on record first. It's so strange to find history repeating itself half a century later with the album of the complete score of my new Cinderella. I can't get Cinderella on stage because I'm not allowed to, so I have gone back to my roots and recorded the album first."

The album was recorded in  March 2020 via remote collaboration as well as socially distanced studio sessions. It will be released as a full album before it premieres on stage, with a date expected in early 2021. Cast members and guest artists are still to be announced. 

You can listen here to the first number "Bad Cinderella"

Andrew Lloyd Webber working at home on his new production of Cinderella

Andrew Lloyd Webber posted a picture of himself on twitter working from home with Laurence Connor,  the director of his new production of Cinderella reimagined.

The Lord  recently postponed  the shows opening date due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19 and is now  scheduled to open at The Gillian Lynne Theatre on Wednesday 28th October, with previews from Friday 9th  October.

Carrie Hope Fletcher to play Cinderella in Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical

Producers have announced today that Carrie Hope Fletcher will play Cinderella in Andrew Lloyd Webber's  new production at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, with performances beginning on Friday 28th August (Press Night: Wednesday 23rd September), Tickets will go on General Sale on Friday 20th March.

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Carrie Hope Fletcher has starred in Heathers (Theatre Royal Haymarket), The Addams Family (UK Tour), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (UK Tour), Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre), and is currently playing Fantine in Les Miserables at the newly named Sondheim Theatre.

Andrew Lloyd Webber said: "I'm absolutely thrilled that Carrie will be our Cinderella at the Gillian Lynne Theatre this Autumn. She has totally wowed my fellow writers and creative team and was a big success at the sing through of the show late last year.I am hugely confident that she will make this new take on Cinderella very much her own, and I'm looking forward to working and recording with her as soon as possible."

All further creative team and cast announcements regarding Cinderella will be made at a later date.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical adaptation of Cinderella due to open at Gillian Lynne Theatre this September

With the announcement this morning that School of Rock is due to close on 1st March, comes the news that the world premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical adaptation of  Cinderella with a contemporary twist is due  begin performances at London's Gillian Lynne Theatre this September.

The production will be directed by  Laurence Connor (School of Rock, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), with Gabriela Tylesova on scenic & costume design and Joann Hunter providing the choreography.

Andrew Lloyd Webber said: I have long wanted to write my own version of Cinderella but could never find a take on the classic story that really grabbed me. Emerald Fennell has written something truly exciting and original, and the moment I read her outline I knew I’d found my latest collaborator. I’m very pleased to be working with David Zippel, a hugely witty lyricist, once again. I’m also excited to be reunited with Laurence and JoAnn, who I loved creating School of Rock with and who delivered a knock out Joseph last Summer at The London Palladium, where it rightfully returns in June.

Lord Lloyd Webber, is working on a new score with Carrie Hope Fletcher with a dance workshop planned for March in London. The London workshop held earlier this year had a cast including Carrie Hope Fletcher as Cinderella, Tyrone Huntley as Sebastian, Gary Wilmot as Jean, Ruthie Henshall as Queen, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Stepmother, Sophie Isaacs as Adele, and Rebecca Trehearn as Marie.The ensemble included Lucy Anderson, Dan Buckley, Charlie Burn, Ronan Burns (Duke), Darragh Cowley, Daniel Crowder, Jonny Fines (Prince Charming), Ahmed Hamad, Danny Michaels, Jo Napthine, Oliver Ormson (Dorian), Jemma Revell, and Gabriella Williams.Casting for the London production to be announced.

You can register for tickets here.

Creatives Announced For World Premiere Andrew Lloyd Webber CINDERELLA

According to a new report, Andrew Lloyd Webber, currently  working on the  world premiere of his new musical adaptation of Cinderella with a contemporary twist.

With  Laurence Connor due to direct (School of Rock, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), with Gabriela Tylesova on scenic & costume design and Joann Hunter as choreographer. The musical features lyrics by David Zippel and a book by actress and writer Emerald Fennel. Lloyd Webber said of the creative team's non-traditional approach to the material."They have remade Cinderella into a completely modern, feisty girl," said  "Every piece of the story is followed, but it will be turned around so it's not at all what you expect it to be. It just turns the whole thing around on itself." The classic fairy tale gets a makeover that includes a feisty, fiery version of the titular princess who falls in love with an awkward oddball named Sebastian, and a gay love story involving Prince Charming and a duke.

Lord Lloyd Webber, is working on a new score with Carrie Hope Fletcher with a dance workshop planned for March in London, with the show aiming for a 2020 London opening, subject to theatre  availability.

The London workshop held earlier this year had a cast including Carrie Hope Fletcher as Cinderella, Tyrone Huntley as Sebastian, Gary Wilmot as Jean, Ruthie Henshall as Queen, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Stepmother, Sophie Isaacs as Adele, and Rebecca Trehearn as Marie.The ensemble included Lucy Anderson, Dan Buckley, Charlie Burn, Ronan Burns (Duke), Darragh Cowley, Daniel Crowder, Jonny Fines (Prince Charming), Ahmed Hamad, Danny Michaels, Jo Napthine, Oliver Ormson (Dorian), Jemma Revell, and Gabriella Williams.

Casting for London workshop of Andrew Lloyd Webber's modern remake of Cinderella.

Casting has been revealed for the recent London workshop of Andrew Lloyd Webber's modern musical remake of Cinderella.

As previously reported, the musical had an industry preview at The Other Palace in London last week. The  cast for the preview has been revealed by theatre critic Mark Shenton.

The cast includes Carrie Hope Fletcher as Cinderella, Tyrone Huntley as Sebastian, Gary Wilmot as Jean, Ruthie Henshall as Queen, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Stepmother, Sophie Isaacs as Adele, and Rebecca Trehearn as Marie.

The ensemble included Lucy Anderson, Dan Buckley, Charlie Burn, Ronan Burns (Duke), Darragh Cowley, Daniel Crowder, Jonny Fines (Prince Charming), Ahmed Hamad, Danny Michaels, Jo Napthine, Oliver Ormson (Dorian), Jemma Revell, and Gabriella Williams.

Andrew Lloyd Webber working on new contemporary musical version of Cinderella

Updated 17th July: the composer has just revealed in an interview with Good Morning Britain that the musical will open on Broadway next year.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Andrew Lloyd Webber has been in Los Angeles  working  on his next major project, an all-new stage version of Cinderella with a contemporary twist.

He said ; "I'm working with young writers whose combined ages add up to less than mine,It's delightful to have such young collaborators and I'm completely captivated by what they've done with the story. Now that I've said I'm going to do it, I have to get to my piano" Those collaborators are LA based British writers Tom MacRae (screenwriter, author and playwright who wrote the book and lyrics for the hit musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie,)  David Zippel  and writer Emerald Fennel.

Lloyd Webber said of the creative team's non-traditional approach to the material."They have remade Cinderella into a completely modern, feisty girl," said  "Every piece of the story is followed, but it will be turned around so it's not at all what you expect it to be. It just turns the whole thing around on itself." The classic fairy tale gets a makeover that includes a feisty, fiery version of the titular princess who falls in love with an awkward oddball named Sebastian, and a gay love story involving Prince Charming and a duke. He explained"It takes it away from the world of magic and fairy godmothers, but it's not going to be anywhere nearly as modern as, say, Los Angeles in 2023,I can't really say more about it at this point."

The musical had an industry preview at The Other Palace in London this week with some of Broadway's most notable producers and theatre attending the presentation.

The London workshop cast included Carrie Hope Fletcher as Cinderella, Tyrone Huntley as Sebastian, Gary Wilmot as Jean, Ruthie Henshall as Queen, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Stepmother, Sophie Isaacs as Adele, Jonny Fines (Prince Charming) and Rebecca Trehearn as Marie. The ensemble included Lucy Anderson, Dan Buckley, Charlie Burn, Ronan Burns (Duke), Darragh Cowley, Daniel Crowder,  Ahmed Hamad, Danny Michaels, Jo Napthine, Oliver Ormson (Dorian), Jemma Revell, and Gabriella Williams.

Lloyd Webber says the writing process is moving swiftly as the three collaborators work together to storyboard the musical and figure out where songs will go. The composer will be fitting in work on the project around the start of shooting on the film version of his blockbuster musical Cats in November, and  expects to have a Cinderella score completed by the end of the year.

While no timeline has yet been set, he expects the show, which will be produced by his Really Useful Group, to follow the usual development period for a musical of 18 months-two years minimum. He added that while it's at too early a stage to go into greater detail, the setting will be neither a traditional fairy tale kingdom nor a recognizable contemporary location.