|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
A familiar story of evil stepsisters, a ball and the fitting of a glass slipper is coming to the Bankhead stage this month for a series of performances.
Presented by Tri-Valley Theatre Company, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” is a Tony Award-winning, Broadway adaptation of a 1957 musical by the same name, with roots in the classic fairy tale.
First opening on Broadway in 2013, this contemporary adaptation features new characters and twists to the tune of well-known songs by Rodgers & Hammerstein including “In My Own Little Corner”, “Impossible/It’s Possible” and “Ten Minutes Ago”.
The upcoming TVTC production includes a cast of over two-dozen performers, approximately half of whom are from the Tri-Valley.
“We are gratified to continue to see TVTC full productions enriching our ‘own little corner’ of the world, right here in Livermore,” Livermore Valley Arts director of marketing Ruth Egherman said in a statement.
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” was originally broadcast on television in 1957, starring Julie Andrews. Over the following decades, it was twice remade before appearing on Broadway in 2013.
Now taking it up is the Bankhead’s resident theater company TVTC, formerly known as Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre.
Remaining through the organizational transition are artistic director Brian Olkowski as well as the Board of Directors led by president Glen Riggs, both of whom are producers of this year’s “Cinderella” performances.
Since TVTC’s inaugural season 2024, the organization has presented a nearly sold-out “Legally Blonde: The Musical”, “The Music Man” and “Rock of Ages”.
“Brian Olkowski’s leadership, energy, and vision have been instrumental in the success of past TVTC shows,” Egherman said. “We cannot wait to make the ‘impossible’ ‘possible’ this summer with the ever-charming Cinderella!”
Set to play the lead role of Ella are Livermore-based Alyssa Prosch and San Jose-based Zara Saje, who will perform in alternating shows.
Other actors include Concord’s Liam Cody as Topher, Pleasanton’s Jill Vellinger as Madame, Walnut Creek’s Bob Stratton as Sebastian, Redwood City’s Angela Cesena as Marie, Sunnyvale’s Kathleen Hornbacker as Gabrielle, Dublin’s Eve La Puma as Charlotte, San Ramon’s Benjamin Pierson as Jean-Michel and Livermore’s Glen Riggs as Lord Pinkleton.
This production features direction and choreography by Genoa Sperske, choreography by Cat Delos Santos Reyes and vocal and music direction by Jed de Roza. Other members of the production team include prop master Keith Thomson and costumer Liz Nelsen.
The show’s original book was written by Oscar Hammerstein II whereas the new book was written by Tony Award-nominee Douglas Carter Beane.
Performances of “Cinderella” are scheduled to run for three weekends from this Saturday and Sunday (July 12-13) through July 27 at the Bankhead Theater in downtown Livermore. Showtimes vary per performance. For more information, visit the LVA website at livermorearts.org.
