Andrew Lloyd Webber’s troubled ‘Cinderella’ heads to Broadway with changes — and a new title

Linedy Genao is ready to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Unhealthy Cinderella," which begins performances in February.
AP

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical “Cinderella” is coming to Broadway in spite of everything — and, like the primary character, she’s getting an excessive makeover.

First, they’re ditching the title that confused Brits as a result of they affiliate the princess with Christmas pantomimes, and would have stumped People as a result of they’d count on Rodgers and Hammerstein or Disney. 

For its run on the Imperial Theatre starting Feb. 17, 2023 (someday earlier than Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” shoves the previous chandelier in a storage unit), the present has been renamed “Unhealthy Cinderella.” 

The one different time Lloyd Webber gave a distinct moniker to a present en path to New York after a significant West Finish run was when he modified “Jeeves” to “By Jeeves.” However a “By” ain’t a “Unhealthy.” Inform us what you consider the title “Unhealthy Cinderella” within the feedback, readers!

There may even be a brand-new star. Enjoying the rebellious re-envisioned Cinders, right here a spitfire who goes on indignant tirades and covers the city in graffiti, isn't the West Finish’s lead Carrie Hope Fletcher, however Linedy Genao, who was beforehand on Broadway within the ensemble of the Gloria Estefan present “On Your Toes.”

A supply informed The Put up there may even be a revised guide from “Promising Younger Girl” Oscar-winner Emerald Fennell (one other supply mentioned she isn't concerned anymore in any respect, regardless of being credited, and a distinct author will repair the wonky script), in addition to redone set and costume designs. 

Unique director Laurence Connor, choreographer JoAnn M. Hunter and lyricist David Zippel are all nonetheless on board.

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Unhealthy Cinderella” is headed to the Imperial Theatre on Broadway.

Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

One main second that may have to be completely rethought — and I collect that it hasn’t but — is the grand ball scene. On the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London, the viewers members within the expensive seats rotated across the stage a la Disney World and bought a a lot wanted thrill. That may’t occur on the Imperial, and ticket-buyers gained’t watch actors waltz for seven straight minutes.

Will this struggling present get a storybook ending?

When “Cinderella” opened in London’s West Finish in August 2021 after a protracted pandemic delay, the London critics — who hadn’t seen a stay musical in two years — have been enthusiastic. A cheerful Lloyd Webber informed The Put up on the Tonys in September of that 12 months his present would seemingly arrive on Broadway this summer time.

Andrew Lloyd Webber proclaims his present will come to Broadway, with a brand new lead and title, subsequent 12 months.

Credit score: Emilio Madrid

I noticed the present a month after my beneficiant British colleagues and was much less amused, calling the guide “joyless,” the course “plodding and one-note” and the designs “drab and forgettable.” Lloyd Webber’s rating, no shock, has just a few good ballads. The overview reportedly turned the composer of “Evita” into, properly, Evita.

The Each day Mail’s Baz Bamigboye reported that “Lloyd Webber was so incensed by what ran within the Put up … that he took it out on the forged, berating them down the cellphone from his Mallorca vacation house.” The UK paper additionally mentioned Lloyd Webber pledged to close down the present to make “changes.” 

He did, and the revisions, I’m informed, have been minor. The composer wrote no new songs between the primary workshop and remaining efficiency in London. Lloyd Webber additionally informed the Mail the story was “all nonsense.” It wasn’t. Ask anyone within the forged.

The set, designs, guide and forged from London’s “Cinderella” (above) will all be completely different for Broadway.

Dave Benett/Getty Pictures

The present closed in London early — and dramatically — in June, after lower than a 12 months. Connor learn a letter from Lloyd Webber to the viewers on closing night time.

“It might need been a expensive mistake,” the disastrous letter, which offended everybody within the room, learn. “However I'm happy with what we did and can without end be grateful to everybody who supported me.” The group on the Gillian Lynne Theatre booed and the phrase “expensive mistake” grew to become a joke on-line. That fracas got here after the enraged actors and crew discovered their present was shuttering by way of social media.

Like Cinderelly, Cinderelly, Lloyd Webber is in search of a recent begin for his troubled present. Time will inform whether or not Broadway proves to be “Unhealthy Cinderella”’s fairy godmother or her merciless, detached stepmother.