CINDERELLA Comes To Beck Center Youth Theatre 5/1-9 At Mackey Main Stage

Your heart will soar when the slipper fits! Audiences young and old will cherish that special moment when the Beck Center's Youth Theater presents Rodgers & Hammerstein's classic musical adaptation of the timeless fairy tale Cinderella, May 1-9, 2009, on the Mackey Main Stage. The show features such unforgettable songs as In My Own Little Corner, Ten Minutes Ago, Impossible, and Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful? Show times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3:00 p.m. on May 3 and 9. There is a student matinee 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 7.

Cinderella is the only Rodgers and Hammerstein musical originally written for television. The 1957 Emmy-nominated broadcast starred Julie Andrews in the lead role. In 1961, the made-for-tv musical was then adapted for the stage where it had a successful run. In 2000, a stage revival was produced for a U.S. National Tour starring Eartha Kitt as the Fairy Godmother. Cinderella remains one of the most popularly performed musicals; more than 250 productions of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella are presented in the United States every year.

Cinderella is directed by Jonathan S. Kronenberger, Beck's new associate director of theater education. "The opportunity to work on a Rodgers and Hammerstein show is always a treat," remarked Kronenberger. "You immediately understand why their shows have lasted and continue to be produced and delight audiences of all ages over and over again. I think it is important for Beck Center students to experience and appreciate these classics of American Musical Theater."

The cast of 53 young actors, ranging in age from 7 to 18 years, are students from the Beck Center's Dance, Music, and Theater Departments, almost as many as the original TV production with a cast of 56. "This is my first full opportunity to work with the wonderful talent that is here at Beck and it has already proven to be a joy," said Kronenberger. "I am so proud of the cast - their dedication, their talent, their imagination, and their unique personalities."

Beck Center's production of Cinderella is presented through special arrangement with R&H Theatricals and is sponsored by Parker Hannifin, Cox Communications, Music is Elementary, and the Ohio Arts Council. Beck Center also gratefully acknowledges the citizens of Cuyahoga County for their support through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.

Tickets are $12 for adults/seniors and $10 for students/children 16 and under. (Ticket prices include the $2 service fee per ticket.) Group discounts are available for parties of 13 or more. To reserve tickets, call the Beck Center box office at 216.521.2540 ext. 10. For group sales, contact Linda Hefner at ext. 29. Beck Center is located at 17801 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, just ten minutes west of downtown Cleveland. Free onsite parking is available.

Beck Center for the Arts is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that offers professional theater productions on two stages, arts education programming in dance, music, theater, visual arts, early childhood, and creative arts therapies for special needs students, and gallery exhibits featuring local and regional artists.