Women steeped in fairy tales and myth get the spotlight in a pair of shows opening this week around the metro area, with a certain Ella taking off in Kenner and a Greek mother making a bold statement on the green spaces of New Orleans.
‘Rogers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella’
Cinderella’s story has been told a lot. Dame Julie Andrews was one of the first to step out of the cinders and dazzle audiences as the lucky gal in the Rodgers and Hammerstein version of the classic tale. And Lesley Ann Warren took a turn in a later version of the same show.
Disney’s animated film from 1950 features the work of Mack David, Jerry Livingston and Al Hoffman. In the more recent live-action Disney flick, Lily James dons the glass slipper. In between, Disney also produced a version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein show with Brandy and the late Whitney Houston as the fairy godmother.
But Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts in Kenner will mount the 1957 version written for television (and Andrews) and recently revived on Broadway that is filled with the melodies, magic and a bit of mayhem.
The show opening Friday is packed with some of the writing duo’s most memorable songs, like “Impossible,” “In My Own Little Corner,” “Ten Minutes Ago” and “A Lovely Night.”
“This production follows the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein adaptation, which brings a contemporary edge to the traditional story,” said Kelly Fouchi, producer of the show. “While it keeps the timeless magic, including the pumpkin, the glass slipper and the transformation, it adds a layer of intelligence and wit.
“It’s a version that balances the ‘happily ever after’ with a genuine sense of purpose and kindness.”
Those “transformations” are keys to the show, but Fouchi said they include more than just the sartorial sensation of Cinderella’s gown.
“There are about five different magical moments in this one scene,” she said. “Executing the costume changes for Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother, where rags turn into shimmering ballgowns in front of the audience’s eyes, requires incredible precision from the costume team and the performers.”
Gabrielle Treas and Charles Mukaida as Topher celebrate the fairy tale coming true in the Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts’ production of ‘Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella.’
Bryce Slocumb directs, with Brian Martinez as musical director and Kery Lambert as choreographer.Gabrielle Treas takes the lead as Ella, with Elise Spurlock as the godmother. Charles Mukaida is Topher, the prince, while Chrissy Bowne is the stepmother, and her daughters are Candice Moss and Kelly Amstutz.
Additional characters include Michael Breath Jr., Jimmy Murphy, Juan Luis Wiliiams and Avery Gerosa, Bailey Hall, Brady Lewis, Brittany Martin, David Browning, Emily Ann Mohler, Emily Clulee, Emory Farber, Gunna Bergsveinsdottir, Jared Augustus, Jessica Holl, Kerry Lambert, Liam Noble Favre, Liam Van Vrancken, Logan Breaux, Rebecca Browning, Sophie Stechmann and Virginia Borne. Also appearing are Anna Grace DePaula, Avery Drago, Ginny Bourg, Nathan Borne, Nina Schneider, Penn Tschirn and Taylor Nguyen.
The show is at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and May 28, and 2 p.m. Sundays through May 31 at 325 Minor St. Tickets start at $52. Visit rivertowntheaters.com.
‘Medea’
Natlie Boyd is the title character in the NOLA Project’s next show, ‘Medea,’ planned for the Lafitte Greenway at 436 N. Norman C. Francis Parkway in New Orleans.
The NOLA Project takes a turn in the great outdoors (where so much early theater occurred) and reaches back to ancient Greece for the story of a woman seeking vengeance at any cost.
The modern adaptation of “Medea” by Alistair Elliot brings the story to life and transcending time in this local production.
Jon Greene is Jason in the NOLA Project’s ‘Medea.’
“’Medea’ is one of the most urgent stories ever written — about power, about motherhood, about what happens when a woman has nothing left to lose,” NOLA Project artistic director Tenaj Wallace said. “And it turns out that story is just as alive today as it was in ancient Athens. And it wouldn’t be a NOLA Project show if we didn’t add our own twist to it.
Director Gab Reisman said, “We’re interested in what Medea is saying about unpaid labor, the unequal expectations of women and men when it comes to parenting, and what it looks like when a marriage implodes in acrimony
“But tragedy can’t exist without comedy, so I’m also going to be looking for ways this play can make us laugh and surprise us.
“We’re also building an immersive nod to The Festival of Dionysus, where every spring ancient Athenian citizens would stop work, hang at the theater for a few days drinking wine, and judge that year’s crop of new plays.”
Taking part in the production are ensemble members Natalie Boyd, Megan Whittle and Kristin Witt, with Robinson J. Cyprian, Jon Greene, Aria Jackson and Roney Jones.
The show marks the fourth NOLA Project to be staged on the Lafitte Greenway, 436 N. Norman C. Francis Parkway. Chairs are recommended for the concrete venue.
The show is at 7:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday, plus May 22, 24 and 28-30. Tickets start at $20. Visit nolaproject.com.
Onstage this week, May 14-20
Shafiq Hicks, right, is the Ugandan warlord encountered by new missionary Sam McLellan in ‘The Book of Mormon’ coming to the Saenger Theatre Tuesday.
“BOOK OF MORMON”: 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, plus 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday; Saenger Theatre, 1111 Canal St. Broadway bulldozer from the creators of “South Park” pokes fun at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints via a pair of mismatched young missionaries (one perfect, one hopeless) who are sent to Uganda. And despite the fact that the situation is rather dire, there’s plenty of “worlds collide” situations that erupt into hilarious yet touching moments. Tickets start at $51. saengernola.com.
‘Carmen Miranda: Same in Technicolor’ features Cristina Perez Edmunds as the star in the signature headpiece, with, from left, Kelsey Fontenot, Courtney Andersen and Keyara Milliner.
“CARMEN MIRANDA: SAMBA IN TECHNICOLOR”: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; BB’s Stage Door Canteen, National WWII Museum, 945 Magazine St. Known in her heyday as “The Brazilian Bombshell,” stage and film star Miranda made a string of wartime movies featuring her trademark kilowatt smile and colorful fruit-adorned headpieces. Tickets start at $47. nationalww2museum.org.
Cast for ‘The Irish Curse’ includes, from left, Martin Booda, Gary Gilmore, Michael Tanner, Rob Reidenaur and Ronald Brister.
“CHAPTER TWO”: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday; Playmakers Theater, 19106 Playmakers Road, Covington. Neil Simon, the Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner, penned “Chapter Two” as a semi-autobiographical look at his second marriage to famed actor Marsha Mason. Tickets start at $15. playmakersinc.com.
Playwright Joyce Pulitzer, left, works with the cast of ‘Cherries Jubilee’ Lauren Gauthier and Michaela Brown.
“CHERRIES JUBILEE”: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sundays through May 17; Jefferson Performing Arts, Westwego Performing Arts Center, 177 Sala Ave., Westwego. Four local playwrights penned the story of five friends who met when they attended Newcomb College and the sweeping journey through their lives, both good and bad. Tickets start at $42. jpas.org.
The cast of ‘God of Carnage’ rehearse at Le Petit, including, from left, Conrad Ricamora, Julie Lake, Joshua Mark Sienkiewicz and Marie Lovejoy.
“GOD OF CARNAGE”: 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturdays 3 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. May 16, through May 17; Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré, 616 St. Peter St. Star power drives this show about adults behaving like children with Julie Lake, Conrad Ricamora, Marie Lovejoy and Joshua Mark Sienkiewcz as two sets of parents of 11-year-old boys who had a dust-up on the playground. What begins as an earnest attempt to keep things calm descends into an emotional evening. Tickets start at $35. Visit lepetittheatre.com.
‘Primary Trust’ cast members include, from left, Jarrod Smith, Doug Spearman, Nicole Collins, Mark Cosby and Steve Gilliland.
“PRIMARY TRUST”: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays through May 24 with gala opening Friday; Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St. Crescent City Stage’s production of the story of Kenneth, a man who leads a simple life that gets upended when he loses the only job he’s ever known. From his daily mai tais with Bert to letting the world in, the story is a mix of humor, heartbreak and the unexpected. Tickets start at $35. crescentcitystage.com.
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