A Tale of CinderellaOpening Date: December 4, 1994
Closing Date: Air date: April 15, 1997 Medium: VHS, TV Where to watch: DVD (as an affiliate, Filmed Live Musicals may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you.) |
Stage Production Notes
In 1994, Warner Music Group provided a $500,000 grant to the New York State Theatre Institute (NYSTI) for the creation of a new family musical.
Lyricist George David Weiss, Songwriters Hall of Famer and writer of “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” and “What a Wonderful World” was paired with guitarist Will Severin. Book writer W.A. Frankonis, joined the team and A Tale of Cinderella, “an Italian-flavored” version of the traditional fairytale, was born.
A Tale of Cinderella opened in Troy, New York in 1994.
Reviewer Matthew Murray claimed “Though this version doesn't do everything right, it makes you look at the story in a new way…”
In 2001, the popular musical toured the United States.
The NYSTI was closed in 2010 due to mismanagement. The Theatre Institute at Sage was created in 2011 to replace the embattled company.
A Tale of Cinderella is available for licensing through Samuel French.
In 1994, Warner Music Group provided a $500,000 grant to the New York State Theatre Institute (NYSTI) for the creation of a new family musical.
Lyricist George David Weiss, Songwriters Hall of Famer and writer of “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” and “What a Wonderful World” was paired with guitarist Will Severin. Book writer W.A. Frankonis, joined the team and A Tale of Cinderella, “an Italian-flavored” version of the traditional fairytale, was born.
A Tale of Cinderella opened in Troy, New York in 1994.
Reviewer Matthew Murray claimed “Though this version doesn't do everything right, it makes you look at the story in a new way…”
In 2001, the popular musical toured the United States.
The NYSTI was closed in 2010 due to mismanagement. The Theatre Institute at Sage was created in 2011 to replace the embattled company.
A Tale of Cinderella is available for licensing through Samuel French.
Filmed Production Notes
A Tale of Cinderella was taped live by PBS in 1995 at the New York State Theatre Institute.
The VHS was released in April 1997 by Warner Home Video.
The filmed musical won several awards, including a Certificate of Merit at the Chicago International Film and Video Festival and The Silver Award at the WorldFest International Film Competition.
Billboard Magazine reviewer Catherine Applefeld Olson described the taping as “wholesome family entertainment” and “lots of fun.”
PBS aired A Tale of Cinderella in 1998, and it proved immensely popular. The program reportedly reached over 56 million TV households and aired over 200 times on more than 100 PBS stations throughout the United States.
Warner Home Video re-released the VHS in July 2001.
A Tale of Cinderella is available on DVD (paid link).
A Tale of Cinderella was taped live by PBS in 1995 at the New York State Theatre Institute.
The VHS was released in April 1997 by Warner Home Video.
The filmed musical won several awards, including a Certificate of Merit at the Chicago International Film and Video Festival and The Silver Award at the WorldFest International Film Competition.
Billboard Magazine reviewer Catherine Applefeld Olson described the taping as “wholesome family entertainment” and “lots of fun.”
PBS aired A Tale of Cinderella in 1998, and it proved immensely popular. The program reportedly reached over 56 million TV households and aired over 200 times on more than 100 PBS stations throughout the United States.
Warner Home Video re-released the VHS in July 2001.
A Tale of Cinderella is available on DVD (paid link).
A Tale of Cinderella PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: New York State Theatre Institute
Producer: Warner Music Group, New York State Theatre Institute
Book: W. A. Frankonis
Music: Will Severin and George David Weiss
Lyrics: George David Weiss
Director: Patricia Di Benedetto Snyder, film: Tom Gliserman
Orchestrations: Larry Moore
Dance arrangements and incidental music: Dennis Buck
Choreography: Adrienne Spagnola Posner
Scenic Design: Richard Finkelstein
Costume Design: Brent Griffin
Lighting Design: John McLain
Sound Design: Dan Toma and Matt Elie
Stage Manager: Heather Hazelton Hamelin
Conductor: Dennis Buck
Cast:
Christianne Tisdale, Lorraine Serabian, Sean Frank Sullivan, Joel Aroeste, John Romeo, Joanne Lessner, Margaret Robinson, Erika Johnson Newell, John McQuire, David Bunce, Laura Roth, Catherine Wronowski, Mychelle Lee Vedder, Eileen Schyuler, Michael Steese, John R. McEnerney, August J. Michaels, Etta Caren Fink, Jill Collins, Tony Hastings, Sarajane Brimhall, David Bunce, Ward Dales, Mort Hess, Christopher Bessette, Vanessa Thorpe, Sam Smith, John Romeo, Peter Kutchukian
Children: Kerry Conte, Dulcinea Vega Cuprill, Matthew O’Brien, Sarah Koblenz, Alyson Lange, Sean Mack, Dana Mainella
Theatre: New York State Theatre Institute
Producer: Warner Music Group, New York State Theatre Institute
Book: W. A. Frankonis
Music: Will Severin and George David Weiss
Lyrics: George David Weiss
Director: Patricia Di Benedetto Snyder, film: Tom Gliserman
Orchestrations: Larry Moore
Dance arrangements and incidental music: Dennis Buck
Choreography: Adrienne Spagnola Posner
Scenic Design: Richard Finkelstein
Costume Design: Brent Griffin
Lighting Design: John McLain
Sound Design: Dan Toma and Matt Elie
Stage Manager: Heather Hazelton Hamelin
Conductor: Dennis Buck
Cast:
Christianne Tisdale, Lorraine Serabian, Sean Frank Sullivan, Joel Aroeste, John Romeo, Joanne Lessner, Margaret Robinson, Erika Johnson Newell, John McQuire, David Bunce, Laura Roth, Catherine Wronowski, Mychelle Lee Vedder, Eileen Schyuler, Michael Steese, John R. McEnerney, August J. Michaels, Etta Caren Fink, Jill Collins, Tony Hastings, Sarajane Brimhall, David Bunce, Ward Dales, Mort Hess, Christopher Bessette, Vanessa Thorpe, Sam Smith, John Romeo, Peter Kutchukian
Children: Kerry Conte, Dulcinea Vega Cuprill, Matthew O’Brien, Sarah Koblenz, Alyson Lange, Sean Mack, Dana Mainella
Sources
Articles
Websites
- Catherine Applefeld Olson, “Home Video: Performance: A Tale of Cinderella,” Billboard (April 5, 1997)
- Lorraine Chirico Smith, “Prime Donne: Italian American Women in the Arts,” Italian America, VII(4), (Oct 31, 2002)
- Margalit Fox, “George David Weiss, Writer of Hit Pop Songs, Dies at 89,” NY Times (Aug 23, 2010)
- Kenneth Jones, “A Tale of Cinderella, the 'Other' Musical, Plays Manhattan May 18-20,” Playbill (April 4, 2001)
- Kenneth Jones, “Italianate Tale of Cinderella Musical Plays NYC May 15-20,” Playbill (May 15, 2001)
- Irv Lichtman, “P’Gram Jazzes Up Promo CDs With Special Beastie Boys Set,” Billboard (Dec 10, 1994)
- Cecilia Martinez, “The Theater Institute at Sage to continue NYSTI's mission,” The Record News (March 2, 2011)
- Matthew Murray, “A Tale of Cinderella,” Talkin’ Broadway (May 19, 2001)
- Peter M. Nichols, “Home Video,” NY Times (April 4, 1997)
- Casey Seiler, “Curtain falls on NYSTI; new scandal surfaces,” Times Union (Dec 23, 2010)
Websites
- Amazon, “A Tale of Cinderella,” Accessed via: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002KCZOWA/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_HXaUzbDK3GMT0
- IMDb, “Tale of Cinderella,” Accessed via: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0326241/?ref_=ttspec_spec_tt
- New York State Theatre Institute, “History,” Accessed via: https://web.archive.org/web/20050206104650/http://nysti.org:80/about.shtm
- New York State Theatre Institute, “About the Institute,” Accessed via: https://web.archive.org/web/19990826233957/http://nysti.org:80/History.html
- Samuel French, “A Tale of Cinderella,” Accessed via: http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/5749/tale-of-cinderella-a
Written by Luisa Lyons (September, 2017)