Kids know. We should have been more prepared, perhaps... with a ball gown? Full-length gloves? Sparkly shoes? But the kids in the audience at Cinderella on Tour, at Miller Auditorium at WMU last night? They were ready. We saw ball gowns of all kinds, though mostly shimmery and glittery, to be honest. We saw more tiaras than I've ever seen in one place before. And, we saw some girls rocking a punk princess look, with converses, cinderella tshirts, and skirts or jeans. The house was full. The stage was set with a lovely wooded scene, sunlight streaming down through the branches, a sunset coloring the clouds orange and yellow, in the distance.

Cinderella is a Tony Award-winning musical from Rodgers and Hammerstein. It was first broadcast live on tv in 1957 (!) starring Julie Andrews. A third tv production starred Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother. You can say that this musical is in our cultural psyche, helped along, of course, by the Disney film (similar story, of course, different songs, etc.).

Revised for the stage in 2013, it debuted then on Broadway for the first time ever. And, I imagine, it has captured the hearts of everyone who sees it. The staging is clever (especially the pumpkin coach and horses), the costumes are flexible to allow for dancing, while still portraying the characters (see: knight in shining armor), and the set is beautiful (especially the woods!). It is charming.

There were audible gasps as Cinderella's dresses changed (clever, clever!), and not only from the small audience members. The musical flowed beautifully, from song to song, along the story line, and with a modicum of magic (and woodland creatures - watch for that racoon, lounging in the hollow of a tree). 

Of note to watch is the Fairy Godmother, played by Leslie Jackson (I could listen to her sing ANY TIME), and the sassy sister Charlotte, played by Joanna Johnson. The ball gowns were inspired, the prince was appropriately princely (even with a slingshot), Cinderella was smart and clever, kindness won, and one strong storyling included working for social change (always a good thing). 

There are many lessons to take away from this, for both kids and adults, but the biggest ones for us, last night? Art matters, music is important, and dreaming is paramount in life.

See it in Kalamazoo this weekend:
http://www.millerauditorium.com/

Pictures: https://www.instagram.com/millerauditorium/

Or find it on tour near you:
http://www.cinderellaonbroadway.com

Pictures: https://www.instagram.com/cinderellabway/

All photos courtesy and copyright Cinderella on Broadway