There were rumours that the new musical version of the classic fairy tale Cinderella with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by David Zippel, based on an original idea by Emerald Fennell, would open on Broadway but instead it will be London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre which will host the show when it opens in September 2020. Are you going to buy tickets for the ball?
Emerald Fennell, the Emmy Award-nominated lead scriptwriter of the second season of international smash hit Killing Eve, has come up with a complete reinvention of the classic fairytale accompanied by a brand new score from the Andrew Lloyd Webber. As an actress she played Patsy Mount on the BBC’s Call The Midwife and currently depicts Camilla Parker Bowles on the Netflix hit The Crown.
The show’s lyrics are from David Zippel, a multi-award winner for Broadway productions including City of Angels, The Goodbye Girl, The Woman in White and Liza at the Palace, as well as for work on film including Disney’s Hercules and Mulan.
Cinderella will be directed by Laurence Connor, with choreography from JoAnn Hunter, who previously partnered on School of Rock and the recent, sold out production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium.
Andrew Lloyd Webber said: “I have long wanted to write my own version of Cinderella but could never find a take on the classic story that really grabbed me. Emerald Fennell has written something truly exciting and original, and the moment I read her outline I knew I’d found my latest collaborator. I’m very pleased to be working with David Zippel, a hugely witty lyricist, once again.
“I’m also excited to be reunited with Laurence and JoAnn, who I loved creating School of Rock with and who delivered a knock out Joseph last summer at The London Palladium, where it rightfully returns in June.”
School of Rock The Musical will complete its hugely successful run at the Gillian Lynne Theatre on 1 March 2020, having played more than 1,400 performances, before heading out on a major UK tour in 2021. All tour dates and further information will be announced in due course.
