Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s blockbuster reimagining ofCinderella has posted closing notices for its Gillian Lynne Theatre run in London.
The show will shutter on 12 June 2022 in London.
The sad news was posted on the show’s official website and social channels today, 1 May. The show had been booking to 2023.
The show is currently planning a Broadway run, with casting notices posted and auditions having taken place in New York in January 2022. Lloyd Webber formerly announced today that the show would open on Broadway in March 2023, produced by No Guarantees, who also produce current Broadway productions Macbeth starring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga, Funny Girl starring Beanie Feldstein and Ramin Karimloo, Company and Beetlejuice. Previews will run from February 2023.
The show will be completely revamped again for the Broadway production. Following the show’s opening in London, Cinderella had already been adjusted and retooled in November 2022, re-opening later that month. However, the Broadway revamp is believed to be much more extensive.
Andrew Lloyd Webber said in a press statement that, “I am incredibly proud of Cinderella. Not only did it get some of the best reviews of my career, but we led the charge to reopen the West End, ensuring that theatre and live entertainment remained relevant and in the news. While mounting a new show in the midst of Covid has been an unbelievable challenge, we held the government’s feet to the flames throughout their changes of heart during the pandemic. Now, I am really excited to get to work putting together a new production with No Guarantees for Broadway. Thank you very much to everyone involved, particularly our UK audiences who have loved and supported the show. See you next March on Broadway.”
Cinderella features a talented cast including Carrie Hope Fletcher as Cinderella, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as The Stepmother, Rebecca Trehearn as The Queen, Georgina Castle and Laura Baldwin as Cinderella’s stepsisters Marie and Adele, Ivano Turco as Prince Sebastian, and Gloria Onitiri as The Godmother.
Victoria Hamilton-Barritt was nominated for a 2022 Olivier Award for Best Actress In A Supporting Role In A Musical, but the musical failed to get any other nominations at this year’s awards. The show did scoop 7 Whats On Stage Awards 2022 nominations, with Hope Fletcher winning for best performance in a female identifying role in a musical.
A new cast for Cinderella, scheduled to begin performances in mid July, had already been hired, including Strictly Come Dancing star John Whaite as Prince Charming, and Chrissie Bhima as Cinderella, both making their West End debuts. Other cast recruited and now dropped from the show include Summer Strallen.
There has been considerable controversy about the way that the cast and crew of both the current and forthcoming companies were told about the closure, with a number of actors and affiliated theatre people angry at the timing and execution of the producer’s announcements.
Producers of the show, Really Useful Group, had written to the cast and crew today, saying:
Dear Cinderella Family, It is with regret that we’re writing to let you know that the Really Useful Group’s production of Cinderella will perform its final show at the Gillian Lynne theatre on Sunday June 12th.
As Andrew himself has commented today, Cinderella ‘led the charge to reopen the west end, ensuring that theatre and live entertainment remained relevant and in the news.While mounting a new show in the midst of COVID has been an unbelievable challenge ,we held the Government’s feet to the flames throughout their changes of heart during the pandemic …’
Some of you will already know, we’ve just informed the creative/production teams,cast,crew snd band and a statement will be released to the press and on social media shortly.Andrew and the teams at RUG and Green Light Stage would like to express our huge gratitude to everyone involved in the production and a deep sadness about coming off much earlier than we deserve .RUG and GLS are available tomorrow and beyond to discuss further details as necessary.
Thank you for your immeasurable contribution to the show .We should all be very proud of Cinderella and all that we have achieved together ,and we look forward to our paths crossing again before too long.
Sincerely, Everyone at the Really Useful Group
Written by 2021 Oscar winner Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman), who is also a script writer and executive producer on Killing Eve, Cinderella is a modern take on the classic tale, with critics varying in their response to the themes tackled in the show.
Cinderella has an original score by Lloyd Webber and has lyrics by David Zippel, the 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, both of which received Oscar nominations.
The production reunited Andrew Lloyd Webber with director Laurence Connor and choreographer JoAnn M Hunter, who previously worked on the Olivier Award winning international hit School of Rock and recent production of Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at The London Palladium.
The creative team also includes design by Gabriela Tylesova (Sweeney Todd, Love Never Dies), sound design by Gareth Owen (& Juliet, Come From Away), lighting design by Bruno Poet (Tina: The Musical, Billie Eilish at Steve Jobs Theatre) and Co-Musical supervision by John Rigby (The King and I, The Phantom of the Opera).
Book tickets to Cinderella at the Gillian Lynne Theatre in London
Note to Cinderella customers with tickets after 12 June: Your ticket supplier, including WestEndTheatre.com’s ticketing partners, will be in contact to discuss options including rebooking
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