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EDUCATIONAL GUIDE Welcome to the enchanting world of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Ci

EDUCATIONAL GUIDE Welcome to the enchanting world of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, a beloved tale retold around the world. Everyone knows a version of the story, but now Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella is waltzing onto Broadway with a makeover by book writer Douglas Carter Beane (Sister Act, Xanadu) with the same classic elements and some surprising new twists! Recommended for the whole family, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella is a timeless tale where dreams really do come true. The actors are at places, the orchestra is tuning, and the curtain is just about to rise! Before the musical begins and even after the final bows, this guide will provide great ideas on how to keep the magic alive for both the theater and the classroom. Jam-packed inside are character descriptions, a synopsis of the show, information about the origins of the musical, and a brief history of fairy tales. Also included are recommended pre-show and post-show discussion prompts and activities that will help your students explore the major themes and elements of the production. The experience of the theater extends beyond the pages of the script or even the theater’s exits. With this guide, students can carry the magic of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella and the arts into the classroom! 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Character Descriptions 2 Plot Synopsis 3 From Page to Stage: A History of the Show 5 Behind the Wand: Rodgers + Hammerstein 6 Spotlight on…Douglas Carter Beane 7 Once Upon a Time… An Enchanting History of Fairy Tales 8 A Brief Word About Royal Manners Theater Etiquette 10 Pre-Performance Activites 12 Write Your Own Fairy Tale Scene (Creative Writing) 12 Do You Know Cinderella? (English and Literature) 14 Post-Performance Activities 15 Ideas to Discuss: After the Ball 15 Around the World Before Midnight! (Social Studies and Creative Writing) 16 Fighting Bullying: One Giant at a Time (Community) 18 “Ridicule” (Building Self-Confidence) 19 Am I Perfect for the Ball? (Self-Image and Body Awareness) 20 Who’s Behind the Mask? (Exploring Facets of Character) 21 Is That Really You? (Performance and Social Studies) 21 Don’t Judge a Book By Its Cover (Visual Arts) 22 Cast Your Ballot! (Social Sciences) 23 Dreams Do Come True! (Goal Building) 24 A Magical Dreamboard (Goal Building) 24 2 ELLA (CINDERELLA) is a young lady with the kindest heart in the kingdom. She dreams of escaping her endless chores so she might one day see the world. MADAME is Ella’s stepmother, a vain and ty rannical woman only concerned with her wealth and her daughters’ happiness. Madame does not consider Ella, her stepdaughter, a true daughter. PRINCE TOPHER is the Prince of the entire kingdom, but he needs a bit of inspiration to realize his full potential. SEBASTIAN is Topher’s Lord Chancellor. Although Sebastian wants to protect the Prince, he does so by shielding the Prince completely from what is going on in the kingdom. LORD PINKLETON is Sebastian’s second- in-command and the herald for all important events or information. MARIE enters the story as a senile poor woman, but she magically transforms into her true form as Ella’s wise and compassionate Fairy Godmother. JEAN-MICHEL is a poor revolutionary with many ideas about how to improve society. Jean- Michel is in love with Gabrielle. GABRIELLE begins the story as just another selfish stepsister but finds camaraderie in Ella when she reveals to Ella that she would give up her riches to be with Jean-Michel. CHARLOTTE is one of Ella’s stepsisters who treats Ella cruelly but, quite honestly, doesn’t know much better because she is so self-involved. Charlotte’s a bit of a clown and definitely the last one in on the joke. CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS 3 ACT ONE Once upon a time in a faraway forest, a young woman named ELLA does chores for MADAME, her stepmother, while wishing the world would be as beautiful as it appears (The Hills Are Every Shade of Yellow). In another part of the land, PRINCE TOPHER is having a hard time finding his purpose in life, even though he is to become king soon (Me, Who Am I?). After defeating a giant in battle, Prince Topher stumbles upon Ella in front of her home. He commends Ella after he witnesses her kindness towards a homeless woman named MARIE. Prince Topher and his advisor SEBASTIAN head back to the palace, just as political radical JEAN-MICHEL arrives, sharing his ideas about the problems between the rich and the poor. Madame and her daughters, GABRIELLE and CHARLOTTE, return from shopping. Jean-Michel offers a book to Gabrielle, whom he loves, but Madame quickly rejects it. Jean- Michel instead offers Ella the book, and through the pages, Ella dreams of life beyond her rags (In My Own Little Corner). Miles away at the palace, a ball is held to find Prince Topher a wife (An Announce ment). While the upper crust of society are excited about the ball (The Prince is Giving a Ball), Jean-Michel rallies the poor to do some thing (Now Is the Time). Meanwhile, Marie PLOT SYNOPSIS 4 witnesses all the frantic excitement while mumbling something nonsensical to herself (Folderol). As the Stepsisters get ready for the ball, the Lord Chancellor SEBASTIAN vis its Madame’s house and discusses plans for Gabrielle and Prince Topher to marry. Jean- Michel visits afterwards, this time with flow ers for Gabrielle, but Madame throws him out. After Madame and the Stepsisters leave, Marie magically reveals herself as Ella’s Fairy Godmother and sets a plan in motion for Ella to go to the ball. With beautiful glass slippers, animals magically transformed into royal atten dants, and a carriage made out of a pumpkin, anything is possible (Impossible / It’s Possible)! Ella arrives just in time, completely trans formed and unidentifiable. “Ridicule” is played at the ball, a royal game where people trade insults and complaints. She plays against Ma dame, but instead of swapping insults, she compliments Madame. The court is surprised and confused by this concept of kindness, and the palace fills with warmth and joy. Prince Topher becomes smitten with this beautiful stranger (Ten Minutes Ago). Just as they are going to share a kiss, the clock strikes twelve, and Ella tells Prince Topher that his people are suffering and that he must do something. Ella hurriedly leaves but drops one of her glass slippers. ACT TWO While Prince Topher and his royal guards search for Ella (The Pursuit), Charlotte is left at the palace (The Stepsister’s Lament). Eventually, Madame and her daughters return home, and as they rehash the evening, Ella describes how she would imagine the evening (When You’re Driving Through the Moonlight). Charlotte, Gabrielle and Madame join in, dreaming about a true love (Lovely Night). After Madame and Charlotte head to bed, Gabrielle and Ella bond over their secrets: Ella was the girl at the ball, and Gabrielle is in love with Jean-Michel. At the castle, Prince Topher is sullen (Loneliness of Evening) and demands a ban quet be held to find Ella. News spreads, and as the women head back at Madame’s cot tage to quickly prepare, Gabrielle pretends to be sick so she can help Jean-Michel at a soup kitchen. She also offers her dress to Ella for the banquet. Madame and Charlotte race off to the banquet, while Jean-Michel arrives to pick Gabrielle up. They are unexpectedly in terrupted by Madame returning home. She banishes Gabrielle from the house and rips up Ella’s borrowed dress. Marie visits Ella and encourages her to truly believe in herself (There’s Music in You). Marie transforms Ella’s torn-up dress, once again, into a beautiful gown and sends her off to the banquet. There, Ella finds Prince Topher and shares with him that the poor are head ing to the palace soon. Quickly after the poor arrive, Prince Topher finds himself inspired by their concerns and decides that there will be an election to elect the first Prime Minister of the kingdom. With all this excitement, Prince Topher and Ella question their newfound love (Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?), but the clock strikes twelve, and Ella must run again. A day later, Lord Pinkleton announces that the election and search for Ella are in full swing. Ella appears in her normal, ragged clothes, and Prince Topher permits her to try on the slipper. He is ecstatic when it fits and proposes to Ella. And of course, everyone lives happily ever after! 5 A lthough Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella is premiering on Broadway for the very first time, this Rodgers and Hammerstein musical has found success on the small screen and in productions around the world for the last 50 years. Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella is the only musical of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s that was writ ten for television. It was largely based on Charles Per rault’s version of the tale, entitled Cendrillon. Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella for CBS, starring Julie Andrews in the title role. With Ralph Nelson as director, it premiered on CBS on March 31, 1957, uploads/Geographie/ education-guide.pdf