The R& H songs are from the original 1957 TV production starring Julie Andrews, produced again about 10 years later starring LeslieyAnn Warren and done one more time, in 1997 (a Disney production) that starred Whitney Houston, Brandy (as Cinderella), Whoopy Goldberg and Bernadette Peters.
These were all PRECEEDED by a Disney animated full length feature in 1950, that also had some songs we know, e.g. "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" and "Bibbity Bobbity Boo." The R&H music is indeed better.
This production, never having been produced on Broadway before, is obviously using the R&H score along with a couple of their trunk songs, one of which was a late cut from The Sound of Music. The book, as has been mentioned previously, has been completely rewritten with what I've heard from listening to some of the interviews are some "twists", that apparently put Cinderella in a position to save Prince Charming (from what I don't know and they haven't said). And it's also evident from listening to the cast interviews that they are going to rely in large part on some very intricate stage magic for certain "transformations."
The show has a great cast, with two Tony winners, and I for one am excited about it.
I have to add that our poster "finebydesign" seems to have it in for this production in a very personal way, as he or she is so filled with vitriol about this show that it has to be more that a prediction of failure. I wonder if he or she was expecting some role in the production (a designer of sort) and it didn't come to pass. This is sheer speculation, of course. It's also interesting that this poster does not have a profile. And he or she seems to be challenged a bit as to the calendar, in that finebydesign predicts that the show won't weather the winter, and given that it opens March 3 and winter ends on March 20, that's pretty bold to say the least.
CZJ at opening night party for A Little Night Music, Dec 13, 2009.
