Broadway musical ‘Cinderella’ performed at Keith Albee

A girl, a prince, a shoe and magic from a fairy godmother. The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical “Cinderella” came to the Keith Albee Theater Tuesday night.

The musical included an orchestra, performance transformations and elements that may be familiar to those who love the story—the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball and even the haughty step-sisters.

The national tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” musical opened in 2013 on Broadway as an updated version of the 1957 film, starring Julie Andrews. The Broadway adaptation has new twists and turns, but its score features classic songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s original version, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible,” “Ten Minutes Ago” and “A Lovely Night.

Zina Ellis, a Yale University graduate, played Marie the Fairy Godmother. Ellis has been touring with “Cinderella” for one year and said it has been 99 percent fun.

“I like to think that I’m like Marie because I like to help people and get excited to help when they need help,” Ellis said. “To do a show that makes people happy, and see people smile during the show a lot, is really what motivates me in theater.”

Of the other roles she has had and productions she has been in, Ellis said her favorite credits include Rona Lisa Peretti in “Spelling Bee,” Claire in “Ordinary Days” and Phoebe in “The Yeomen of the Guard.

Ellis said she grew up watching and loving the classic fairytale “Cinderella.”

Emily Phipps can be contacted at p[email protected].