Cinderella to Shutter On Broadway; NeNe Leakes Will Join Final Cast

The clock may not be striking midnight, but it’s time to say goodbye to those slippers and gown. The Broadway production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella will play its final performance on January 3, 2015. At time of closing, the musical will have played 41 preview performances and 770 regular performances since it began on January 25, 2013 at the Broadway Theatre.

The production also announces that NeNe Leakes (The Real Housewives of Atlanta) will be the newest star to join the cast, starting November 25, when she steps into the role of Cinderella's wicked stepmother Madame. Leakes will succeed Sherri Shepherd, who will perform the role September 9 through November 22.

The cast of Cinderella currently includes Paige Faure as Cinderella, Joe Carroll as Prince Topher, Nancy Opel as Madame, Victoria Clark as the Fairy Godmother, Ann Harada as stepsister Charlotte, Stephanie Gibson as stepsister Gabrielle, Peter Bartlett as Sebastian, Prince Topher's mentor and Lord Chancellor, Todd Buonopane as the rebel Jean-Michel and Phumzile Sojola as Lord Pinkleton.

Directed by Mark Brokaw, the production brings to the Broadway stage for the first time the tuner that originally aired as a TV special in 1957, starring Oscar winner Julie Andrews. This Cinderella features a completely re-imagined book by Douglas Carter Beane and additional Rodgers and Hammerstein songs originally composed for other musicals.