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The timeless enchantment of the magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance.

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I am so excited to be working with the talent of CYT to bring Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella to life!
This show is great for all ages and has roles for all levels! Whether you are looking for a lead or just wanting to wear a costume and stand in the stage lights, there are many characters’ shoes to fill.
Cinderella is a fairytale that is familiar to most. Ask almost anyone and they can likely name their top 3 versions of the tale, if not more. No matter which version is your most beloved, they are all filled with magic and wonder. This show is full of moments that will make our audience oo and ah, while also asking the question “how did they do that?”.
Many great actresses have portrayed the gentle and kind character for which the story is named; it was voiced by Ilene Woods in the Disney classic (1950) and Lily James brought Cinderella to life in the live action in (2015).  Anne Hathaway (2004), Hillary Duff (2004) Selena Gomez (2008), and most recently, Camila Cabello (2021) have participated in adaptations of the classic tale. Rodgers and Hammerstein Cinderellas include, Julie Andrews (1957), Lesley Ann Warren (1965), and Brandy (1997), to name a few.
I don’t like to look at Fairytale Princesses as damsels in distress. To me, they are all strong women who persevere through difficult situations. Often we meet them in a rough chapter of life, but they are surviving and enduring the hand that has been dealt them, usually with a smile on their face and song in their heart. Throughout the Bible, God lays hardship at the feet of his strongest followers, those that keep the faith and remain steadfast. Though faced with a serpent of a stepmother, Cinderella remains a bright light in a house of darkeness.
We are led to believe that Cinderella had caring parents and a simple, yet charmed life before the loss of her mother. Her father loved her dearly and thought he was doing right by her in remarrying. He could never have foreseen the treatment this new “mother” would bring, or imagine leaving her an orphan in her home where she would be used as a servant instead of being loved and cared for.
In the Grimms version of the story, Cinderella is greeted by a dove each day while visiting her mother’s grave.  In the end, the dove pecks out the eyes of her stepmother and stepsisters on her wedding day. Doves are a representation of hope in the Bible. While not as aggressive as this little bird, our Fairy Godmother represents the dove in our story. For Cinderella, Fairy Godmother is a steadfast presence who lifts her up and encourages her.
Cinderella makes the most out of her situation, befriending nature and extending grace and kindness to the people she encounters, good and bad. She never loses hope, and the memory of her mother and father help her to remember that love and happiness do exist.
Princesses are often painted as being “rescued”. While it is true that Cinderella and the Prince fall in love on an expedited timeline, it doesn’t make their love any less real. Musicals are on a timeline after all. Cinderella is not a helpless woman. She is cunning, gentle, caring, and strong. Any man would be lucky to share a life with her, and the Prince seems just as enchanted by her as she is with him. We all daydream, imagine, and wish for things beyond our immediate reach. The story of Cinderella is the ultimate daydream come to fruition.

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Based on the popular Disney Channel Original Movies, Disney's Descendants: The Musical is a brand-new musical jam-packed with comedy, adventure, Disney characters, and hit songs from the films!

Imprisoned on the Isle of the Lost – home of the most infamous villains who ever lived – the teenaged children of Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Jafar, and Cruella De Vil have never ventured off the island… until now. When the four troublemakers are sent to attend prep school alongside the children of beloved Disney heroes, they have a difficult choice to make: should they follow in their parents’ wicked footsteps or learn to be good?

Director's Vision Letter:
Descendants: The Musical has something for everyone…. romance, comedy, and drama.  Not to mention the amazing dancing and vocal numbers!  This show has 21 named roles, plus ensemble parts.  There are adult, high school age, and younger characters that will need to be cast.  All ages are needed and encouraged to audition. 

The choreography for this show is a mix of hip hop and contemporary musical theater.  Bring your comfy clothes and tennis shoes and please warm up really  well before auditions.   

Vocal audition pieces for this show are encouraged to be from a modern musical, or current pop song (CYT appropriate). Please contact Stacey Brednich at stacey@cythouston.org if you have any questions on your audition piece. 

There are so many options for your monologue! You can choose from modern or classic Disney movie monologues or use a paragraph from your favorite book.   Do you have a favorite villain or hero?  This show has every kind of character in it. Surprise us and have FUN!  
 
When this show was announced, I immediately wanted to be part of bringing it to the CYT stage. The major theme of this show, good vs. evil, is a tale as old as time, ahem… But, that is not all I see.  This is a show about relationships between mothers and daughters, best friends, fathers and sons, neighbors, peers, and of course, your relationship with yourself. 

At its core, Descendants is a musical about empathy, tolerance, and acceptance.  We hope this show can be a reminder that, no matter where we come from, we are better together. 

-Carol Neill 

 

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Godspell was the first major musical theatre offering from three-time Grammy and Academy Award winner, Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin, Children of Eden); and it took the world by storm. Led by the international hit, "Day by Day," Godspell features a parade of beloved songs, including "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord," "Learn Your Lessons Well," "All for the Best," "All Good Gifts," "Turn Back, O Man" and "By My Side."

A small group of people help Jesus Christ tell different parables by using a wide variety of games, storytelling techniques and a hefty dose of comic timing. An eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, is employed as the story of Jesus' life dances across the stage. Dissolving hauntingly into the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, Jesus' messages of kindness, tolerance and love come vibrantly to life. 

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Godspell Director’s Vision Letter
50 years ago, “Godspell” hit the world by storm. Mainstream Christianity was experiencing its first decline in recent history, and a group of drama students at Carnegie Mellon University came together to produce a script and score (by Stephen Schwartz) that would simultaneously awaken a new group of believers and challenge the mainstream to consider Jesus’ actions in the Bible through a fresh lens. The music, costumes, staging, and script are an atypical recitation of the Gospel, and many audience members did not originally understand the context for these choices. The overarching message is that Jesus came for everyone! Godspell seeks to show a diverse group of individuals and their encounter with our Savior as He shares parables, teaches by example, and ultimately gives His life for us.  Then, 10 years ago, the 2012 Godspell revival expanded the original score in challenging and invigorating ways, and breathed fresh Spirit into the story once again. We pray that God will breathe that same Spirit into our community as we present Godspell this fall.

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