Cendrillon

• Conductor | Mark Gibson
• Director| Brian Robertson
• Choreographer| Susan Moser 
• French Coach| Marie-France Lefebvre
• Musical Preparation | Kirill Kuzmin
• Production Stage Manager | Raeya Garcia*
• Scenic Designer | Regan Densmore*
• Lighting Designer | Jules Cabrera*
• Sound Designer | Daniel Massey*
• Costume Designer | Maura Kesterson*
• Hair & Make-Up Designer | Claire Bonnette*
• Technical Director| Corvo Hopkins*
• Prop Manager | Ella Stumpf* 

*CCM Student

Estimated run time: 2 hours and a 15 minute-intermission

Featured image at the top: Promotional image for "Cendrillon." Photo by Ashley Crockett and Ben Wright.

Chaos descends on Madame de la Haltière’s Boutique of Outrageous Excess. As the staff scrambles to prepare the attire for the upcoming ball, Pandolfe tries to wander through hoping he will be excluded. But recognized by the staff, they plead for his protection from the mercurial wrath of Madame de la Haltière. Pandolfe expresses his empathy then dismisses the staff to be alone to contemplate his undesirable future. Suddenly he is interrupted by the entrance of Madame de la Haltière and the stepsisters, Dorothée and Noémie. Full of self-importance, Madame de la. Haltière proceeds to instruct the sisters on their behavior for the ball and then with the staff assembled, prepares their outfits for the evening. With Pandolfe in tow they storm out to the ball. Cendrillon (Lucette) appears to clean the detritus left behind and explores her struggle with the consuming power of her daydreams as a means of escape.

Cendrillon falls asleep and the force of her yearnings and dreams brings the Fairy Godmother into existence, who realizing the task at hand calls in the fairies. They gently and magically change Cendrillon’s appearance so she may attend the ball. Cendrillon awakens to discover this new version of herself and even though momentarily ecstatic, shares her worry that she will be recognized. The Fairy Godmother soothes her fears with a pair of magical glass slippers that will work to disguise her from everyone at the ball. Cendrillon relieved, they all celebrate her journey.

The ball. The Prince is discovered sitting alone, hiding from the court ministers. Their and the king’s attempts at cheering him up, fail. The prince, alone, explores his dire situation in which he has found no one who illuminates the truth of who he wants to be. Soon the arrival of the daughters of the nobility takes over the room and the king commands that one of the potential brides will become princess to the prince. The parade of noble daughters reveals no one for the prince. Suddenly, Madame de la Haltière and the stepsisters enter and parade themselves to the assembled court. Then, a mysterious woman appears, capturing everyone’s gaze. The prince, suddenly aware a special moment has arrived, asks the mysterious woman to reveal herself. She refuses saying that knowing her will cause her to disappear. She asks that they enjoy this moment, until the clock strikes midnight and Cendrillon realizes that she is late on her promise. She quickly flees, leaving a slipper and a stunned and confused prince.

The boutique. Cendrillon returns fluster, afraid, and deeply anxious that being late on her promise to return, will destroy the brief ecstasy she experienced. She flees again when she hears the return of her stepmother. Madame de la Haltière and the stepsisters enter berating Pandolfe for his sympathetic opinion of the mysterious guest at the ball. The three women proceed to work to upend the reality of what happened at the ball. They slander and demean the mysterious guest saying the prince wanted her thrown out. Cendrillon overhears this and becomes ill. Pandolfe seeing the effect on his daughter, suddenly to the surprise of everyone, stands up to Madame de la Haltière and drives her and the stepsisters from the room. With his newfound power, he quickly forms a plan of escape for him and Cendrillon. He leaves to prepare for their journey. Cendrillon, reveals when he’s gone, that she will not accompany him for she doesn’t plan to live any longer.

The dreamscape. The Fairy Godmother sensing the pleas and yearning of the Prince and Cendrillon brings them together in a shared dream. The Prince and Cendrillon work to rediscover each other to prove that what they felt at the ball is true. They can hear each other but cannot see each other until, the Fairy Godmother decides it’s time for the simple beauty of who they are together is revealed. They come together, pledging their undying love and devotion.

The boutique. Pandolfe has discovered Cendrillon unconscious next to a stream and brought her home to recover. When she awakes, she questions him about her confusion between what is real and what she thinks she has dreamed. Pandolfe, delighted she is recovering, teases her about how she talked in her sleep about princes and fairies and magical forests. Cendrillon, hearing his flippant, playful tone, believes that nothing that has happened to her was ever real. Noise of Madame de la Haltière’s arrival causes them to seek out a place to hide. The Madame enters to announce that the king is calling all eligible women to return to be presented to the prince. A Herald arrives to announce that a mysterious slipper has been found and that they endeavor to find the owner, for the prince has become terribly ill.

Everyone arrives for the ceremony to match the slipper. The Prince explains that this is his last hope for finding Lucette, the one who makes him whole. The women try to match the slipper, and all seems lost as the Prince’s health begins to fade. The Fairy Godmother appears instructing him to open his eyes and behold, Lucette has returned. Pandolfe is stunned and exhilarated that his daughter is the one for the prince. Madame de la Haltière always seeking an advantage, quickly pronounces Cendrillon her daughter that she adores. A grand celebration follows.

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