Deven Tso, a recent ASU graduate designed a dress for the red carpet for Arizona’s only Tony Award voter.
(Bailey Crawford/Submitted)
The 1998 film “Ever After: A Cinderella Story” captured the hearts of many moviegoers, who were invested in the story of Danielle de Barbarac, a fearless young woman who comes from humbling beginnings, challenges a prince and forges her own happily ever after. The film, which starred Drew Barrymore and Anjelica Huston, tells the story of the woman behind the mythical story of Cinderella. A new musical version of “Ever After,” adapted by Zina Goldrich, Marcy Heisler and Kate Wetherhead, has a similar storyline but brings a new twist to it.
The Phoenix Theatre Company is putting on the musical through June 14.
The show has been in development for about 15 years. Other versions of the musical have been put on in cities such as New York, Atlanta and Millburn, New Jersey.
The Phoenix production features a cast and crew of New York- and Phoenix-based talent. It is being directed by Marlo Hunter, a film, television and theater director and choreographer known for her work on “A Hanukkah Carol, or GELT TRIP! The Musical,” “American Reject,” “Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical” and “Mystic Christmas.”
The production stars Drama Desk nominee Jason Gotay from “Bring It On: The Musical” and “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” as Prince Henry; Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk winner David Garrison from “A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine,” “Wicked,” “Titanic,” “Torch Song Trilogy” and “Married…with Children,” as Leonardo da Vinci and Drama Desk winner Lisa Howard from “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” and “It Shoulda Been You,” as Danielle’s stepmother Rodmilla.
Other notable Broadway veterans in the production include Andrea Macasaet from “SIX,” Jesse Sharp from “Beetlejuice,” Michael Kuhn from “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” and Luke Kolbe Mannikus from “Pippin.”
New York actress Bailee Endebrock is playing the role of Danielle. The actress was a swing, playing five parts, on Broadway and portrayed factory worker Monteen on the first national tour of “Parade.”
She has also appeared on screen in “Miranda’s Victim” and “Evil” and been onstage in “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” “Rock of Ages,” “Mamma Mia!,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” “A Chorus Line,” “Sondheim on Sondheim,” “Bring It On” and “The Sound of Music.”
The production of “Ever After” is part of The Phoenix Theatre Company’s commitment to be part of the development of new works.
The new romantic musical seeks to tell a thoughtful, endearing and powerful story, combined with a lush, fantastical score.
This is Endebrock’s first time working with Phoenix Theatre.
She said with “Ever After,” everyone involved has helped to shape the show in some way.
“There’s something so exciting about developing a new musical, really putting your mark on something and contributing to the creative process…Our team’s been here the entire time, the director, the composer, the lyricist, the book writer, at rehearsals all day, every day. Everyone’s super invested and very collaborative. Everyone’s working together tirelessly every day to shape the show into the best version that we can make it,” Endebrock said.
One of the biggest challenges to doing a new show was that changes were still being made during the preview process.
“We perform the show at night, and then the next day, we have a rehearsal, get notes and make changes. Sometimes it’s small changes, sometimes big changes of a whole new scene or moving a song to a different spot in the show…Then that night, you perform that version of the show. Then, you repeat the next day. So, it’s constantly evolving, which can be tough and stressful, but that’s also the fun of a new musical in the preview process. Each night you are trying something new and seeing what works and seeing what doesn’t,” Endebrock said.
Endebrock grew up in a musical family and started singing and dancing at a young age. She started doing musicals around age 9.
“I just always loved it so much and very much knew that that was the path I wanted to take,” Endebrock said.
Endebrock always loved princess characters as a kid. She grew up watching the 1997 version of “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” starring Brandy Norwood and Whitney Houston and the 2004 film “A Cinderella Story” with Hilary Duff, along with the 1950 Disney film “Cinderella.”
Endebrock had watched the movie “Ever After” prior to auditioning for the show. She said that the musical stays true to the original film while adding to the story.
“The movie is so iconic with Drew Barrymore, and it has such a fierce fan base. The musical is a true adaptation. It expands on everything you know and love about the movie and heightens it for the stage and the audience. It’s a true retelling of the Cinderella story. It grounds these characters in a really fresh way. If you’re a fan of the movie, you will find all of the things you love about the movie in this show and then some,” Endebrock said.
Endebrock said the show expands on Danielle’s character in some ways.
“I think you are able to see little moments that the movie couldn’t allow for. There are some more flashbacks, and you’re getting a peek inside of her mind at times. When you move a movie to the stage, and you are able to expand on that theatricality, it allows for more opportunities to see what a character is thinking and feeling in certain moments, where maybe it’s limited on screen. I do think there are some beautiful moments where they have achieved that for Danielle,” Endebrock said.
Endebrock is trying to showcase how complex Danielle is as a character with her portrayal.
“She’s so passionate and openhearted. She’s very smart, well-read, funny, witty and determined, She’s so strong. She’s really got it all. I do think I have some of these qualities…I think playing her has allowed me to step a little more into all of those qualities that I may struggle with myself,” Endebrock said. “It is the most feminist version of the Cinderella story. She really takes her story into her own hands, and she has agency within herself.”
Endebrock hopes that audiences, especially girls, feel inspired by the show.
“It’s a really powerful and empowering story, especially for young people. I’m excited for young girls to come see this show, feel empowered and see that they can take control of their own circumstances in their own life,” Endebrock said.
Audiences are encouraged to come out dressed in fairytale or Renaissance-inspired attire.
For her role, Endebrock learned how to sword fight.
“We had sword fighting lessons early on. We choreographed this big sword fighting sequence with several members of the cast. I had never done fight choreography in that way before… The whole entire process, from holding the sword, to doing the choreography, to executing it and making it look realistic, was new to me,” Endebrock said.
Although the characters have accents in the “Ever After” film, in this version of the musical, they don’t speak in a dialect.
The show takes place during the French Renaissance. It uses some special effects to create the illusion of fire and smoke and features costumes that fit with the era.
“A lot of them were built for this production, for our cast and these characters… The detail, the fabrics and the rich colors, they’re so specific to this time period, and they’re really, really gorgeous,” Endebrock said.
Phoenix Theatre Company’s production of “Ever After”
WHEN: Through Sunday, June 14
WHERE: Phoenix Theatre Company, Dr. Stacie J. and Richard J. Stephenson Theatre, 1825 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix
COST: Tickets start at $60
INFO: phoenixtheatre.com