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We had the pleasure of seeing Cinderella at Imagination Stage; a fantastic re-telling of the classic fairytale. It was every bit as magical as the original, but with some major upgrades.
The animated version of Cinderella from my youth was portrayed as a pushover blonde waiting to be rescued. This version, by Alyn Cardarelli and Steve Goers, shows a brave, resourceful, strong black woman who falls in love on her own terms. This time around, Cinderella (played by Awa Sal Seckais) is not a helpless damsel in distress- she wields a sword at potential intruders and does not hesitate to confront the Prince when she hears a rumor about him and another Princess.
I love this show even more after reading the following excerpt from the Director’s Notes: “In the age of #MeToo, Artistic Director Janet Stanford and I struggled a bit, knowing that though we don’t want to abandon such iconic tales as Cinderella, we are challenged to tell this story in a way that retains the joy of the original that we all know and love and yet empowers the young girls in our audience… We are proud to say that we have cast the most talented actors in the Washington area and have created a world that reflects the beauty and diversity of the world we live in today, allowing us all to see the classic fairytale in a new and refreshed light”
While I am obviously *obsessed* with this bold and modern take, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how wonderful the overall production was. The beautiful and sophisticated set is dripping with dazzling lights and crystal chandeliers, and easily transforms between the modest cottage where Cinderella tirelessly serves her step-family to the palace where the elegant winter ball is held. The clever costume designs also allowed characters to transform before our very eyes.
Awa Sal Secka shines, especially while singing the original songs during this musical production, and Evan Casey slays as the evil Stepmother. The entire performance is wonderful and we would highly recommend it to our followers. Tickets start at $15 and can be purchased here.
Adventure Moms DC was invited to review this performance and we thank Imagination Stage for hosting us!
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