National Asian Artists Project’s Rediscover Series presented Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella – In Concert starring Ali Ewoldt (Phantom of the Opera) and Josh Dela Cruz (Aladdin, “Blues Clues And You”) as Ella and Prince Topher on March 2 at The Alvin Ailey Citicorp Theater.
Ali Ewoldt and Josh Dela Cruz. Photo by Lia Chang
NAAP’s Rediscover Series explores classic American musicals, with professional artists of Asian descent, proving that great works of theater speak to all communities. Through this special Rediscover Series concert presentation, directed by Alan Muraoka, music directed by Kristen Lee Rosenfeld, and choreographed by Billy Bustamante, NAAP brings a new and unique voice to interpret a timeless classic.
Baayork Lee. Photo by Lia Chang
Cinderella features music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, a new book by Douglas Carter Beane, and the original book by Oscar Hammerstein II. Orchestrations by Danny Troob, Music Adaption & Arrangements by David Chase.
Based on historic tales, Cinderella tells the story of Ella, a thoughtful and kind young woman whose situation seem dire as she is made to work for her unkind stepmother, Madame and serve her stepsisters Charlotte and Gabrielle. There is great excitement in the kingdom when a ball for Prince Topher is announced, a party that has been planned by the chancellor, Sebastian to find a wife for the future king. When Crazy Marie unexpectedly becomes Cinderella’s fairy godmother, she magically transforms the country girl into a vision of beauty so that she may attend the ball; but the magic will only last until midnight. Although Cinderella beguiles the prince, she must leave quickly and he becomes desperate to find her. Prince Topher must also deal with unrest in the kingdom where activist, Jean-Michel and the townspeople want to be treated fairly. The heartwarming tale proves that goodness overcomes adversity and that dreams really do come true.
The Company of CINDERELLA. Photo by Lia Chang
The cast featured Cáitlín Burke as Marie; Jaygee Macapugay as Gabrielle; Ann Harada as Madame; Vishal Vaidya as Jean-Michel; Kendyl Ito as Charlotte; James Seol as Sebastian; and Jason Ma as Lord Pinkleton.
The Company of CINDERELLA. Photo by Lia Chang
The ensemble includes Carol Angeli, Hannah Balagot, Jordan De Leon, Kevin Kulp, Mia Mooko, Anthony Obnial, Kyra Smith, Matheus Ting and Kelli Youngman as Knights, Townspeople, Lords & Ladies of the Court and Peasants.
Anthony Obnial, Kevin Kulp, Josh Dela Cruz, Matheus Ting, Jordan De Leon. Photo by Lia Chang
The production team includes includes Peter T. Kulok (General Manager), Cassey Kivnick (Associate Director), Hannah Balagot (Assistant Choreographer), Zackry Childers (Production Stage Manager), Matthew Berman (Lighting & Sound Designer), Jimm Halliday (Costume Designer), Rocky Noel (Associate Light/Sound Designer), Molly Farrell-Savage (Costume Design Assistant), Zoe Arana (Assistant Stage Manager), Harry Lin (Production Assistant). Casting is by Michael Cassara, CSA.
Members of the NAAP Broadway Community Chorus. Photo by Lia Chang
Members of the NAAP Broadway Community Chorus
Mary Aranas, Lori Ann Bibat, Frank Camacho, Mark Casino, Cailin Chang, Peggy Chin, Susan Chong, Ann Chow, Shan Y. Chuang, Eric Davis, David Eng, Jianing Fan, Simon L. Hamilton, Hannah Jew, Mai Kawamura, Rachel Kim, Makiko Kuri, Joseph Lee, Harry Lin, Irene Lo, Cheyenne Lu, Mio Nakanishi, Marvin Pan, Alicea Price, Rose Anne Rabut, Jeremy Rafal, Melissa Rivera-Llaguno, Kae Sato, Grace Shih, Keiko Tomita, Melody Valdez, Jose Vargas, Monica Villa, Katie Wei, Jennifer Yip, Jing Zhang, Ying Zhang.
Vishal Vaidya with NAAP Kids – current students of NAAP’s P.S. 124 Theatre Club and the Company. Photo by Lia Chang
NAAP Kids – current students of NAAP’s P.S. 124 Theatre Club
Cadence Chang, Ethan Cheng, Leilani Colon, Lucas Guo, Jocelyn Kung, Leah Kusactay, Ava Lam, Chloe Lam, Josephine Rose Lee, Vince Liao, Angelina Lu, Ashley Mui, Justin Ouyang, Conner Soukhaseum.
The Company of CINDERELLA. Photo by Lia Chang
The Band featured Music Director/Conductor Kristen Lee Rosenfeld (Keyboard), Josh Johnson (Reeds), Ron Harter (Trumpet), Matt Covey (Percussion) and Sabina Torosjan (Violin).
Jason Ma (Center) and the Company of CINDERELLA. Photo by Lia Chang
Cinderella is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization. www.concordtheatricals.com
Kevin Kulp, Carol Angeli, Anthony Obnial, Jason Ma, Jordan De Leon, Krya Smith, Kelli Youngman, Matheus Ting, Mia Mooko, Hannah Balagot and the Company. Photo by Lia Chang
National Asian Artists Project (NAAP) is a community of artists, educators, administrators, community leaders, and professionals. It is a not-for-profit organization that recognizes the need to build bridges between the work of artists of Asian descent, and the many communities that the work can serve, from underserved primary school students to seasoned arts patrons. www.naaproject.org
Josh Dela Cruz and Jason Ma. Photo by Lia Chang
Jason Ma, Kyra Smith and the Company. Photo by Lia Chang
Jason Ma, Kyra Smith and the Company. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt. Photo by Lia Chang
The Company of CINDERELLA. Photo by Lia Chang
Kelli Youngman, Ali Ewoldt, Carol Angeli and the Company. Photo by Lia Chang
Ann Harada, Ali Ewoldt, Jaygee Macapugay and Kendyl Ito. Photo by Lia Chang
Anthony Obnial, Kelli Youngman, Carol Angeli, Kelvin Kulp, Kyra Smith, Jordan De Leon, Matheus Ting, Mia Mooko. Photo by Lia Chang
Anthony Obnial, Kelli Youngman, Carol Angeli, Kelvin Kulp, Kyra Smith, Jordan De Leon, Matheus Ting, Mia Mooko. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt, Cáitlín Burke. Photo by Lia Chang
Jaygee Macapugay, Kendyl Ito, Ann Harada, Ali Ewoldt, Jason Ma and the Company. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt, Jason Ma, Matheus Ting, Hannah Balagot, Carol Angeli, Jordan De Leon, Kyra Smith, Kelli Youngman, Kevin Kulp, Mia Mooko. Photo by Lia Chang
Anthony Obnial, Mia Mooko, Carol Angeli, Kevin Kulp, Kyra Smith, Jason Ma, Hannah Balagot, Matheus Ting, Kelli Youngman, Jordan De Leon. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt (center) and Company. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt, Cáitlín Burke and Company. Photo by Lia Chang
Cáitlín Burke, Kyra Smith, Matheus Ting, Kevin Kulp, Ali Ewoldt, Mia Mooko, Jordan De Leon, Carol Angeli, Kelli Youngman. Photo by Lia Chang
Josh Dela Cruz, Kendyl Ito. Photo by Lia Chang
Josh Dela Cruz, Jaygee Macapugay. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt. Photo by Lia Chang
Carol Angeli, Matheus Ting, Josh Dela Cruz, Ali Ewoldt and Company. Photo by Lia Chang
Josh Dela Cruz and Ali Ewoldt. Photo by Lia Chang
Kyra Smith, Josh Dela Cruz, Anthony Obnial, Ali Ewoldt, Kevin Kulp, Matheus Ting and Company. Photo by Lia Chang
Kyra Smith, Josh Dela Cruz, Anthony Obnial, Ali Ewoldt, Kevin Kulp, Matheus Ting and Company. Photo by Lia Chang
Josh Dela Cruz and Ali Ewoldt. Photo by Lia Chang
Jordan De Leon, Mia Mooko, Kyra Smith, Kelli Youngman, Ali Ewoldt, Josh Dela Cruz,
Carol Angeli, Matheus Ting, Kevin Kulp and Anthony Obnial. Photo by Lia Chang
Mary Aranas, Jason Ma, Kendyl Ito. Photo by Lia Chang
Josh Dela Cruz. Photo by Lia Chang
Mia Mooko, Carol Angeli, Kendyl Ito, Hannah Balagot, Kyra Smith and Kelli Youngman. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt and Josh Dela Cruz. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt and Josh Dela Cruz. Photo by Lia Chang
Jaygee Macapugay, Kendyl Ito, Ann Harada, Ali Ewoldt. Photo by Lia Chang
Jaygee Macapugay, Ali Ewoldt and Ann Harada. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt. Photo by Lia Chang
James Seol, Jason Ma. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt and Cáitlín Burke. Photo by Lia Chang
Cáitlín Burke. Photo by Lia Chang
Jason Ma. Photo by Lia Chang
Kendyl Ito, Kristen Lee Rosenfeld. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt and Josh Dela Cruz. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt and Josh Dela Cruz. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt, Josh Dela Cruz and Company. Photo by Lia Chang
Jaygee Macapugay and Jason Ma. Photo by Lia Chang
Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. Lia has appeared in the filmsWolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman. She stars in and served as Executive Producer for the short independent films Hide and Seek, Balancing Act, Rom-Com Gone Wrong, Belongingness and When the World was Young which will be screened at the inaugural San Francisco Chinatown Community Film Festival at Clarion Performing Arts Center on March 22. She is profiled in Jade Magazine and Playbill.com. She is profiled in Jade Magazine and Playbill.com.
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