Rodgers + Hammerstein’s ‘Cinderella’ Returns to ZACH Theatre

ZACH Theatre in partnership with Deaf Austin Theatre (DAT) recently announced the cast of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella playing January 25 – March 5 at The Topfer at ZACH with a cast and crew of deaf and hearing actors. Co-Directed by Producing Artistic Director of the Lyric Theatre Michael Baron and DAT Artistic Director, Dr. Brian Cheslik, The Tony®-nominated musical fairytale will come to life in The Topfer to start the New Year for 2023.

This fresh new musical and family favorite will be performed in both American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English with supertitle artistically incorporated into the scenic design and fully inclusive experience from the time patrons arrive at the theatre. Broadway veteran Sandra Mae Frank (Deaf West’s Spring Awakening) will play the title role of Ella. Sandra recently was Co-Director (with Michael Baron) of the critically acclaimed production of The Music Man at Olney Theatre in Maryland and can currently be seen as Dr. Elizabeth Wilder on “New Amsterdam” on NBC.

“Since beginning pre-production work, I immediately found that we share theatrical mindset. It’s been an amazing collaborative and directing partnership that I hope leads to future endeavors between Deaf Austin Theatre and ZACH as well as Deaf Austin Theatre and Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, which is where Michael is based as artistic director,” expressed director Dr. Brian Cheslik. “This production is so important because it provides a space for deaf performers who have long been ignored in this industry. It will help people to realize that yes, deaf people can enjoy music and perform in musicals too. We can do anything hearing people can do…even here! We just do it a different way.”

“Collaborating with both deaf and hearing artists on musicals has been a rewarding and constantly creative process.  Sandra Mae Frank and I recently co-directed a deaf/hearing production of The Music Man in Washington, DC.,” said director Michael Baron. The process of working on that show was revolutionary in that for the first time the deaf perspective was of equal or of greater importance to the interpretation of the material. Many of the deaf artists who worked on The Music Man are a part of this company of Cinderella - including my co-director, Sandra Mae Frank. She is returning to the stage in the lead role of Cinderella. Creating this production will be challenging, joyous, heartfelt, and full of discoveries - but one, I promise, you love and remember for years to come.” 

On why bringing Cinderella to the stage was important, ZACH Producing Artistic Director Dave Steakley said, “With over 50,000 deaf and hard of hearing residents in Austin, I want to make sure ZACH is serving the members of our community, especially the students at Texas School for the Deaf. It occurred to me that Rodgers + Hammerstein’s newer Broadway adaptation of Cinderella would be a good story because this version puts her in the driver’s seat of her life’s journey. Likewise, I want us to produce a work that puts our deaf director, choreographer, actors and production team in control. It has been a very exciting process so far, and I know the result will be a highly original interpretation of this classic tale that is joyous and moving in its inclusivity.”

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

When: January 25–March 5, 2023
Where:  The Topfer at ZACH | 202 South Lamar  | Austin, TX | 78704
Tickets: Start at $25 available at zachtheatre.org
Age recommendation: Six and up
Run time: Approximately two hours with a 20-minute intermission.