Lia Chang: Ann Harada Ends Run on Broadway in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Cinderella’ on December 14; Set for World Premiere of ‘Brooklynite’ at The Vineyard in January 2015
NeNe Leakes, Keke Palmer, Ann Harada, and Stephanie Gibson sing “A Lovely Night,” in Cinderella. © Joan Marcus
Ann Harada ends her run in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella at the Broadway Theatre, opposite KeKe Palmer as Cinderella; NeNe Leakes as Madame, Cinderella’s stepmother; Joe Carroll as Prince Topher; Judy Kaye as Marie, The Fairy Godmother; and Stephanie Gibson as stepsister Gabrielle, on December 14, 2014.
Laura Osnes as Cinderella, Harriet Harris as Madame, Marla Mindelle as Gabrielle and Ann Harada as Charlotte in the 2013 Broadway premiere of Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Photo by Carol Rosegg
Ann Harada in concert at The Allen Room in New York on February 22, 2014. Photo by Lia Chang
Harada has been giving “a hoot of a performance” (NY 1 News) as the evil stepsister Charlotte in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella since the production, directed by Mark Brokaw and featuring a new book by four-time Tony nominee Douglas Carter Beane, based on the original book by Oscar Hammerstein II, began preview performances in January 2013.
“Ann Harada and Stephanie Gibson rock as Ella’s stepsisters”
Elisabeth Vincentelli in the New York Post
“The show “is looking perfectly splendid” and as for me: “Ann Harada (hilarious as the bratty step-sister who miscalculates her romantic strategies)”
Michael Dale on Broadway World
“Harada remains a spunky delight”
Matthew Murray on Talkin’ Broadway
“Ann Harada is still fresh as the delusional stepsister Charlotte with her show-stealing ‘Stepsister’s Lament'”.
Hayley Levitt on Theatermania
The Broadway premiere starred Laura Osnes as Cinderella; Santino Fontana as the Prince Topher; Victoria Clark as Marie, the Fairy Godmother; Harriet Harris as Madame, Cinderella’s stepmother; and Marla Mindelle as stepsister Gabrielle.
Mr. Beane’s book for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella offers a new romantic twist on the ultimate makeover story of a maid-turned-princess, mixing fresh comedy and wit with the beloved tale’s classic elements — the pumpkin, glass slipper, masked ball and more. In addition to musical numbers from the original score, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible,” “Ten Minutes Ago” and “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?,” this Cinderella includes four additional songs from the Rodgers + Hammerstein “trunk.”
The Broadway Theatre is located at 1681 Broadway (Between West 52nd and 53rd Streets) in New York. Tickets to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, which plays its final performance on January 3, 2015, are on sale through Tele-charge and can be purchased by calling 212-239-6200 or online at www.telecharge.com.
Ann Harada as Christmas Eve in ‘Avenue Q.’
Fans may remember Harada as Christmas Eve, the heavily accented Japanese therapist in the hit show, Avenue Q, which she performed on Broadway and in London. Other Broadway credits include 9 TO 5, Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables (revival), Seussical and M. Butterfly. She has appeared in the films Admissions, Hope Springs, Feel, The Art of Getting By and Happiness; and recent television credits include “30 Rock,” “The Big C,” “Lipstick Jungle,” “Rescue Me,” “The Electric Company,” and a recurring role as Linda the stage manager on “Smash”.
Avenue Q/Sesame Street reunion with John Tartaglia, Gary Adler, Ann Harada, Alan Muraoka and Phoebe Kreutz in the green room of The Allen Room in New York on February 22, 2014. Photo by Lia Chang.
In February, Broadway vet Harada was simply spectacular in the Allen Room at Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York, where she performed as part of Lincoln Center’s American Songbook Concert Series.
Director Alan Muraoka gives Ann Harada notes in dress rehearsal in The Allen Room in New York on February 22, 2014. Photo by Lia Chang
Helmed by frequent collaborator Alan Muraoka, with musical direction by Gary Adler, Harada was joined by long time pal Kevin Pariseau, with whom she sang a series of Judy Garland duets.
Ann Harada with special guest Kevin Pariseau in rehearsal in The Allen Room in New York on February 22, 2014. Photo by Lia Chang
Scott Neumann, Ann Harada and Brian Koonin in The Allen Room in New York on February 22, 2014. Photo by Lia Chang
On Monday, December 8th, Harada will emcee “Arriving In Asian America,” a song cycle collectively written by members of the project with original words and music by Adam Gwon, Timothy Huang, Christine Toy Johnson, Ming Aldrich-Gan, Hyeyoung Kim (with Michael Cooper), Leon Ko, Robert Lee, Yoonmi Lee (with Gaby Gold & Zhu Yi), Yan Li, Jason Ma, J. Oconer Navarro, Kamala Sankaram, Tidtaya Sinutoke (with Ty Defoe) and Jeff Tang.
Presented by The Asian American Composers and Lyricists Project and ReImagined World Entertainment, the one night only performance is at the Peter Norton Symphony Space’s Leonard Nimoy Thalia, 2537 Broadway (at 95 St.) in New York. Helmed by Dax Valdes, the singers will include Raymond J. Lee (Honeymoon in Vegas), Pearl Sun (If/Then), Marc delaCruz (If/Then), Thom Sesma (The Times They Are A-Changin’), Man of La Mancha, Nick and Nora), Arielle Jacobs, Hansel Tan, Manna Nichols, Eric Bondoc, Anne Fraser Thomas, Joanna Carpenter, Joanne Javien, EJ Zimmerman, Cindy Cheung, Daniel J. Edwards, Q GyuJin Lim, Kamala Sankaram, Mel Sagrado Maghuyop, and Christine Toy Johnson.
Harada will next appear with Nick Cordero, Matt Doyle, Andrew Call, Gerard Canonico, Max Chernin, Nick Choksi, John-Michael Lyles, Grace McLean, Olivia Oguma, Tom Alan Robbins, Nicolette Robinson and Remy Zaken in the world premiere of Brooklynite at the Vineyard Theatre. The new musical, directed by Michael Mayer, will begin off-Broadway performances on January 29, 2015. The production is set to open on February 25 and run through March 22. Performances are Tuesday – Wednesday at 7pm, Thursday – Saturday at 8pm and Saturday – Sunday at 3pm. Click here to purchase tickets.
Synopsis: “Trey Swieskowski is an idealistic hardware store clerk who dreams of becoming a superhero. Astrolass, Brooklyn’s most celebrated superhero, is determined to throw in the cape and live like a normal Brooklynite. When they meet they hatch a plan that will change their lives forever. But can they save Brooklyn when it suddenly teeters on the brink of disaster? Brooklynite is inspired by the real Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company located in Park Slope, with characters created by Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman.”
Brooklynite features a book by Peter Lerman and Michael Mayer, music and lyrics by Peter Lerman and is directed by Michael Mayer. The creative team features musical direction by Kimberly Grigsby, choreography by Steven Hoggett, scenic design by Donyale Werle, costumes by Andrea Lauer, lighting by Kevin Adams, and sound design by Kai Harada.
Scott Neumann (drums), Kevin Pariseau, Brian Koonin (guitar), MaryAnn McSweeney (bass), Ann Harada, JJ Johnson (viola), Gary Adler (musical director), backstage in the star dressing room of The Allen Room in New York on February 22, 2014. Photo by Lia Chang
Alan Muraoka and Ann Harada backstage in the star dressing room of The Allen Room in New York on February 22, 2014. Photo by Lia Chang
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Photos: Harriet Harris, John Tartaglia, Christine Toy Johnson, Alan Muraoka, James Saito and More celebrate Ann Harada’s Debut at Lincoln Center in the American Songbook Series
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Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia starred as Carole Barbara in Lorey Hayes’ Power Play at the 2013 National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, N.C., with Pauletta Pearson Washington, Roscoe Orman, and made her jazz vocalist debut in Rome Neal’s Banana Puddin’ Jazz “LADY” at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York. She is profiled in Jade Magazine.
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