Imagination Stage™, the metro DC region’s largest professional theatre for young audiences and leader in positive youth development through the arts, continues its ‘Greatest Hits’ season with writer/lyricist Karen Zacarías and composer Deborah Wicks La Puma’s Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale, running February 15 – April 7, 2024. The musical commissioned by Imagination Stage and originally produced in 2003, is a decidedly un-princessy take on the timeless tale. Instead, it focuses on basketball and on an appealing Puerto Rican Cinderella and Latin-American cast of characters who speak both Spanish and English. Nadia Guevara directs. Reviewers are invited to the Opening performance on Saturday, February 17 at 7:00 or to any performance thereafter.

About the musical…Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale is a bilingual Cinderella with a twist that kids will love: What will happen to Cinderella at the ball … game? It humorously turns the classic fairy tale on its head, telling the story from both Cinderella and the ‘stepsister’s’ perspective. Cinderella, called Cenicienta, a newcomer from Puerto Rico, comes to visit her ‘stepsister,’ Rosa, in the United States. But  Cinderella only speaks Spanish and Rosa only speaks English. Will these two girls be able to reach an understanding? Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans: A Salsa Fairy Tale crosses language and gender barriers, weaving a subtle lesson on empathy, sportsmanship, and respect into an exciting, high-stakes story.

The Washington Post reviewed the original production in 2003 and said “Zacarías, uses humor expertly…the show won’t fail to engage children…[it is an] amiable bilingual variation of the Cinderella story.”

Guevara makes her Imagination Stage directing debut. A 2022-2024 Drama League Stage Directing Fellow, she is a director, producer, administrator, and an award-winning actor. Previously, she served as Director of Arts Engagement & Education at GALA Hispanic Theatre. Guevara loves that the show is “high-energy, funny and athletic. Karen Zacarías, another DC local, is one of my favorite playwrights, and her book highlights her zany humor that I love so much.”  Guevara hopes that Cinderella will teach audiences that “celebrating differences makes for the strongest friendships!”

Karen Zacarías and Deborah Wicks La Puma have worked together and on separate projects over the past 25 years. In 2018 they won a Helen Hayes Award for Ella Enchanted. La Puma has adapted several Mo Willems books for the stage, including Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience. And Zacarías, one of the most-produced playwrights in the US, counts The Book Club Play, Just Like Us, Legacy of Light, Mariela in the Desert, and The Sins of Sor Juana among her many works.

Imagination Stage Founding Artistic Director Janet Stanford takes great pleasure in working with early career playwrights and composers. “We have commissioned Karen and Debbie five times, and always love working with them. Of course, it’s been wonderful seeing how their careers beyond Imagination Stage have soared, and a delight to welcome them back.”

Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale will welcome around 3,000 Montgomery County Public School third grade students and teachers from Title 1 elementary schools to weekday matinees as part of the collaborative ‘Learning Through Theatre’ program. Learning Through Theatre delivers multi-faceted, curriculum-based educational programming, including a tailored Theatre Arts Integration Guide for teachers to create lesson plans and activities. Tickets, materials, transportation, and teacher professional development are provided free of charge to all participants. There is a separate ‘Learning Through Theatre’ program for District of Columbia Public Schools. This is a bold example of Imagination Stage’s impact on its community.

Joining Guevara on the creative team are Maurice Johnson (Choreographer) Tiffany Underwood Holmesand Debbie Jacobson (Music Director), Matthew Keenan (Scenic Designer), Christian Henriquez (Lighting Designer), Becca Janney (Costume Designer), Andrea “Dre” Moore (Props Designer), and Delaney Bray (Sound Designer).

The acting ensemble includes Ariana Caldwell as Rosa, Connor Padilla as Padrino, Alanna Sibrián as Cinderella, and Tyrell Stanley as Joey.  Samantha Leahan is Stage Manager.

The ‘Greatest Hits’ series celebrates the twentieth anniversary of Imagination Stage’s beautiful building in downtown Bethesda. The series will continue with the Imagination Stage original hit Miss Nelson is Missing! by Joan Cushing.