Theatre Bristol proudly presents
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Study Guide and Supplemental Materials

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella Performance Dates and Times

School Performances:
November 1,2,8,9 at 10:00 am, School Shows will run an hour and a half with no intermission.

Public Performances:
November 2, 3, 9 and 10 at 8:00 pm and November 11 at 2:30 pm

Dear Educator
Thank you for choosing Theatre Bristol’s production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella as part of your curriculum. Theatre Bristol continues to provide the experience of live theater to our community’s children for an exciting 42nd Season! Our performances reach over 25,000 children from 60 school districts and five states.

Enclosed are materials designed to facilitate understanding and initiate responses from your students in relation to the play. The information and activities can be used to enhance your curriculum standards in many subjects. You know best the needs and abilities of your students. Please feel free to adapt the materials as best suits your classroom. You are invited to make copies of the enclosed materials for other teachers as well as your students. We hope you will all enjoy Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

Our performances are possible through sponsorship by corporations, individuals, season-ticket sales, and souvenir program advertisements sales. We are also supported by the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

Special thanks to our show sponsor:

Arrington, Schelin & Herrell PC

and our Corporate Club Season sponsors:
Alamont Dental Associates, P.C.,
Ferguson Animal Hospital, Food City,
Guest Housing, Inc.,
King College, JA Street & Associates,
Tipton Construction, Wellmont Foundation

About Cinderella
Cinderella is one of the oldest stories in human history. The earliest story that comes close to it isThe Girl with the Rose-Red Slippers, which comes from Egypt around 550 B.C. The gods bring a pair of shoes to the Pharaoh and he matches them to a beautiful slave girl whom he later marries.
The next version comes from China around the year 855 B.C. The girl is named Yeh-Shen and a magical fish helps her. A golden shoe is used to identify her to the prince that wants to marry her.

In 1697, Charles Perrault wrote the earliest version that is like the classic tale we know. It was in a book called Contes de ma Mere L’Oye (Tales of my mother, Oye) and it gave us the fairy godmother, the pumpkin carriage, animal servants, and the famous glass slippers. For a while, people thought Perrault confused “vair” (French for “ermine or fur”) with “verre” (French for “glass”), but since he spoke French, it is unlikely.
In the Brothers Grimm version, there is no fairy godmother. The girl, Aschenputtel or Ash Girl plants a tree on her mother’s grave and all the magic comes from there.

The most popular version in this century is surely the Disney film from 1950. It incorporated many of the classic themes as well as adding the talking animals that are a standard part of the Disney magic.

Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote this musical especially for a live television performance in 1957 starring Julie Andrews as Cinderella.

Classroom Activities
Gail Carson Levine wrote a book called Ella Enchanted that tells the story of what happened to Cinderella after she married the Prince. What do you think happened? Did they stay in the castle or get their own home? What did they do in the next few years?

Websites more information about Cinderella

Wikipedia website regarding the history of Cinderella
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinderella

Folklore and Mythology Electronic Texts
http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0510a.html

Answers.com website regarding the history of Cinderella
http://www.answers.com/topic/cinderella

Interesting site at Disney archives behind character development for their version of Cinderella.
http://disney.go.com/vault/archives/characters/cinderella/cinderella.html

A Guide to Appropriate Behavior at the Theatre
We think attendance at a live theatrical performance is not only exciting, it is a privilege; and as such demands certain behavior. When guests come to your home, you want them to enjoy themselves, but you expect them to follow the rules of your house. For those of us at Theatre Bristol, the theatre is our home, and you are our valued guests! We ask that you – our guests – obey the rules of our home. Just give others in the audience the same consideration that you expect of them, and everyone will have a great time!
Please, no talking during the play. When the lights go dim, it’s hard to sit quietly. But in the theatre, the lights always come right back up so just wait a moment and the play will continue.
Please go to the bathroom before the show begins.
NO Food, Gum, or Drink allowed in the theatre.
No cameras, video, or audio recording allowed.
Please turn off all cell phones, pagers, and watch alarms.
Please DO laugh, clap, and otherwise let the actors know you enjoy the show.

Teachers: Just a Reminder!
Parent Chaperones are not seated until all school groups are seated. They sit separately in the seating area on the sides and rear of the theatre – not with your class.
No babes in arms, please. Your cooperation is requested. Performances are for school children.
Reservation changes may be made by the lead teacher only.
Confirmation cards must be returned by date indicated.
Please make every effort to arrive on time, no later than 9:45 for the 10:00 show – with your help we will start on time!

Tennessee School Teachers: Ticket Subsidy Program! The Tennessee State Legislature and the Tennessee Arts Commission provide a ticket subsidy program. To find out if your school is eligible, call the Johnson City Area Arts Council at (423) 928-8229, or The Rose Center at (423) 581-4330. Download forms at www.arts.state.tn.us and request funds for all your trips at once.

Don’t forget about our two spring productions - taking reservations now!

Seussical, The Musical! (appropriate for students of all ages)
School performances: March 6, 7, 13 and 14 at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. at the Paramount Center for the Arts.
Public Performances: March 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. and 16 at 2:30 p.m. (Tickets: $15, $12 and $8).
Dr. Seuss’ beloved characters come to life on stage while singing and dancing! Incorporating bits and pieces of at least 14 Seuss classics, this show will take you back to the days when your mother was out and you had a Cat in the Hat running about! Along with all the Whos of Whoville, come and let your imagination run wild!

Pinocchio (appropriate for grades pre-K thru 5th)
School performances: May 1, 2, 8 and 9 at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. at the Paramount Center for the Arts.
Public Performance: May 4 at 2:30 p.m. (Tickets: children under 12-$5, all others $8)
I want to be a real boy! That’s Pinocchio’s dream, but can he quit lying long enough to achieve it? Full of adventures in whales and boys that turn into donkeys you won’t want to miss this classic adaptation penned by one of the region’s premiere theatrical talents.

Theatre Bristol * 512 State Street Bristol, TN 37620 *
423-968-4977 * www.theatrebristol.org * info@theatrebristol.org