Fans of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella will get a new inside look at the making of the 1997 classic.
ABC News Studios’ Cinderella: The Reunion, A Special Edition of 20/20 airs Aug. 23 at 8/7c on ABC and will stream on Hulu the next day.
The reunion will feature the original members of the cast, including Whoopi Goldberg, Paolo Montalban, Victor Garber, Bernadette Peters, Jason Alexander and Veanne Cox.
The special will focus on The Wonderful World of Disney film’s groundbreaking casting, including Brandy as Disney’s first Black Cinderella and Whitney Houston as Disney’s first Black Fairy Godmother. The firsts also extend to Montalban, who played Disney’s first Asian prince and most prominent Asian character before Disney firmly delved into positive Asian storylines with Mulan, which came out the year after.
The special will feature interviews with the cast members and stars who are connected to the film
This includes Billy Porter, who played a gender-neutral Fabulous Godmother in Amazon Studios’ Cinderella, Jade Jones, who plays Bell in the off-Broadway tour of Beauty and the Beast and Disney superfan and entertainer Todrick Hall. Other interviews include producers Debra Martin Chase and Neil Meron, costume designer Ellen Mirojnick and others. Fans will also get to see rare behind-the-scenes footage with Whitney Houston.
After the special, a presentation of the original film will air at 9/8c. The film is already available to stream on Disney+.
“We’re delighted that the 25th anniversary of this landmark incarnation of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella is being celebrated on its original network,” said Imogen Lloyd Webber, SVP at Concord Theatricals, on behalf of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, in a statement. “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s unforgettable score is truly timeless — still enchanting listeners 80 years after their partnership began and 65 years since their ‘Cinderella’ first charmed the largest audience in television history.”
'Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella' originally aired on ABC's The Wonderful World of Disney to record audience viewership--60 million viewers--and earned seven Emmy nominations.
As ABC states, “Celebrated for its diverse representation, sweeping musical acts and unforgettable songbook, the 1997 film features an incredible array of beloved and original songs by the iconic songwriting duo Rodgers & Hammerstein, including ‘Impossible,’ ‘In My Own Little Corner,’ ‘Ten Minutes Ago,’ ‘A Lovely Night,’ ‘Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?’ and more.”
