Just last month, Andrew Lloyd Webber stood in front of the marquee at the Imperial Theatre and declared to the crowd that he was there to celebrate the arrival of his newest Broadway show.
Bad Cinderella.
Linedy Genao plays Cinderella in the Broadway bound Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Bad Cinderella
This modern take on the fairytale will open on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre on March 23, the day after Lloyd Webber’s 75th birthday. He then shared that he couldn’t get a better birthday gift than to introduce the woman who will play the title role, Linedy Genao.
“Thank you for that incredible introduction, Andrew Lloyd Webber. A sentence I thought I’d never say in my entire life,” said an overcome Genao who joined Lloyd Webber at the podium and had to keep the news secret for eight months. “I do have one thing to tell you. I’m not your Cinderella. I’m your bad Cinderella.”
Set in the idyllic kingdom of Belleville, this Cinderella is no damsel in distress who needs to be saved. She finds herself and her prince in new circumstances, which causes them to rethink what “happily ever after” really means.
As the lyrics to Bad Cinderella go:
“I am Bad Cinderella/Got a style all my own/And I will not change it for you/I am Bad Cinderella/Flying high and alone/You can bet I will ignore you”
(From left) Linedy Genao, Andrew Lloyd Webber and lead producer Christine Schwarzman
In addition to music by Lloyd Webber, Bad Cinderella features a book by Emerald Fennell, who won an Oscar writing the screenplay for Promising Young Woman, lyrics by David Zippel, direction by Laurence Connor and choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Bad Cinderella is produced on Broadway by No Guarantees and Really Useful Group, with Wagner Johnson Productions serving as Executive Producers.
Genao made her Broadway debut in On Your Feet! was in Dear Evan Hansen and most recently starred as Gloria Estefan in On Your Feet! at Paper Mill Playhouse. “My heart is bursting,” said the Dominican actress who was born in Brooklyn and raised in Hamden, Connecticut. Before getting to Broadway she received her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Connecticut and worked in banking.
"I have been dreaming about originating a leading role on Broadway for just about my entire life, but never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine achieving that dream alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber and such an incredible team of collaborators,” said Genao. "As a proud Dominican American, I am most excited about this opportunity to represent my community and show the world that fairy tales do come true — and are for everybody. It's such an honor to be able to represent my Latin community as a princess.”
Jeryl Brunner: Can you bring me to when you learned you were cast as Cinderella?
Linedy Genao: They offered the role to me in the room during my final callback. There were a lot of rounds of callbacks. It was one of the most intense auditions I've ever been through. But every time I got further and further, I felt a level of confidence that I've never felt before. I just knew this was something that I could do.
At my last callback they had us sing the songs over and over and over. I thought, I don't think I could do this again. This is too much. When I finally came into the room, thinking I was going to have to sing again, Andrew Weber stood up and asked if I could be Cinderella. I was hysterical. I couldn't believe it. I was shaking and overwhelmed. Makeup was running down my face.
Brunner: When did you know you had to be a performer?
Genao: I have been singing Spanish songs in church since I was little. And I discovered theater in high school. I got my theater experience for Broadway in high school. Several years ago I went to the open call for a workshop of On Your Feet!, the Gloria and Emilio Estefan musical.
I had a confidence. I thought, you're looking for Latino actors. That's me. I grew up on Gloria Estefan’s music. That's me. I don't have to pretend to be anyone else. Let me just try. And I took a selfie on my iPhone 4, printed it at Walgreens, went to the open call. And that's how I made my Broadway debut.
Brunner: Why is this Cinderella Bad Cinderella?
Genao: She is rebellious. In the typical fairytale Cinderella is quiet, obedient and listens. Bad Cinderella doesn't conform to the norm. She makes noise and lets people know who she is.
Bad Cinderella opens on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre on March 23
