“What it’s about is that diversity reflects what America looks like today. Montalban reflected on being part of such a groundbreaking diverse production and how more shows are using non-traditional and colorblind casting, especially following last year’s racial reckoning in the U.S.Īlso Read: How 'Hair Love' Studio Lion Forge Is Proving Diversity in Animation Isn't Just a 'Flash in the Pan' Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella 1997īrandy and Paolo Montalban have a happy ending in “Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” (Photo: Walt Disney Television) But before his agent returned his call, a costume shop rang up asking for his measurements. He was called back that Monday to do a reading with Brandy and the director, and the following Friday, he got a message that his agent wanted to reach him. Montalban remembered being late for his Friday audition and being the last actor the casting directors saw out of 800 hopefuls. But I have the perfect person for you: Brandy.’ And so when I got the call, I went in like it was any other musical theater audition.” But five years later, she said, ‘I’m in a different place in my life, I’m a mother.
Of course, knew this because they had originally developed it for her to play Cinderella five years prior and to be released on CBS. There was no mention of her playing the fairy godmother. “There was no mention of Whitney’s Houston involvement as a producer. “I thought it was going to be some rinky-dink cable station in New York,” he recalled with a laugh. Montalban, who was an understudy on Broadway at the time, admitted he didn’t know how big the production was or who was involved.
Whitney Houston’s vision was wanting everyone to be included in this production, especially kids of color, and how meaningful it was to us back then and how meaningful it will be to them now and in the future.”Īlso Read: 'Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella' Starring Brandy Is Finally Coming to Disney+ “There’s always one or two posts that just hit to the core of what we as a cast and crew wanted. “Ever since the announcement, I’ve been reading comments on Instagram and Twitter and I’ve been crying tears of grace every single day,” he told TheWrap’s Lawrence Yee just ahead of the film’s Disney+ premiere. What made the film especially notable was the diversity of its leads - something the Filipino American actor is still proud of today.
#WHITNEY HOUSTON CINDERELLA MOVIE#
The 1997 TV musical, which starred Brandy Norwood as the titular princess and Whitney Houston as the fairy godmother, was Montalban’s first major movie role, and it was a bonafide hit, with 60 million people watching it on ABC nearly 25 years ago. It originally premiered on Novemto sixty million viewers during “The Wonderful World of Disney” on ABC, and also stars Whoopi Goldberg, Victor Garber, Natalie Desselle Reid, Bernadette Peters, Paolo Montalban, Jason Alexander, and Veanne Cox.Paolo Montalban can’t wait for fans old and new to watch “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” when it makes its long-awaited debut on Disney+ on Friday. The 1997 televised musical event, directed by Robert Iscove, earned seven Emmy nominations, and features a beloved soundtrack, which includes the songs the iconic “Impossible,” as well as “In My Own Little Corner,” “Ten Minutes Ago,” “A Lovely Night,” “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?” In the movie, when Cinderella’s cruel stepmother prevents her from attending the Royal Ball, she gets some unexpected help from her Fairy Godmother. It’s finally happening – Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella is heading to Disney+!įans have been waiting and begging for the musical, starring Brandy and the late Whitney Houston, to be added to the streaming service and their wishes are coming true.
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