Twenty-five years ago “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” starring Brandy and the late Whitney Houston, aired as part of “The Wonderful World of Disney” lineup on ABC, and the network will dedicate the evening to it on August 23, 2022.
Celebrating the 25th Anniversary
The evening will start with “Cinderella: The Reunion, A Special Edition of 20/20,” starting at 8pm ET/PT.
The reunion will feature Brandy, Whoopi Goldberg, Paolo Montalban, Victor Garber, Bernadette Peters, Jason Alexander, and Veanne Cox.
The “20/20” reunion special explores how the made-for-television musical expanded society’s view of the term “princess,” and includes interviews with the original cast members, as well as rare, behind-the-scenes footage with Whitney Houston.
Diving into the film’s positive impact on representation in Hollywood, the ABC News Studios special also features interviews with stars who share a connection to the project, including actor Billy Porter, actress Jade Jones, and singer-songwriter and choreographer Todrick Hall.
The “20/20” special will air on Hulu the next day.
Here is the trailer for the episode:
Watch the Movie
Following the news special, “The Wonderful World of Disney” will air a presentation of the original film from 9-11pm ET/PT.
This will be the first time the movie has been aired on broadcast television in more than two decades.
It is currently available to stream on Disney+.
About the Movie
On November 2, 1997, “The Wonderful World of Disney” aired “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” starring Brandy as Cinderella opposite Houston as the Fairy Godmother.
Bernadette Peters co-starred as the Stepmother with Cox and the late Natalie Desselle as Stepsisters Calliope and Minerva, respectively.
Goldberg played Queen Constantina, with Garber as King Maximillian, Montalban as Prince Christopher, and Alexander as the valet Lionel.
The Disney live-action film marked a groundbreaking moment in television history, introducing America’s first Black Cinderella (Brandy) and Fairy Godmother (Whitney Houston).
It was directed by Robert Iscove, written by Robert I. Freedman, and choreographed by Rob Marshall. Whitney Houston, Debra Martin Chase, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron served as Executive Producers. Chris Montan was a producer, and Robyn Crawford was an associate producer.
The 1997 film also featured 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,” and “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?”.
“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. “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.”