VIDEO: Maynard H. Jackson High School presents Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

This weekend and next, Atlanta’s Maynard H. Jackson High School proudly presents an enchanting live stage production of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella. The production was made possible, in part, through the Pathway program from the Educational Theatre Foundation (ETF) and the Craig Zadan Foundation.

The Pathway program was designed to create opportunities for students in communities of color to work with theatre industry professionals of color while producing works that encourage dialogue around racial equity.

The initiative sends $10,000 grants to schools in communities of color to fund theatrical productions, with selected schools then hiring at least two industry professionals of color to work with students on the production as mentors. The program was piloted during the 2021-2022 school year at Tri-Cities High School in Atlanta, Georgia, and Cincinnati Aiken New Tech Program at Aiken High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Maynard Jackson production is a full-circle moment, as Pathway pays tribute to the late producer Craig Zadan, who co-executive produced the 1997 TV adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella that aired on The Wonderful World of Disney and starred Whitney Houston and Brandy. Coincidentally, the production also opens on the 10th anniversary of the Broadway premiere of Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

Adrienne Edwards, Director of Theater and Fine & Performing Arts Chair at Maynard H. Jackson, said, “This partnership with EdTA and the Craig Zadan Foundation has helped change the game for our school and given this professional quality experience for our students.”

Watch video coverage of the production here.