1997 Television Broadcast

Rodgers & HammersteinCinderella

On November 2, 1997, ABC aired a reconceived version of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, starring pop icon Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother and R&B artist Brandy Norwood as the titular princess. The rest of the cast was equally star-studded, with Whoopi Goldberg and Victor Garber as the King and Queen, Bernadette Peters as Cinderella’s Stepmother and Jason Alexander as Lionel, the herald. Paolo Montalbán was introduced as the Prince. This multiracial made-for-television movie featured songs from the original score, along with Rodgers & Hart’s “Falling in Love with Love,” Richard Rodgers’ “The Sweetest Sounds” from No Strings, and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “There’s Music in You,” from the film Main Street to Broadway. The ABC broadcast of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella was viewed by 60 million people and remains a beloved gem to this day. Houston also served as executive producer, along with Craig Zadan, Neil Meron and Debra Martin Chase. On February 12, 2021, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella became available for streaming, exclusively on Disney+.



PRODUCTION GALLERY

HONORS AND AWARDS


EVENT
CATEGORY
AWARD
Primetime Emmy Awards

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special

Nomination
Primetime Emmy Awards

Outstanding Directing for a Variety or Music Program – Robert Iscove

Nomination
Primetime Emmy Awards

Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program – Randy Ser, Edward L. Rubin, Julie Kay Fanton

Winner!
Primetime Emmy Awards

Outstanding Costume Design for a Variety or Music Program – Ellen Mirojnick

Nomination
Primetime Emmy Awards

Outstanding Hairstyling for a Limited Series or Movie – Jennifer Guerrero-Mazursky, Ellin La Var, Carla Farmer, Julia L. Walker, Kimberly Kimble, Lucia Mace

Nomination
Primetime Emmy Awards

Outstanding Choreography – Rob Marshall

Nomination
Primetime Emmy Awards

Outstanding Music Direction – Paul Bogaev

Nomination
NAACP Image Award

Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special

Nomination
NAACP Image Award

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special – Brandy Norwood

Nomination
NAACP Image Award

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special – Whoopi Goldberg

Nomination