Strong women featured on New York and London stage

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella

For the first time, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, opening Sunday at the Broadway Theatre, will enchant audiences young and old live onstage. The new production, featuring Laura Osnes in the title role and Victoria Clark as Marie, the Fairy Godmother, reimagines the story originally created for Julie Andrews as a television special in 1957. With a new book by Douglas Carter Beane, _Cinderella _arrives on Broadway with a more contemporary emphasis on one's inner character.

"The last line in the original version is now the moral of our story," Beane said in an interview published on NJ.com. "Beauty is a wonderful thing to have in a woman, but it is not as powerful as kindness. With kindness, anything is possible."

Center Theatre Group is a proud co-producer of this production.

Matilda the Musical

Another show exciting New York audiences is Matilda the Musical, based on Roald Dahl's beloved book. The show broke records at the 2012 Olivier Awards, earning nominations in every category for which it was eligible and winning seven trophies.

According to the show's website, "_Matilda _is the story of an extraordinary girl who dreams of a better life. Armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, Matilda dares to take a stand and change her destiny."

The production seamlessly blends Dahl's unforgettable characters with state-of-the-art staging that captures its audience's imagination.

Helen Mirren in The Audience

Now in previews at London's Gielgud Theatre, The Audience by Peter Morgan and directed by Stephen Daldry "imagines a series of pivotal meetings between the Downing Street incumbents and their Queen. From Churchill to Cameron, each Prime Minister has used these private conversations as a sounding board and a confessional — sometimes intimate, sometimes explosive."

Morgan was inspired to write the play after working on _The Queen, _a film that earned Helen Mirren the Academy Award for best actress. Mirren reprises her role in this new play.

The world-premiere production runs in a limited engagement until June 15.