Broadway's 'Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella' musical closing in January; NeNe Leakes joins

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The fairy tale for “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” on Broadway is over. The musical will turn into a pumpkin in January after a nearly two-year run.

Producers said Wednesday the show will end after the Jan. 3 performance at the Broadway Theatre. It will have had 41 previews and 770 regular performances. The show earned nine Tony Award nominations but took home only the best costume prize.

The traditional tale was given a sly and witty makeover by Douglas Carter Beane, who updated the story but kept the songs by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II which include “In My Own Little Corner” and “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?”

Producers also said that NeNe Leakes from “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” will replace TV star Sherri Shepherd in the role of the evil stepmother from Nov. 25 to Jan. 3. Keke Palmer is about to start her sting this week as Cinderella.

The sparkly slippers were first worn by Tony-nominated Laura Osnes, then put on by “Call Me Maybe” Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen and currently worn by Paige Faure, who launches a national tour in the title role this fall.