Sir Frederick Ashton's

Cinderella

Cinderella Campaign Image. Patrick Yocum and Seo Hye Han. Photo by Rachel Neville Photography

Patrick Yocum and Seo Hye Han 
Photo by Rachel Neville Photography 

Patrick Yocum and Seo Hye Han 
Photo by Rachel Neville Photography 

If the slipper fits…

Consider this your invitation to the Royal Ball.

Step into the magical world of Cinderella, where pumpkins become carriages and fairy godmothers grant wishes. This timeless ballet tells the story of a young woman overcoming hardship (and a lost slipper) to find her courage and love’s destiny. When a fairy godmother grants Cinderella’s wish to attend the Royal Ball, will all her dreams come true…before the clock strikes midnight? 

Choreographed by Sir Frederick Ashton and set to music by Sergei Prokofiev, this beloved fairy tale is sure to set your heart soaring. A visually stunning production with lavish sets and opulent costumes, Cinderella sparkles with classic British humor.



With Sincere Appreciation 
The 2018-2019 performances of Cinderella have been made possible by a generous gift from a sponsorship circle including the Stephanie L. Brown Foundation and an anonymous donor.

Onstage: Boston Ballet presents Cinderella

Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella

Video by Ernesto Galan

Get a sparkling sneak peek at Cinderella, when a bit of fairy godmother magic changes everything...

Video by Ernesto Galan

Yury Yanowsky, Roddy Doble, Boyko Dossev in Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella. Photo by Gene Schiavone

Yury Yanowsky, Roddy Doble, Boyko Dossev in Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella

Photo credit: Gene Schiavone

Misa Kuranaga and Jeffrey Cirio in Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella. Photo by GEne Schiavone

Misa Kuranaga and Jeffrey Cirio in Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella

Photo credit: Gene Schiavone

Petra Conti in Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella

Photo credit: Gene Schiavone

Boston Ballet in Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella

Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella

Photo credit: Gene Schiavone

Boston Ballet in Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella

Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella

Photo credit: Gene Schiavone

Misa Kuranaga and Jeffrey Cirio in Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella

Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella

Photo credit: Gene Schiavone

Boston Ballet layers the romantic narrative with antic, vaudevillian humor in an expansive production of the classic fairytale.

Keith Powers, The Patriot Ledger

…chock full of inventive choreography, atmospheric sets, opulent costumes, and fabulous dancing…

Karen Campbell, The Boston Globe

Frederick Ashton’s three-act “Cinderella” (1948) is a story of hope fulfilled, a comedy of contrasting characters and a classical ballet dense with sensuous movement.

Alastair Macaulay, The New York Times
Behind the Scenes

Cinderella

A fairytale classic that sparkles with heart and humor.

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Behind the Scenes

Telling the Cinderella Story

The magical fairy tale we know and love has taken many forms around the world and across the ages.

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Behind the Scenes

Inside Look: Making Cinderella Sparkle

Take a peek inside the Costume Shop as the team works their fairy godmother magic on the costumes of Cinderella.

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Spotlight: Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella

Get a sparkling sneak peek at Cinderella, when a bit of fairy godmother magic changes everything...

Spotlight: Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella

Step into the enchanted world of Cinderella, where a fairy godmother sets true love’s destiny in motion with the flick of her wand. Watch Cinderella’s wish come true as she is magically transformed from rags to (twinkly tutu) riches.

Video by Ernesto Galan

Step into the enchanted world of Cinderella, where a fairy godmother sets true love’s destiny in motion with the flick of her wand. Watch Cinderella’s wish come true as she is magically transformed from rags to (twinkly tutu) riches.

Video by Ernesto Galan

Studio to stage: The Fairy "Spring" in Cinderella

Principal Dancer Ji Young Chae performs a sparkling, high-spirited sequence. See her transformation from studio to stage.

Studio to stage: The Fairy "Spring" in Cinderella

Watch Principal Dancer Ji Young Chae blossom from studio to stage as The Fairy "Spring" in Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella.

Video by Ernesto Galan

Watch Principal Dancer Ji Young Chae blossom from studio to stage as The Fairy "Spring" in Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella.

Video by Ernesto Galan

Dancer Insight: Viktorina Kapitonova on Cinderella

Adding a new role to her repertoire, Viktorina shares a little of her own Cinderella story.

Dancer Insight: Viktorina Kapitonova on Cinderella

Go behind the scenes with Principal Dancer Viktorina Kapitonova as she shares her enthusiasm about becoming Cinderella for the first time and the parallels to her own life.

Video by Ernesto Galan

Go behind the scenes with Principal Dancer Viktorina Kapitonova as she shares her enthusiasm about becoming Cinderella for the first time and the parallels to her own life.

Video by Ernesto Galan

Inside Look: Cinderella's Stepsisters

Two stepsisters mean a double dose of laughter in this beloved fairy tale.

Inside Look: Cinderella's Stepsisters

In Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella, the high-maintenance stepsisters are brought to life by two male dancers. Go behind the scenes with Principal Dancer John Lam and Soloist Roddy Doble as they get ready to steal the spotlight with their well-heeled humor. 

Video by Ernesto Galan

In Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella, the high-maintenance stepsisters are brought to life by two male dancers. Go behind the scenes with Principal Dancer John Lam and Soloist Roddy Doble as they get ready to steal the spotlight with their well-heeled humor. 

Video by Ernesto Galan

Spotlight: Cinderella’s Glass Slippers

Discover the magical making of Cinderella’s twinkly toe shoes.

Spotlight: Cinderella’s Glass Slippers

As everyone is buzzing in preparation for the Royal Ball, the Costume Shop "fairies" are busy behind the scenes bedazzling a very special pair of pointe shoes. Get a detailed look at the custom creation of Cinderella's glass slippers, sparkling at the heart of this beloved fairy tale.

Video by Ernesto Galan

As everyone is buzzing in preparation for the Royal Ball, the Costume Shop "fairies" are busy behind the scenes bedazzling a very special pair of pointe shoes. Get a detailed look at the custom creation of Cinderella's glass slippers, sparkling at the heart of this beloved fairy tale.

Video by Ernesto Galan

What to look for: Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella

Discover some of the many hidden details that make this fairy tale so special.

What to look for: Sir Frederick Ashton's Cinderella

The story of Cinderella is layered with hidden meaning. Get the inside scoop on what to look for in this spellbinding production.

Video by Ernesto Galan

The story of Cinderella is layered with hidden meaning. Get the inside scoop on what to look for in this spellbinding production.

Video by Ernesto Galan

Spotlight: Cinderella's Grand Entrance

Go behind the scenes for a closer look at Cinderella’s awe-inspiring entrance down the grand staircase to the Royal Ball.

Spotlight: Cinderella's Grand Entrance

In Sir Frederick Ashton’s stunning production, Cinderella’s entrance to the Royal Ball is a majestic fairytale moment. Discover the secret behind how she gracefully descends the grand staircase en pointe without ever looking down.

Video by Ernesto Galan

In Sir Frederick Ashton’s stunning production, Cinderella’s entrance to the Royal Ball is a majestic fairytale moment. Discover the secret behind how she gracefully descends the grand staircase en pointe without ever looking down.

Video by Ernesto Galan

From the wings: Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella

Get a new view of a timeless fairytale—see the magic of Cinderella from the wings.

From the wings: Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella

Catch an onstage glimpse of Cinderella and discover what the fairy tale looks like from a dancer's perspective.

Video by Ernesto Galan 

Catch an onstage glimpse of Cinderella and discover what the fairy tale looks like from a dancer's perspective.

Video by Ernesto Galan 

The Details

Music

Sergei Prokofiev*

Choreography

Sir Frederick Ashton

Scenic Design & Costume Design

David Walker†

Lighting Design

John Cuff

Lighting recreation

Brandon Stirling Baker

Production Directed, Supervised and Staged by

Malin Thoors

Additional staging

Russell Kaiser, Anthony Randazzo, Shannon Parsley, Larissa Ponomarenko, Miranda Weese

World Premiere

December 23, 1948, Sadler’s Wells Ballet, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London

Boston Ballet Premiere

March 13, 2014, Boston Opera House, Boston, Massachusetts

Cinderella is performed by permission of Wendy Ellis Somes.

Run time is approximately 2 hrs and 30 minutes with 2 20-minute intermissions

*By arrangement with G. Schirmer, INC. publisher and copyright owner.
†Scenery and costumes courtesy of The Joffrey Ballet, Ashley Wheater, Artistic Director.

Area parking and information for the Citizens Bank Opera House

 

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Mikko Nissinen, Artistic Director
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