Magic of Cinderella coming to Rainbow Stage
Elmwood actor ready for role as stepmother
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This article was published 06/08/2019 (2256 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Summertime in Winnipeg means it’s a good time to take in an outdoor event and our city has loads of them. From festivals to markets to concerts and musicals, there really is something for everyone.
The month of August brings Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella to Rainbow Stage. The new Broadway adaptation of the classic musical will enchant children and adults alike with its warmth, charm, surprising twists and a touch of magic.

In the updated version of the well-known fairy tale, Elmwood resident Melanie Whyte plays Madame, Cinderella’s stepmother. Audiences can expect to hear beautiful singing, see stunning dancing and watch the Cinderella story come to life onstage, sparkling with humour and magic. For Whyte, theatre is part of who she is and fundamentally important to her life.
“I did both music school and theatre school in Vancouver, and then started the perpetual job of looking for work. My love of theatre goes back to shows I saw as a child. I knew that I wanted to be a performer when I watched others onstage,” she said.
“I love interacting with other actors to create the world of our characters, and to get to be in a relationship with audiences. Live theatre is exciting to me,” added the Elmwood resident.
Whyte moved to Manitoba in 1992, and her first contract was with Rainbow Stage, as Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, in 1993. She’s done several shows over the years and has many fond memories.
“Those of us in that 1993 production of Fiddler always remember the night of the huge storm, when we stopped the show to move a smaller version of the orchestra onstage because the pit was full of water!”
Whyte enjoys the multifaceted nature of being a self-employed artist.
“I deal with new challenges all the time. It is never boring! This means that sometimes things can get really busy when several job opportunities happen at the same time, and that can be challenging. I had a chance to stretch myself by playing Polonius in the Shakespeare in the Ruins production of Hamlet this spring, and I was proud of the production and my part in it.”
Cinderella offers a healthy dose of hilarity, and combines the timeless songs we know and love with a fresh new take on the beloved fairy tale.
The production offers an opportunity to rediscover some of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most cherished songs, including In My Own Little Corner, Impossible/It’s Possible and Ten Minutes Ago. Cinderella also features lavish sets and gorgeous costumes besides the array of colourful characters.
Cinderella runs from Aug. 13 to 30. Tickets are available at the box office, at Rainbow Stage in Kildonan Park or at www.rainbowstage.ca

Janine LeGal
Wolseley community correspondent
Janine LeGal is a community correspondent for Wolseley. Know any interesting people, places and things in Wolseley? Contact her at: janinelegal@gmail.com
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