This weekend, our family saw the Coterie Theatre’s production of Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale. The classic Cinderella story is told through a fresh, bilingual lens, following Rosa, played by Kameron Cole, and Cinderella, played by Maya Sofia Enciso. Cinderella is a new student from Puerto Rico who only speaks Spanish, while Rosa is a popular basketball player who only speaks English. The two find themselves battling it out to be the best at the ball… the basketball game, that is. Their hilarious fairy godfather, played by Francisco "Pancho" Javier Villegas, helps guide them through their differences, teaching them lessons in empathy, sportsmanship, friendship, and respect.
The performance is perfect for all ages. It kept our entire family engaged and entertained for the full 60 minutes—which is quite the feat for my active 4-year-old. She literally sat on the edge of her seat the entire show! The music by Deborah Wicks La Puma was catchy, lively, and fun, prompting us to join in from the audience on multiple occasions.
The performance had something for everyone in our family. My 10-year-old enjoyed the school drama storyline and thought Joey, played by Jay Allen, was hilarious—especially his pumpkin cheers! My youngest loved seeing a new version of her favorite princess and was completely in awe of Cinderella’s shoes at the end of the production. I appreciated the music and humor, while my husband especially enjoyed the basketball scenes. We also loved how the show introduced the audience to a new culture and shared meaningful lessons about diversity and inclusion in such a fun and engaging way.
This was our family’s first Coterie production, but it definitely won’t be our last! The show runs through May 4. Purchase tickets online at www.thecoterie.org or in person at the Coterie Theatre in Crown Center.
Book and Lyrics by Karen Zacarías
Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma
Directed by Vanessa Severo
Music Direction by Deborah Wicks La Puma
Choreography by Courtney Germany
Regan Lyons is a girl mom and freelance writer. She lives in St. Joseph with her husband, Cale, and daughters, Atley (10) and Ensley (4).