Representation: Disney brings back FilAm Prince Charming and Black Cinderella

When Disney introduced a Black Cinderella and a Filipino American Prince Charming 26 years ago, the entertainment company was treading on new ground.

Disney announced Wednesday that it is bringing back Paolo Montalban as Prince (now King) Charming and Brandy as Cinderella in a new movie, Descendants: The Rise of Red, the latest installment in the studio's music-driven Descendants franchise.

In this story, the fairytale couple will play the parents of Chloe (Malia Baker) who befriends Red (Kylie Cantrell) the daughter of the Queen of Hearts (Rita Ora).

Descendants: The Rise of Red follows the story of Red, the rebellious daughter of the Queen of Hearts, and Chloe, Cinderella’s perfectionist daughter. When the tyrannical Queen of Hearts incites a coup against Auradon, polar opposites Red and Chloe must join forces and travel back in time to undo the traumatic event that set Red’s mother down her villainous path.

Filmmaker Jennifer Phang (Advantageous, Half-Life, Foundation, The Flight Attendant) is the director and co-executive producer of Descendants: The Rise of Red.

Montalban and Brandy introduced their characters in ABC’s 1997 “Wonderful World of Disney” TV movie “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella” which won an Emmy.

"There was diversity not just in the principal cast, but there was diversity in the supporting cast in the background," said Montalban.

Brandy became the first Black actress to play Cinderella on screen and the late Whitney Houston played the role of the Fairy Godmother.

Montalban, 50, an actor and singer, has appeared in numerous stage productions including the King and I, Pacific Overture and The Unsinkable Molly Brown.

Descendants: Rise of Red will debut April 7 on Disney+.

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TGIF Feature: Ali Ewoldt and Josh Dela Cruz onstage in 'Cinderella'

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Josh Dela Cruz and Ali Ewoldt will appear in 'Cinderella - In Concert.'

Filiipino Americans Ali Ewoldt and Josh Dela Cruz will star in a special performance of Cinderella—In Concert. 

The concert is part of the Rediscover Series of the National Asian Artists Project (NAAP). The NAAP series explores classic American musicals with professional artists of Asian descent, proving that great works of theatre speak to all communities.

Alan Muraoka will direct with musical direction by Kristen Lee Rosenfeld and choreography by Billy Bustamante.

The concert is on Monday, March 2., 8 p.m. Tickets are still available here.

LocationThe Ailey Studios405 West 55th StreetNew York, NY 10019

Besides Ewoldt, who was the first "Christine" of color in Broadway's Phantom of the Opera, and Dela Cruz, who is currently on "Blue's Clues & You" on the Nickelodean network, the rest of the cast includes:

Ann Harada (Avenue Q, Cinderella, Emojiland), Carol Angeli, Hannah Balagot, Cáitlín Burke, Jordan De Leon, Kendyl Ito, Kevin Kulp, Jason Ma, Jaygee Macapugay, Mia Mooko, Anthony Obnial, James Seol, Kyra Smith, Matheus Ting, Vishal Vaidya, and Kelli Youngman with the NAAP Kids and the NAAP Broadway Community Chorus.

National Asian Artists Project, which was co-founded by Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award honoree Baayork Lee, Steven Eng, and Nina Zoie Lam, is a community of artists, educators, administrators, community leaders, and professionals, who recognize the need to build bridges between the work of artists of Asian descent, and the many communities that the work can serve.

Through this special concert presentation, NAAP brings a new and unique voice to interpret a timeless classic. Originally nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s adaptation shares the enduring enchantment of a favorite fairy tale told with their hallmark charm and elegance.

The VIP package includes a pre-theater dinner at La Masseria Dei Vini!

Here;s a sneak peek of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella presented by the National Asian Artists Project on March 2, 2020 as Dela Cruz and Ewoldt sing, "Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?"