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When Lesley Ann Warren felt like ‘Cinderella’

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Lesley Ann Warren’s first audition for the title role in CBS’ 1965 version of the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II musical, “ Cinderella” was an unmitigated disaster. Warren was all of 18 but had garnered great notices for her supporting role as Snookie on Broadway in “110 in the Shade,” the musical version of “The Rainmaker.”

“Cinderella” director Charles S. Dubin had seen Warren in “110” and thought she would be perfect.

(Rodgers and Hammerstein’s only original musical for TV had aired live to great acclaim in 1957 with Julie Andrews in the starring role.)

“The audition was actually in Richard Rodgers’ apartment,” Warren recalls. “He had a very large apartment and they were all there — John Green, who was the music supervisor and conductor; Eugene Loring, the choreographer; Rodgers; the producers and Charles Dubin. I was absolutely terrified. I was so scared. I did a really bad audition.”

Her manager was informed that she didn’t get the part. Warren was devastated, but Dubin didn’t want to give up on her and asked if she could get a second chance. “I went back and Richard Rodgers cleared everyone out,” Warren says. “He took me by the hand and sat me down on the piano bench next to him and he played ‘My Funny Valentine’ and had me sing it almost with him. I got the role from that. When I think back to that moment, there are no words to describe being taught ‘My Funny Valentine’ from the man who had written it. It’s kind of an unbelievable story.”

Make that kind of a “Cinderella” story.

On Tuesday, the 45th anniversary screening of “Cinderella” opens the Paley Center for Media’s “PaleyFest Rewind,” which celebrates classic TV from the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Warren will be present at the screening.

The role launched Warren on a five-decade career, including a supporting actress Oscar nomination for 1982’s “Victor/Victoria.” She currently appears on USA’s series “In Plain Sight.”

Besides Warren, the musical starred Stuart Damon as Prince Charming and three Oscar-winning actresses: Celeste Holm, Jo Van Fleet and Ginger Rogers. Walter Pidgeon, Barbara Ruick and Pat Carroll rounded out the cast. The score contains such standards as “In My Own Little Corner,” “Ten Minutes Ago,” “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?” and “A Lovely Night.”

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She recently got an e-mail from “Precious” director Lee Daniels. “It changed his life,” says Warren. “He was a young boy with six brothers and sisters and watched it on TV. It gave him hope and belief that there was a better place. It blows my mind the effect that this production has had on people.”

For more information go to https://www.paleycenter.org/rewind-rodgers-hammerstein-cinderella.

susan.king@latimes.com

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