Familiar with the Cinderella story? Well, forget almost everything you know about the fictional princess and be prepared to be impressed like never before.

The beloved fairytale gets a fresh spin thanks to New Victory Theater’s latest production, “Hip Hop Cinderella.”

Directed by Christopher Scott, the classic tale has been updated into a modern masterpiece infused with hip hop elements throughout. Set in the not-so-distant future on a planet named Centra, Brittany Nicole Williams, who stars as Cinderella must save the galaxy. Like in the original story, she must first break away from her evil and jealous stepmother and stepsisters.

“Hip Hop Cinderella” photo by Russ Rowland

While under her evil stepfamily’s thumb, her ambitions and talent as a rapper and performer flourish — with the help of her best friend Runka (Jeremiah Garcia), a robot, who supports and encourages her every step of the way. “Hip Hop Cinderella” also masterfully weaves in Cinderella’s love for STEM, which offers a positive influence and perspective for young children, especially girls to aspire to.

Plus, this new and improved version ditches the outdated and potentially problematic messages that plague countless old-school fairytales and stories. Audiences will be impressed with the changes and unique twist that make “Hip Hop Cinderella,” an empowering and entertaining show.

I took my two kids to see the hour-long musical over the weekend, and they were beyond wowed. If you’ve followed my blog over the years, you know how much my children enjoy live theater and this became an instant favorite.

In fact, my son Marcus said it was one of the best shows he’s ever seen. He also stated that he wishes he could watch it again!

Williams does a phenomenal job bringing the iconic character to life, and the ensemble cast is remarkable in their supporting roles. The singing, dancing and of course, acting were outstanding across the board.

From the catchy raps to the colorful costumes to the brilliant portrayals, “Hip Hop Cinderella,” is a hip adaptation of a classic tale that the new generation of boys and girls will relate to and appreciate.

“Hip Hop Cinderella” is recommended for children ages 7+ and runs through Sunday, February 26, 2023. For tickets and more information, please visit New Victory Theater.

**Disclaimer: I was provided two press tickets to review this show. I purchased an additional ticket so both of my kids could see the show.

We’re only one full week into Black History Month (BHM) and we’re already making major moves. We know Black excellence doesn’t just flourish in February, but this month is particularly off to a great start.

From Beyoncé to the Super Bowl, we’re highlighting a few noteworthy moments to add to our ongoing celebration of Black excellence.

Check out these newsworthy moments we’re loving this week:

Viola Davis becomes an EGOT winner

There are entertainers and then there are EGOTs. For the uninitiated, that acronym stands for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. Only a handful of gifted performers have scored the coveted title. Now, actress Viola Davis is the latest to join the elite group. The decorated artist won a Grammy this week for narrating her biography, “Finding Me: A Memoir.” The Grammy was the last trophy she needed to win before being crowned with EGOT status. She is only the fourth African American recipient in competing award categories following Whoopi Goldberg, John Legend, and Jennifer Hudson.

Beyoncé makes history on music’s biggest night

When Beyoncé arrived on the music scene with her teen girl group in the late ‘90s, no one could’ve predicted that her destiny would be so bright. On Sunday night, she proved to the world that she is one of the most talented vocalists and performers of our lifetime — underscored by her historical 32nd Grammy win. Breaking famed music conductor George Solti’s record of 31 Grammys. The Queen Bee racked up four trophies that night, earning her the title of the most decorated Grammy winner in history. As the Houston native once sang, “Bow down, b*****s!”

The Grammys celebrates hip-hop’s 50th anniversary

It’s been a great week in music. This year marks the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. If you didn’t get the memo, you got the message loud and clear at the Grammys on Sunday. Produced by Questlove, the 15-minute set celebrated the genre that started in the Bronx back in 1973. The star-studded performance included iconic, pioneering artists like LL Cool J, Run DMC, Salt-n-Pepa, Public Enemy, Queen Latifah and more. Not only did the crowd-pleasing set include trailblazers, but it also featured newer artists such as Glorilla and Lil’ Baby. It was a fitting tribute to a groundbreaking genre that’s been overlooked way too long.

Bessie Coleman gets Barbie-fied

Representation matters. Although the Bessie Coleman Barbie doll was released by Mattel on January 30, it’s still news that needs to be shared and celebrated. The pioneering aviator who in 1922 became the first African American woman to perform a public flight, is honored with a doll of her likeness by the popular toy company. Part of the brand’s “Inspiring Women” series, this doll is a great way to introduce this American icon to younger generations, as well as create an opportunity for African American doll collectors to add to their arsenal. Her legacy continues to soar as more women and African Americans take flight in the cockpit.

For more information, please click here.

Two Black quarterbacks tackle Super Bowl LVII

We all know that everyone is anticipating Rihanna’s return to music at Super Bowl LVII on Sunday, but there’s another monumental milestone taking place. For the first time in NFL history, two Black quarterbacks will battle for the trophy. Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes of the Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts will both play at the big game in Phoenix. This works for us because like Issa Rae, “we’re just rooting for everybody Black!”

9-year-old child prodigy graduates high school

A young, gifted and Black 9-year-old student in Bucks County, Pennsylvania became the youngest person in the world to graduate from high school. David Balogun received high school credit from Harrisburg-based Reach Cyber Charter School in Dauphin County and is currently taking community college classes. The child prodigy and aspiring astrophysicist might be above average intellectually and academically, but he’s still just a kid. “He’s playing with his Legos,” his mother Ronya Balogun told Insider. “He’s just a normal 9-year-old. He’s a kid, you know what I’m saying? So just because his mind can comprehend and understand and fathom and have a really big discussion with you about big ideas or theories, does not mean he’s not going to act like a 9-year-old.”