Wireless Mics and Projection for Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella (Broadway Version)

Show guide · Full-length · 9 principals plus an expandable ensemble · Reviewed by Stage Gear staff, October 2026

Stage Gear supplies wireless mics, rentals and projection to school and community theatres across the U.S. Our staff work in theatre; this guide is how we'd mic Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella (Broadway Version).

Who gets a mic

This guide covers the Broadway Version (the 2013 adaptation with Ella, Topher and Jean-Michel), which is the version we see most often in recent school productions. Concord also licenses the Enchanted Edition, the original 1957 TV version and a one-hour Youth Edition, so check which script you have. All nine named principals sing or carry dialogue over music: Ella, Topher, Madame, Sebastian, Marie, Gabrielle, Charlotte, Jean-Michel and Lord Pinkleton. That is 9 body mics plus 2 spares, for 11 channels.

Borderline roles: Lord Pinkleton and Sebastian sing less than the others, but Pinkleton announces over the full company and Sebastian schemes over underscore, so both earn a channel. The Giant, the Fox and the Raccoon (and the Footman and Coachman they become) do not need body mics.

If you are on the Enchanted Edition or the original, the role names change (Prince, King, Queen, Fairy Godmother, stepsisters) and you should add channels for the King and Queen, for about 12. With a bigger budget on the Broadway Version, add one or two featured ensemble singers from the village and court numbers, for about 13.

Mic plot

Every Bodymic is wired for one transmitter family: Shure, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, AKG, MiPro or Creative Audio. Build your Bodymics to match the packs you own. Cast Pack: every 4 Bodymics of the same style and capsule size earn a 5th free. This plot is a starting point; change any row to suit your cast.

The ensemble

Peasants, townspeople and the court sing together in numbers like "The Prince Is Giving a Ball", "Now Is the Time" and the ball scenes. Two or three area or choir mics along the stage edge cover them; stage the big group moments downstage where you can. If a villager or courtier gets a solo line, hand them a spare body mic or place a mic on a stand rather than adding a channel.

Show notes from our team

• Ella's transformation. Ella's rags become a gown onstage, often with a trick costume. Put the pack where it cannot block the reveal, usually a thigh or lower-back pouch, and rehearse the change with the mic on.
• Marie's change. Marie goes from beggar woman to fairy godmother in view of the audience, sometimes flown. Agree on pack placement with costumes and rigging early, and keep her channel open through the effect.
• Wigs and hats. Madame, the stepsisters and the court often wear tall wigs, and Pinkleton wears a hat. Build mics into the wigs at the first wig fitting, not at tech.
• The ball scenes. Ballroom scenes put several principals, the court and dance music on stage together. Set balanced levels for Ella, Topher, Madame and the stepsisters in rehearsal, then ride the area mics for the court.

Projection

The forest, Ella's cottage, the palace ballroom, the midnight staircase and the coach ride all suit projected scenery, and projections help sell the transformations. Most school auditoriums need 7,000–10,000 lumens with the right lens; smaller black boxes need less.

Our sister company Broadway Media makes Scenic Projections for Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella (Broadway Version). Not sure which projector? Read Stage Projectors for Digital Scenery.

Rent it for the run, or own it

Buying for a school? U.S. public schools can pay by purchase order. How school ordering works.

Common questions

How many wireless mics does Cinderella need?

Plan on 11 channels for the Broadway Version: 9 body mics for Ella, Topher, Madame, Sebastian, Marie, Gabrielle, Charlotte, Jean-Michel and Lord Pinkleton, plus 2 spares. Add 2–3 area mics at the stage edge for the villagers and court.

Does Cinderella need ensemble mics?

Yes, a few. Two or three area or choir mics along the stage edge cover the villagers and the court in the group numbers and ball scenes. A spare body mic or a mic on a stand handles any single solo line.

How do we keep Ella's mic working through her transformation?

Use a hairline mic hidden at the hairline or wig line, and place the pack in a thigh or lower-back pouch away from any trick seams. Rehearse the change with the mic on so the cable is not pulled loose.

Can we rent mics just for our show week?

Yes. Stage Gear rentals run Monday to Monday around tech week, so you have mics for rehearsals and every performance. Systems arrive tested with return labels, and school purchase orders are welcome.

Stage Gear is not a show licensor. Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella (Broadway Version) is licensed through Concord Theatricals (R&H Theatricals); production rights come from them. Stage Gear sells and rents the equipment. See you on stage!