La Gatta Cenerentola is a 1976 three-act musical, in Neapolitan language, adapted by Roberto De Simone from the sixth fable (Cinderella) of Giambattista Basile's Pentamerone. It debuted in Naples and later premiered in the United States (1985) and Great Britain (1988). De Simone sought to express the dreaminess of southern Italian popular culture. His fresh and authentic reinvention of folksongs brought him prominence. The initial production was favored by theater progressives and opposed by theater purists. Art music blogs rediscovered and praised the musical 30 years after its initial release.