'Cinderella' characters have had many incarnations on different stages

Cinderella is coming out of the kitchen again this weekend and heading to the big-screen ball.

Tales of this persecuted heroine have been around since the 1600s, from the dark Grimms' fairy tale to the Mother Goose stories of Charles Perrault, who introduced the glass slipper. There's the lightness of the 1950 Disney cartoon and the effervescence of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre performed a dance version of “Cinderella” in 2013, and Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera will present “Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella” in August.

The latest offering, simply titled “Cinderella,” is a live-action remake of the Disney cartoon; it even has some friendly mice. The movie stars Lily James (Rose on “Downton Abbey”) in the title role, and Richard Madden (Robb Stark on “Game of Thrones”) as her Prince Charming.

Big-name actresses Cate Blanchett and Helena Bonham-Carter fill the iconic roles of Lady Tremaine (the evil stepmother) and the fairy godmother, respectively. A couple of ugly stepsisters (Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera) round out the cast.

We thought we'd take a look at how the characters in other incarnations of this classic story stack up against each other.

The Cinderellas

• “Cinderella” (1950): The classic animated movie we remember from our childhoods. She's kindness and beauty personified (which is easier when you're animated). 5 glass slippers

• “Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella”: The version created for television has featured a 22-year-old Julie Andrews (1957), Lesley Anne Warren (1965) and Brandy Norwood (1997). They each have their merits, but let's face, who can beat Julie's voice? 4 glass slippers

• Hilary Duff, “A Cinderella Story” (2004): She's smart, plucky, beautiful and tough enough to take on modern high-school cliques. 4 glass slippers

• Selena Gomez, “Another Cinderella Story” (2008): The sequel adds some singing and dancing. 3 glass slippers

• Anne Hathaway, “Ella Enchanted” (2004): What if you were cursed to always do what you're told? Hathaway handles it with courage, humor and song. 3 glass slippers

• Drew Barrymore, “Ever After” (1998): Billed as “the real story of Cinderella,” it's a little darker than the others, and there's no singing, but Drew does wear a dress with wings to the ball. 2 glass slippers

• Jennifer Grey, “If the Shoe Fits” (1990): Enchanted shoes turn her into a supermodel, hoping to catch the eye of a famous designer (Rob Lowe). 2 glass slippers

• Jerry Lewis, “Cinderfella” (1960): The wacky comedian is Fella, who's in love with a princess. 2 glass slippers

The Evil Stepmothers

It's a plum role for an older actress and has attracted Oscar winners and nominees. Who wouldn't want to play this devilishly evil character?

• Anjelica Huston, “Ever After”: She turns on poor “Danielle” minutes after her father dies and never lets up on her plotting. 5 daggers

• Susan Sarandon, “Enchanted”: She's stunning as a real and animated queen, and then she turns into a dragon. Watch out. 5 daggers

• Jennifer Coolidge, “A Cinderella Story”: Daffy, dumb and dangerous. 4 daggers

• Eleanor Audley, “Cinderella” (1950): A voice that scares little children. She also voiced Maleficent in “Sleeping Beauty.” Disney animators designed both characters to look like Audley. 4 daggers

• Bernadette Peters, “Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella” (1997): The Tony winner may sing beautifully, but it covers up her evil heart. 3 daggers

• Jane Lynch, “Another Cinderella Story”: We already knew she was evil from “Glee.” She's delightfully pathetic as a faded pop star forced to do ads for “Baby Got Bacne Vanishing Cream.” 3 daggers

• Cary Elwes, “Ella Enchanted”: He's an evil uncle, but he's really evil — trying repeatedly to kill Prince Char. 3 daggers

• Joanna Lumley, “Ella Enchanted”: It's hard to think of her as anything but Patsy on “Ab Fab,” but she plays a fair domineering mom. 2 daggers

• Dame Judith Anderson, “Cinderfella”: Tony winner, Oscar nominee and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire opposite Jerry Lewis. Say no more. 2 daggers

• Sigourney Weaver, “Happily N'ever After” (2006): “Happy endings are so yesterday,” purrs the animated Weaver as she tries to take over Fairy Tale Land. 2 daggers

The Fairy Godmothers

These celestial helpers come in all shapes, sizes and sexes.

• Celeste Holm, “Rogers + Hammerstein's Cinderella” (1965): Just what you think a fairy godmother should look and sound like. 5 wands

• Whitney Houston, “Rogers + Hammerstein's Cinderella” (1997): She sings, she dances, she brings you pretty clothes. 4 wands

• Regina King, “A Cinderella Story”: She's queen of the diner waitresses and trusted friend to Hilary Duff's Sam. 3 wands

• Ed Wynn, “Cinderfella:” The vaudeville clown-turned-actor broke stereotypes as fairy godfather to Jerry Lewis. 2 wands

• Patrick Godfrey as Leonardo da Vinci, “Ever After”: An unconventional helper gets Drew's Danielle to the ball on time. 2 wands

• Vivica Fox, “Ella Enchanted”: She curses poor Ella to do as she's told and then won't reverse it. Not our favorite fairy. 1 wand

• Jennifer Saunders, “Shrek 2”: No matter how sweet she sounds, she's not your friend. Take her wands away.

The Prince Charmings

Definitely not the juiciest role in this story, but a necessary part

• Hugh Dancy, “Ella Enchanted”: He has his own fan club and ends up getting saved by Ella. 5 crowns

• Patrick Dempsey “Enchanted”: Not a prince by birth, but one in our hearts. 5 crowns

• Josh Dallas, “Once Upon a Time”: Technically, he's based on the prince from “Snow White,” but he'll do in a pinch. 4 crowns

• Stuart Damon, “Rogers + Hammerstein's Cinderella” (1965): Known as Alan Quartermaine to generations of “General Hospital” fans, he showed off his singing chops on live TV. 3 crowns

• Chad Michael Murray, “A Cinderella Story”: He's the prince/quarterback of his high school but secretly wishes for a more serious life. 3 crowns

• Anna Maria Alberghetti, “Cinderfella”: A lot prettier than most princes. 2 crowns

• Dougray Scott, “Ever After”: Standard prince material. 2 crowns

• James Marsden “Enchanted”: Good-hearted but dumb as a post. 2 crowns

• Rupert Everett, “Shrek 2” and “Shrek 3.” Like his mother, the fairy godmother, he's not to be trusted. No crowns