Above: Audrey Cardwell and Andy Huntington Jones married at Gabrella Manor. (Photo: Firefly Photography)

Audrey Cardwell’s wedding this month was a fairy tale in more ways than one.

The Birmingham actress, one of the stars of the national tour of the musical “Cinderella,” literally married her prince: Andy Huntington Jones, who stars as Prince Topher in, you guessed it, “Cinderella.”

The two had been dating for five years when they both landed jobs with the show about a year ago.

“In our business, it’s rare to get a job at the same time with your partner, much less the same job,” says Cardwell, a Penn State University graduate who got her start with Red Mountain Theatre Company. “We were overjoyed.”

About a month into the run, Cardwell, who was understudying the role of Ella, short for Cinderella, went on opposite her Jones.

“I just remember that Andy couldn’t stop giggling,” recalls Cardwell, who also had roles in the national tours of “Elf” and “Anything Goes.” “He had done the role so many times with other people. It was crazy for me making my debut opposite him.”

The two have gone on to play opposite each other many times, including a memorable and unexpected stint in Chicago last year. On opening night, after the show had begun, the stage manager informed Cardwell she’d have to go on after the next song for an ailing actress.

“Ten minutes later, I walked out on stage as Cinderella, and it was one of those things that’s so empowering as an actress,” Cardwell says. “It was thrilling, and by the end of the show, everyone in the audience and on stage was cheering me on.”

Birmingham’s Audrey Cardwell recently married Andy Huntington Jones, her leading man in the national tour of “Cinderella.”

The critics took note, too. She earned raves from the Chicago Tribune and other publications.

It helped, Cardwell says, that Jones was on stage with her.

“It was hard for him, because while it was all happening he had to maintain his cool and play the prince,” she says. “But as soon as I got to the ball and we were dancing together, I could relax. I knew he would take care of me. He’s so calm, and I tend to get excited and hyper.”

Their engagement was a mild-mannered affair, taking place during a visit to Birmingham in July with the two actors in their pajamas, Jones down on one knee.

“It was crazy, having seen him do it so many times on stage with me,” Cardwell says. “It was perfect and lovely.”

Cardwell and Jones planned their wedding festivities – a Saturday party at Mountain Brook’s new Grand Bohemian hotel and a Sunday wedding at Gabrella Manor.

“The unfortunate thing about getting married while we’re working is we couldn’t invite the whole cast because they’re working, but we were able to invite a couple of Andy’s college friends who are in the cast and some former cast mates as well,” Cardwell says.

Two days after the wedding, Cardwell and Jones were off to Atlanta, honeymooning on stage as their tour continued. They plan to stay with “Cinderella” until it closes in May 2016.

“We’re just going to truck along because it’s such a gift to be employed on the same show,” Cardwell says. “We love the show, we love the story and we love traveling together. It’s too special to say goodbye just yet.”