Tuesday, February 9, 2010

UPDATE: Casting Promises, Promises

Boy, producers of all the biggest shows are pulling out all of the stops casting wise.  Maybe it is a sign of the times, and a paycheck is a paycheck.  But have you noticed the caliber of even the smallest parts in shows being taken by the top talent on Broadway?  And that doesn't even include the Hollywood types - and even there the quality has vastly improved (welcome to Broadway, Scarlett!).


And so it comes as no surprise really, that the cast list for Promises, Promises is right up there with the recently announced casts of Come Fly Away and La Cage aux Folles.  This company consists of a multiple Emmy winner, 3 Tony winners, and a Tony nominee, co-stars a respected stage and screen star, and is directed (his directorial Broadway debut) and choreographed by Tony winner Rob Ashford (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cry-Baby).

By now, I'm sure you've heard that Sean Hayes (Will and Grace, Damn Yankees at Encores! Summer Stars) will be making his Broadway debut in a role that won the legendary Jerry Orbach a Tony Award.  His co-star will be the very popular and very talented Kristin Chenoweth, a Tony winner for You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, who also starred in a little show called Wicked.  She recently won an Emmy for her work in Pushing Daisies.



The supporting cast features Katie Finneran (Tony-winner for Noises Off, Cabaret), Dick Latessa (Tony-winner for Hairspray, Damn Yankees (1994 revival), Cabaret), Brooks Ashmanskas (Tony nominee for Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, The Ritz, and currently, Present Laughter), and Tony Goldwyn (the film Ghost, on stage in The Dying Gaul).  The rest of the supporting cast includes: Peter Benson (Cabaret, Wonderful Town, Pal Joey), Sean Martin Hingston (Contact) and Ken Land (Victor/Victoria, The Scarlet Pimpernel).


The Promises, Promises ensemble will be made up of Cameron Adams (Shrek, Cry-Baby, Hairspray), Ashley Amber (Cry-Baby, Curtains), Helen Anker, Nathan Balser (Legally Blonde), Wendi Bergamini (South Pacific), Nikki Renee Daniels (Lestat, Les Miserables (Revival)), Sarah Jane Everman (Shrek, The Apple Tree), Chelsea Krombach (Wicked), Keith Kuhl (The Times They Are A-Changin', Sweet Charity), Matt Loehr (Mary Poppins, Movin' Out), Mayumi Miguel (Cry-Baby, Contact), Brian O'Brien (Beauty and the Beast, Chicago), Sarah O'Gleby, Adam Perry (Wicked), Megan Sikora (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Curtains), Matt Wall (The Drowsy Chaperone, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Ryan Watkinson (Xanadu) and Kristen Beth Williams.

The 1968 musical has a book by Neil Simon, music by Burt Bacharach and lyrics by Hal DavidPromises, Promises will have scenic design by Scott Pask (Tony-winner for The Coast of Utopia and The Pillowman, 9to5, Hair), costume design by Bruce Pask (twin brother of Scott Pask), lighting design by Donald Holder (Tony-winner for The Lion King and South Pacific), and sound design by Brian Ronan (next to normal, Spring Awakening, Grey Gardens). Orchestrations are by Jonathan Tunick (Tony-winner for Titanic, the original Promises, Promises, both the original and revivals of A Chorus Line, and just about every Broadway production of a Stephen Sondheim musical) , with music direction by Phil Reno (The Drowsy Chaperone), and dance music arrangements by David Chase (Billy Elliot, Cry-Baby, Bye Bye Birdie).

I've always been excited about this show.  I love the score, and I can't wait to see this company in action!

Comments?  Leave one here or email me at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com.
Jeff

2 comments:

  1. I'm excited about this one, too. Although I don't know the score. But it sounds like fun and the cast does look awesome. (And I have seen the movie The Apartment, on which it's based.)

    I do love Kristin Chenoweth. I had a chance to see her off-Broadway in December in "Love, Loss, and What I Wore." And I saw Brooks Ashmanskas and Dick Latessa in "She Loves Me" at the Huntington Theatre in Boston. They were both so enjoyable. Ashmanskas is a sweet, cuddly, teddy bear of an actor! I've never seen Kate Finneran but I've heard wonderful things about her.

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  2. Hey Esther!

    I've never seen Brooks Ashmanskas, so I am looking forward to that. That and seeing Sean Hayes do something other than Jack on Will & Grace.

    I saw Kristin in Steel Pier - I'll never forget her high soprano or the celophane dress that she wore in one scene! Katie Finneran was hilarious in Noises Off. I guess I've Mr. Latessa the most - several times each in Hairspray and Damn Yankees, plus once in Cabaret. He is a great talent, I think.

    Get the CD!!! It is SO 60's... you can't beat Burt Bacharach and Hal David. And I'm sure you've heard at least three songs on it. But my favorite overall part of it is the vocals in the background - they are used like most composers use, say, string instruments. Let me know when you get it!

    Jeff

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