American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) announces the star-studded cast of the upcoming workshop of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City. Tony Award winner and Broadway legend Betty Buckley (Sunset Boulevard, Cats on Broadway) takes on the beloved character of Anna Madrigal, and Tony Award-nominated actor Stephen Bogardus (Love! Valour! Compassion!, Man of La Mancha, and Falsettos on Broadway) plays Edgar Halcyon, Mrs. Madrigal's love interest. Up-and-coming performer Betsy Wolfe (Everyday Rapture, Into the Woods on Broadway) plays Mary Ann Singleton, the naïve Midwestern transplant to San Francisco at the center of the story. A.C.T. core Acting Company member and Tony Award-nominated actor Manoel Felciano (Sweeney Todd on Broadway; Rock 'n' Roll, and John Doyle's The Caucasian Chalk Circle at A.C.T.) portrays Norman Neal Williams, joined by two graduates of A.C.T.'s acclaimed Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program: Bay Area actor Nick Gabriel as Michael Tolliver (aka Mouse) and Morgan Spector (who most recently appeared with Scarlett Johansson and Liev Schreiber in A View from the Bridge on Broadway) as Brian Hawkins.
The colorful cast of characters that Mary Ann meets upon her arrival at the now-iconic 28 Barbary Lane will be brought to life by such celebrated performers as Patti Allison (Orpheus Descending on Broadway) as Mother Mucca, Mary Birdsong (Reno 911! on Comedy Central; Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me and Hairspray on Broadway; Rich and Famous at A.C.T.) as Mona Ramsey, Colin Donnell (Jersey Boys on Broadway) as Beauchamp Day, Adam Fiorentino (Mary Poppins on Broadway) as Jon Fielding, and Kate Reinders (Gypsy and Wicked on Broadway) as Dede Halcyon-Day. The ensemble for the workshop includes A.C.T. M.F.A. Program student Marisa Duchowny alongside a mix of local and national talent, including Arwen Anderson, Keith Bearden, Alex Hsu, Bianca Leigh, Stuart Marland, Jonathan Ritter, and Josh Walden.
The developmental workshop takes place at A.C.T. October 4-22, 2010; the workshop process does not include a public presentation. No casting has yet been confirmed for the world premiere production scheduled for May 17-June 19, 2011, at the American Conservatory Theater. Single tickets for Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City go on sale in January 2011. The only way to lock in tickets to the show at this time is by purchasing a subscription to A.C.T.'s 2010-11 season. For exclusive first looks, presale ticket info, and special offers, join Tale Chasers, A.C.T.'s email fan club, by visiting www.act-sf.org/TaleChasers.
The world premiere musical production of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City features a book by Tony Award-winning writer Jeff Whitty (Avenue Q) and music and lyrics by Jake Shears and John Garden of the glam-rock band Scissor Sisters; is directed by Tony Award winner Jason Moore (Avenue Q and Shrek: The Musical); and is choreographed by Larry Keigwin. The creative team for Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City also includes scenic designer Douglas W. Schmidt, lighting designer Robert Wierzel, costume design Beaver Bauer, sound designer John Shivers, and musical director Stephen Oremus.
A.C.T.'s production of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City is made possible by commissioning sponsors Ambassador James C. Hormel and Mr. Michael P. Nguyen and Nancy Livingston and Fred Levin, The Shenson Foundation; production sponsors Burt and Deedee McMurtry and Lorenzo Thione; and choreography sponsors Celeste and Kevin Ford, Marilee K. Gardner, and Jo Hurley. A.C.T. would also like to acknowledge its 2010-11 season company sponsors: Priscilla and Keith Geeslin; Ambassador James C. Hormel and Mr. Michael P. Nguyen; Nancy Livingston and Fred Levin, The Shenson Foundation; Burt and Deedee McMurtry; Patti and Rusty Rueff; Mr. and Mrs. Steven L. Swig; Lorenzo Thione and David Palmer; and Jeff and Laurie Ubben. Development of Tales of the City was supported by the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center during a residency at the National Music Theater Conference of 2009.
