FREEZE FRAME: Aaron Carter in Rehearsal for THE FANTASTICKS!

Triple-Platinum Recording Artist Aaron Carter, who burst onto the pop music scene in the late nineties and quickly achieved worldwide superstardom and the adoration of millions of loyal fans, will join the cast of The Fantasticks, the world's longest-running musical, on Monday, November 7, 2011.

Carter will play the role of Matt, a rebellious young romantic who becomes restless, goes out into the world and discovers that with love comes responsibility, with independence comes danger, and with maturity comes happiness. He succeeds Matt Leisy, who will remain with the company in the role of The Mute.

"Never in the 51-year-history of The Fantasticks have we opted to cast someone with Aaron Carter's level of fame, instead quietly enjoying our reputation for giving many future stars their first professional performing gig," said lyricist-book writer Tom Jones, who also directed the production. "But when I saw the level of enthusiasm, professionalism and sheer talent Aaron brought to us, I knew that he would be an incredibly exciting addition to The Fantasticks family."

A modern twist on Romeo and Juliet, The Fantasticks (music by Harvey Schmidt, book/lyrics/direction by Tom Jones) is the quintessential story of a boyfriend and girlfriend who quickly grow apart when they realize they want to experience the world. What follows is a hilarious and heartwarming story appropriate for all ages. The score, which includes the hit songs "Try To Remember", "Soon It's Gonna Rain" and "They Were You", is as timeless as the story itself. Having run for 42 years in its original production at the Sullivan Street Playhouse, The Fantasticks is the world's longest-running musical.

"I am a young person who has already lived a full life," said Aaron Carter. "In many respects my journey has been similar to my character's: like Matt, I'm a young man who has grown up and discovered what's truly important, using my life experience to become the person I always knew I was meant to be. I am so happy to be performing in this incredible show with such a talented group of professionals."

"I love working with Aaron," said Robert Felstein, musical director for The Fantasticks. "It's amazing to watch how he shapes his performance to fulfill the needs of the show. I think people will be very excited to see and hear what Aaron Carter brings to The Fantasticks."

Tickets to The Fantasticks are priced at $76.50 and can be purchased by calling the box office at (212) 921-7862, by logging onto Ticketmaster.com, or by visiting the Snapple Theater Center box office at 210 West 50th Street at Broadway. A limited number of premium front row seats are available for each performance priced at $126.50.

The Fantasticks cast also includes Bradley Dean (Broadway's A Little Night Music, Spamalot, Company, Man of La Mancha, Jane Eyre), Bill Bateman (Broadway's Gypsy starring Patti LuPone, Hello, Dolly!), Matt Dengler (Broadway's A Little Night Music), MacIntyre Dixon (Broadway's Beauty and the Beast, A Funny Things Happened on the Way to the Forum, Gypsy starring Bernadette Peters, 1776, Prelude to a Kiss), Tom Flagg (Broadway's Will Rogers Follies, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Oklahoma!), Matt Leisy (Alan Menken's A Christmas Carol at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, St. Louis Rep's The History Boys), Addi McDaniel (Disney's High School Musical at North Shore, The Guthrie's Little House on the Prairie), Michael Nostrand (A&E's Emmy Award-winning Peter Pan, national tours of Jelly's Last Jam, The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Dan Sharkey (Broadway's The Music Man, Show Boat), Juliette Trafton (Christine in the national tour of Phantom of the Opera) and Charles West (Broadway's The Scarlet Pimpernel, Show Boat, Cyrano the Musical).

As a 14 year old youth, Walter was transfixed by his first Broadway Show, the original production of 'GREASE'. His Journey to celebrity photojournalism began that fateful night. Meeting, photographing and getting to know the cast inspired him to spend his professional life doing what he loved. Walter moved to Manhattan and for a leading role as a Photographer & Photo Researcher. Currently headlining in New Jersey with his partner Richard and family members Dali (Jack Russell) & Gala (Schnoodle). Recently he made his Broadway debut sharing the stage with Hugh Jackman in 'Hugh Jackman on Broadway' as well as receiving the Actors' Equity Association Gypsy Spirit Award. Walter McBride Photography is syndicated worldwide by Corbis/AP.

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