Jenn Colella, Michael McCormick, Christiane Noll Join Broadway's CHAPLIN- Full Cast Announced!

By: Jul. 11, 2012
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The producers of the new musical CHAPLIN have just announced full casting for the production, which will star Rob McClure in the title role, as previously announced. The production will also feature Jim Borstelmann (Alf Reeves), Jenn Colella (Hedda Hopper), Erin Mackey (Oona O'Neill), Michael McCormick (Sennett, McGranery, Emcee), Christiane Noll (Hannah Chaplin), Zachary Unger (Young Charlie, Jackie) and Wayne Alan Wilcox (Sydney Chaplin).

The production will also include Justin Bowen, Emilee Dupré, Sara Edwards, Leslie Donna Flesner, Lisa Gajda, Timothy Hughes, Ethan Khusidman, Ian Liberto, Renée Marino, Michael Mendez, Sarah O'Gleby, Hayley Podschun, Adam Rogers, William Ryall, Eric Santagata and Emily Tyra.

CHAPLIN, a new musical depicting the life of film icon Charlie Chaplin, with music and lyrics by Christopher Curtis and book by three-time Tony Award-winner Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Christopher Curtis, will open on Broadway on Monday, September 10, 2012 at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street). Previews will begin Tuesday, August 21, 2012. Acclaimed director/choreographer Warren Carlyle (Finian's Rainbow; Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway) directs and choreographs the production. The rest of the creative team will be announced soon.

From the slums of London to the heights of Hollywood, CHAPLIN is the showbiz Broadway musical about the silent film legend the world couldn't stop talking about - Charlie Chaplin. The brand new 24-person musical reveals the man behind the legend, the undeniable genius that forever changed the way America went to the movies.

CHAPLIN will be produced on Broadway by the Rich Entertainment Group, Roy Gabay (Fela!, The Little Dog Laughed, Steel Magnolias), and John and Claire Caudwell (John is a high profile UK entrepreneur, philanthropist and champion of many charitable causes including his own charitable foundation "Caudwell Children"), with additional producers to be announced. Rich/Caudwell also co-produced last season's productions of Jesus Christ Superstar and Leap of Faith.

Tickets for CHAPLIN can be purchased through Telecharge at www.telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200 or 800- 800-432-7250. Group sales are on sale by going to www.telecharge.com/groups or by calling 212-239-6262 or 800-432-7780.

Rob McClure (Charlie Chaplin) originated the role of Chaplin at La Jolla Playhouse (Craig Noel Award winner). Most recently in New York, Rob received raves for another title role, leading the cast of Where's Charley? at Encores. A two-time Barrymore Award winner, Rob starred on Broadway as Princeton/Rod in the Tony Award winning musical Avenue Q. He made his Broadway debut in the 2002 Broadway revival of I'm Not Rappaport alongside Judd Hirsch and Ben Vereen. Other selected credits include: Avenue Q (1st National Tour, Helen Hayes Nomination), Amadeus (Mozart, Walnut Street Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour, The MUNY), The Game's Afoot (world premiere by Ken Ludwig, Cleveland Playhouse), The Producers (Carmen Ghia, Walnut Street Theatre), The Flea and the Professor (world premiere, Arden Theatre) and Johnny Baseball (world premiere American Repertory Theater).

Jim Borstelmann (Alf Reeves) was an original cast member of the Broadway revival of Chicago. He went on to play several funny characters for Susan Stroman and Mel Brooks in The Producers and Young Frankenstein on Broadway and in the film. Jim was last seen on Broadway playing Uncle Fester opposite Brooke Shields and Roger Reese in The Addams Family. He can be seen in the documentary Broadway the Golden Years.

Jenn Colella (Hedda Hopper) starred on Broadway in Urban Cowboy (Outer Critics Circle Award Nomination) and in High Fidelity. Off-Broadway: Closer Than Ever, Slut, Beebo Brinker Chronicles, Don't Quit Your Nightjob, Lucky Guy. Other favorite credits include: Amelia Earhart in Take Flight (McCarter), Peter Pan in Peter Pan (Stephen Sondheim Pac), Daisy in Side Show (Kennedy Center), Hedda Hopper in Becoming Chaplin (La Jolla Playhouse), Kiki in Kiki Baby (Outstanding Individual Performance Award, NYMF). TV: "Sondheim! The Birthday Concert at Lincoln Center," "Cashmere Mafia," "Rescue Me," "The Good Wife." Film: Uncertainty (opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Stand-up comedy: Laugh Factory, Comedy Store (Los Angeles). Ms. Colella proudly holds an MFA in acting from The University of California, Irvine.

Erin Mackey (Oona O'Neill). Broadway credits include: Roundabout Theatre's Anything Goes (Hope Harcourt), Wicked (Glinda) and Sondheim on Sondheim (Roundabout). She also played the role of Glinda in the LA and Chicago companies of Wicked. Off-Broadway: I Remember Mama (York Theatre). Film/TV: "Gossip Girl," "Blue Bloods," The Parent Trap.

Michael McCormick (Sennett, McGranery, Emcee). Broadway: Elf (Mr. Greenway), Curtains (Oscar Shapiro), How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Pajama Game, Kiss Me Kate (1st Gangster), 1776 (John Adams), Sam Mendes' Gypsy, Marie Christine, Kiss of the Spider Woman, La Bete. Recent Off-Broadway: Tin Pan Alley Rag (Roundabout), A Man of No Importance (LTC). Most recent City Center Encores! include: Fanny and Babes in Arms. National Tours: The Producers (Franz Leibkind), Les Miserables (Thenardier), Kiss of the Spiderwoman (Warden). Recent TV: all three of the "Law & Order" series, "Candide" and "My Favorite Broadway" (PBS). Film: The Producers and A Very Serious Person. Member of AEA since his 1965 Broadway debut in Oliver!.

Christiane Noll (Hannah Chaplin). Broadway/tour: Ragtime (Tony nomimation), Urinetown, Mambo Kings, It Ain't Nothin But The Blues, Jekyll & Hyde, Grease, Miss Saigon, City of Angels, South Pacific. Film: The King & I (Singing Anna). Other: Closer Than Ever (York Theatre Co.), Witches of Eastwick (Signature Theatre, VA), New Moon (Encores!), Lizzie Borden (Goodspeed Opera), The Student Prince (Paper Mill Playhouse), Lincoln Center American Songbook Series. Symphony soloist with Marvin Hamlisch, Don Pippin and Peter Nero. Opera debut: Washington National Opera, opposite Placido Domingo. www.christianenoll.com

Zachary Unger (Young Charlie, Jackie). Broadway debut! Loves performing, football and basketball. Off-Broadway: Merrily We Roll Along (Frank Jr.), Measure for Measure (Boy). Readings and Workshops include: Becoming Chaplin (Young Charlie), Finding Neverland (Michael). Film: Admission, Tar, Lily. TV: "Letterman," "Dora the Explorer," "American Viral."

Wayne Alan Wilcox (Sydney Chaplin). Broadway: Coram Boy, The Normal Heart (Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League award), Priscilla Queen of the Dessert. Off-Broadway/favorite theater: Carrie (MCC), Suddenly Last Summer (Roundabout), A Man Of No Importance (LCT), Great American Trailer Park Musical, The Full Monty, Importance of Being Earnest, The Last Five Years, The Light in the Piazza, The Sisters Rosenweig. TV/Film: Marty on "The Gilmore Girls," "Law and Order," RENT, Under (Gold at Toronto Film Festival, student academy award), Interview (with Steve Buscemi, dir.), My Sassy Girl.

Christopher Curtis (Music & Lyrics, Book). As a pianist and singer Chris Curtis has performed in Los Angeles, New York, Japan and Ireland with such artists as Stevie Wonder. As a composer he wrote and sang the theme song for the popular Discovery Channel/The Learning Channel TV series "A Wedding Story" as well as the songs for the Discovery Channel's "Travelers" and "On the Inside." He wrote and sang the theme song to the Trimark Pictures film The Break starring Martin Sheen. Chris was signed to the songwriter program at Disney Animation. Chaplin, formerly entitled Limelight, was the recipient of the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle's Craig Noel Award for Best Musical for its run at the La Jolla Playhouse.

Thomas Meehan (Book) won the 2001 Tony Award for co-writing the book of The Producers with Mel Brooks and then went on to win the 2003 Tony Award for co-writing the book of Hairspray with Mark O'Donnell. He received his first Tony Award in 1977 for writing the book of Annie, which was his first Broadway show, and he has since written books for, among others, the musicals I Remember Mama, Ain't Broadway Grand, Annie Warbucks and the American version of Bombay Dreams. His most recent works are the Broadway musicals Young Frankenstein, for which he co-wrote the book with Mel Brooks; Cry-Baby, co-written with Mark O'Donnell; and Elf, co-written with Bob Martin. Meanwhile, the summer of 2010 saw the limited-run premiere of Death Takes a Holiday, for which he co-wrote the book with the late Peter Stone to music and lyrics by Maury Yeston. Future projects include Rocky, for which he has written the book to lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and music by Stephen Flaherty. Other works in earlier stages of development include musicals based on the life of Roy Rogers, the early years of Judy Garland entitled Chasing Rainbows, the movie Tootsie and the movie Dave. In addition, he is a long-time contributor of humor pieces, including Yma Dream, to The New Yorker; an Emmy Award-winning writer of television comedy; and a collaborator on a number of screenplays, including Mel Brooks' Spaceballs, To Be or Not to Be and the film version of The Producers. He is also the co-author, with the poet J.D. McClatchy, of the libretto of 1984, an opera composed by Lorin Maazel, based on George Orwell's classic novel, which had its world premiere in the spring of 2005 at London's Royal Opera House and was performed in 2008 at La Scala in Milan, and last year at the opera house in Valencia. Mr. Meehan is a member of the Council of the Dramatists Guild.

Warren Carlyle (Director/Choreographer) was represented on Broadway last season by Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway (director and choreographer, Broadhurst Theater) and as choreographer of Follies (Marriott Marquis Theatre, The Kennedy Center). Most recently he directed and choreographed Cotton Club Parade at City Center Encores! and the critically acclaimed, Tony-nominated Broadway revival of Finian's Rainbow at the St. James Theater. Other Broadway credits include: A Tale of Two Cities (director/choreographer) at the Al Hirschfeld Theater. Selected additional New York credits include: choreographed Girl Crazy, On The Town, Finian's Rainbow, Juno and Stairway To Paradise (Encores! at City Center); 101 Dalmatians (Madison Square Garden/Tour); You Again (NY Fringe); Working (Zipper Theater); Slut! (ATA); Roundabout 40th Anniversary Gala and The 24 Hour Musicals (The Public Theater). Regional credits include: produced, directed and choreographed Hugh Jackman In Performance (Curran Theater San Francisco); Camelot (Stratford Canada); musical staging for the new Randy Newman revue Harps & Angels (Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles); directed and choreographed the award winning, Broadway-bound musical Limelight (La Jolla Playhouse); directed and choreographed Buddy's Tavern (The O'Neill Theater Center, Richard Rodgers Award Winner); Lucky Guy (Goodspeed); choreographed Mame (The Kennedy Center); The Pirates Of Penzance (Paper Mill Playhouse, Goodspeed-CT Critics Circle Award for Best Choreography); The Bakers Wife (Goodspeed) and Pageant (Second City Chicago). In his native England his work has included: Me and My Girl (director and choreographer, UK Tour-Award Winning Best Production, Theater Goers Choice Award); The Goodbye Girl (1st National UK Tour); Pageant (Vaudeville Theater); Sondheim's Moving On (Bridewell Theater); and Scrooge (European Tour). He is represented on film and television by Deception starring Hugh Jackman (20th Century Fox), "Hope and Faith" (ABC), "An Evening at the Boston Pops" (PBS), and Elton John's Made in England music video.

For more information, visit: www.ChaplinBroadway.com



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