Understudy Matthew Risch has taken over the title role of Joey Evans in PAL JOEY for an injured Christian Hoff. Hoff has withdrawn from the Broadway musical due to his injury. Risch in a classic theatrical twist of fate now will head the Roundabout revival.
The official press opening night is delaying one week later than originally planned to December 18th to allow for this sudden cast change.
Hoff injured his foot Friday evening and the production cancelled the Saturday Matinee on November 22nd. Risch had taken over the role for a number of performances, he will continue to perform the role this evening at 8:00PM.
Matthew Risch was last seen on Broadway in Legally Blonde. Before that he was a member of the company of CHICAGO and has been a long time featured performer at BROADWAY BARES.
Roundabout Theatre Company's (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) Pal Joey also stars Stockard Channing (Vera Simpson) and Martha Plimpton (Gladys Bumps) with Robert Clohessy (Mike), Jenny Fellner (Linda English), Daniel Marcus (Ludlow Lowell), Steven Skybell (Ernest), Timothy J. Alex, Brian Barry, Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines, Lisa Gajda, Anthony Holds, Nadine Isenegger, Mark Morettini, Kathryn Mowat Murphy, Abbey O'Brien, Hayley Podschun, Matthew Risch, Krista Saab and Eric Sciotto.
PAL JOEY features a new book by Tony® Award winner Richard Greenberg , based on the original book by John O'Hara, with music direction by Tony® Award winner Paul Gemignani, choreography by Graciela Daniele, directed by two-time Tony® Award winner Joe Mantello at Studio 54 on Broadway.
PAL JOEY is a limited engagement through February 15th, 2009.
The design team includes two-time Tony® Award winner Scott Pask (Sets), five-time Tony® Award winner William Ivey Long (Costumes), Tony® Award nominee Paul Gallo (Lights), Tony Meola (Sound), Don Sebesky (Orchestrator), Eric Stern (Dance Arranger) and Paul Huntley (Hair and Wig Design)..
Set in Chicago in the late 1930s, PAL JOEY is the story of Joey Evans, a brash, scheming song and dance man with dreams of owning his own nightclub. Joey abandons his wholesome girlfriend Linda English, to charm a rich, married older woman, Vera Simpson, in the hope that she'll set him up in business.
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