Eric McCormack, Emmy Award winner for "Will & Grace," will play El Gallo, Lucas Grabeel from "High School Musical" will play Matt, and Broadway star and Tony nominee Harry Groener will play Bellomy in "The Fantasticks," which concludes the 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud Playhouse May 5-May 17 (press opening May 6).
With music by Harvey Schmidt and book and lyrics by Tom Jones, "The Fantasticks" is the world's longest-running musical and will be performed in Los Angeles as its current New York revival continues running off-Broadway.
The cast also features Barry Dennen, who was the original Pontius Pilate in the Broadway and film version of "Jesus Christ Superstar," as Henry. Dennen was also the original Emcee in the first West End production of "Cabaret." Hap Lawrence plays Mortimer, Kim Mikesell plays the Mute, Eileen T'Kaye plays Hucklebee, and Alison Woods plays Luisa.
"The Fantasticks" will be directed by Jason Alexander, artistic director of Reprise Theatre Company, with choreography by Lee Martino, and musical direction by Darryl Archibald. The production will feature scenic design by Bradley Kaye, costume design by Kate Bergh, lighting design by Driscoll Otto and sound design by Philip G. Allen.
Single tickets are now available for "The Fantasticks" online at www.reprise.org or through the UCLA Central Ticket Office at 310/825-2101.
Eric McCormack (El Gallo) is most known for playing Will Truman on "Will & Grace" and won an Emmy Award for the role. He played Professor Harold Hill on Broadway in the Susan Stroman revival of "The Music Man," and later played the part as part of the Hollywood Bowl Summer Concert series. McCormack currently stars in the series "Trust Me."
Lucas Grabeel (Matt) has played Ryan Evans in the Disney Channel films "High School Musical" and "High School Musical 2" and in the theatrical "High School Musical 3: Senior Year." All three features were directed by Kenny Ortega, who also shepherded Grabeel and other cast members through a 42-city national tour following the success of the first film. Lucas played "Danny Nicoletta" in "Milk," directed by Gus Van Sant.
Harry Groener's (Bellomy) Broadway credits include "Is There Life After High School?", Will Parker in "Oklahoma!" (Tony Award nomination, Theatre World Award), Munkustrap in "Cats" (Tony nomination), Georges/George in "Sunday in the Park With George", and Bobby Child in "Crazy for You" (Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations). In 1999 he performed off-Broadway with Twiggy at the Lucille Lortel Theater in "If Love Were All," a musical revue based on the friendship of Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence. He has performed in regional theatres across the country, including the San Diego Old Globe Theatre (where he is an associate artist), Mark Taper Forum, Westwood Playhouse, South Coast Repertory, Long Wharf Theater, A.C.T., and the Williamstown Theater Festival. Groener's television appearances include "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "Star Trek: Voyager," Star Trek: Enterprise," Richard Wilkins on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and he was a regular on the series "Dear John."
