Akron Watson, Anastasia Barzee & More to Star in World Premiere of BD Wong & Wayne Barker's MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS

Ogunquit Playhouse has announced casting for the World Premiere musical adaptation of Mr. Holland's Opus (August 13-September 10), featuring book, lyrics, and direction by Tony Award winner BD Wong (Broadway's M. Butterfly, Jurassic Park film franchise), with music by Tony Award nominee Wayne Barker (Peter and the Starcatcher).

Inspired by the 1995 Oscar-nominated film, Mr. Holland's Opus depicts a high school music teacher's profound effect on the lives of his students. Ogunquit Playhouse's World Premiere production boasts a refreshingly diverse cast of Broadway actors and young actor-musicians. It's truly a Mr. Holland's Opus for 2022.

The cast will feature Akron Watson (Chicago's Hamilton, Broadway's The Color Purple revival) as Glenn Holland, Anastasia Barzee (Broadway's Miss Saigon, Jekyll & Hyde) as Iris Holland, Joshua Castille (Broadway's Spring Awakening revival) as Cole Holland, Veanne Cox (Broadway's An American in Paris, La Cage aux Folles) as Helen Chae-Jacobs, Chris Orbach (TV's "Law & Order" and "Law & Order: SVU") as Bill Meister, and Timothy Gulan (Broadway's The Last Ship, The Lion King) as Eugene Wolters.

Rounding out the cast are Joey Antonio (Cole/Natalie u/s), Stephanie Cha (Ensemble), Jenn Chandler (Ensemble), Kai An Chee (Rowena/Ensemble), Francesca Dawis (Ensemble), Napoleon Douglas (Louis/Ensemble), Yannick-Robin Eike (Bobby Toti/Ensemble), Mary Hould (Natalie/Ensemble), Abeba Isaac (Shondi/Ensemble), Louis Jannuzzi III (Stadler/Ensemble), Tyrone Kiaku (Ensemble), Angel Lin (Gertrude/Ensemble), Matt Magnusson (Jim Stahlen/Ensemble), Maggie McNeil (Stadler's Mom/Ensemble), Noax (Leonard/Ensemble), Timmy Ong (Lamont/Ensemble), Cat Patterson (Ensemble), Natalie Powers (Ensemble), Troy Valjean Rucker (Louis Rus Sr.), Garrett Shin (Ensemble), Rodrigo Torrejón (Manny/Ensemble), and Nathan Wright (Ensemble).

The cast will also be joined by a community chorus, with young singers drawn from Maine and throughout New England.

Glenn Holland gives up his dreams for teaching high school music to make ends meet. Little does he realize that leaving one's mark on the world can take many different forms, as his temporary detour leads to a lifetime impacting the lives of hundreds. Adapting Patrick Sheane Duncan's cherished screenplay for the 1995 film that starred Richard Dreyfuss, this musical journey is a love letter to the enduring influence music has on humanity.

Choreographer/Associate Director is Darren Lee. Music Director is Kevin Stites. Associate Music Director is Andrew Bourgoin. The creative team for Mr. Holland's Opus features scenic and costume design by Lex Liang, lighting design by Jonathan Spencer, projection design by Caite Hevner, sound design by Kevin Heard, and wig design by Roxanne De Luna. Casting director is Michael Cassara, CSA. Production Stage Manager is Nikki Lint. Assistant Stage Manager is Miriam Rochford. Director of Artistic Sign Language is Joey Antonio.

After a wildly successful outdoor season in 2021, Ogunquit has moved back inside its historic Playhouse for the 90th Anniversary season. The season has featured the regional theatre premiere of Tony Award-winning The Cher Show, and the new production of Marvin Hamlisch and Rupert Holmes' The Nutty Professor, which runs through August 6. The season ends with the regional theatre premiere of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (September 15-October 30). Meanwhile, the Playhouse Arts Academy is offering new-to-Ogunquit productions of Disney's Descendants: The Musical (July 30-31), and Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach (August 27-28).

Mainstage performances run Wednesdays and Thursdays (2:00 pm, 8:00 pm), Fridays (8:00 pm), Saturdays (2:00 pm, 8:00 pm), Sundays (2:00 pm), with occasional Tuesday and Sunday evenings. Arts Academy performances run select Saturdays (10:00 am, 1:00 pm) and Sundays (10:00 am). Visit ogunquitplayhouse.org/2022-season for the full season schedule.

Tickets are available for purchase online at tickets.ogunquitplayhouse.org, by phone Monday-Friday (10:00 am-4:00 pm ET) at 207.646.5511, and in-person at the Playhouse Box Office Window (10 Main St, Ogunquit, ME 03907). For more information, visit ogunquitplayhouse.org.

About Ogunquit Playhouse

For 90 years, Ogunquit Playhouse has been the crown jewel of live entertainment on the Southern Coast of Maine, delivering world-class regional theatre and arts education programs, creating memories for generations. From big, splashy musicals and riotous comedies to gripping dramas, The Playhouse attracts the best and brightest production teams from New York, Los Angeles, and London to self-produce and deliver unique shared theatrical experiences you won't find anywhere else. It's the reason the Playhouse is a vacation destination people keep returning to year after year.