Ruby Rakos, Andrew Keenan-Bolger & More Lead CHASING RAINBOWS Industry Presentation Today

Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz, a new Broadway-bound musical about the early life of Judy Garland, from her vaudeville sister act through her rise at MGM to win the role of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, will have an industry presentation today, January 10, in New York City.

Using the Sony Music/Feist Robbins catalog, Chasing Rainbows brings contemporary life to songs introduced by or associated with Garland, including "Over the Rainbow," "You Made Me Love You," "Everybody Sing," "In Between," and "Dear Mr. Gable," among others.

Chasing Rainbows is the first stage, film or television property about the life of Judy Garland to receive the endorsement of the Garland Estate.

The show has a book by Marc Acito (Allegiance), with musical adaptation by David Libby (Play It Cool), and music direction by Larry Yurman (War Paint). Tony Award nominee Denis Jones (Holiday Inn, Tootsie), will direct.

The production was conceived and created by actor, director and teacher Tina Marie Casamento. Garland historian John Fricke, author of The Wizard of Oz: An Illustrated Companion to the Timeless Classic, is a consultant on the project.

Heading the cast will be Ruby Rakos (Billy Elliot) as Frances Gumm/Judy Garland. Rakos played the role in developmental productions at North Carolina's Flat Rock Playhouse and Connecticut's Goodspeed Musicals.

The other principal roles will be played by Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Newsies) as Mickey Rooney, Daniel Reichard (Jersey Boys) as Frank Gumm, Sally Wilfert (Assassins) as Ethel Gumm, Karen Mason (Mamma Mia!) as Kay Koverman, Michael McCormick (Hello, Dolly!) as L.B. Mayer, Colin Hanlon (Falsettos) as Roger Edens, Samantha Joy Pearlman (Summer in the City) as Mary Jane Gumm, Andrea Laxton (Ghost) as Virginia Gumm, Violet Tinnirello ("America's Got Talent") as Shirley Temple, Sophie Knapp (Les Miserables) as Baby Frances Gumm, and Christina Maxwell (New York Music Festival's Sonata 1962) as Edna Mae Durbin.

The cast for the presentation will also include John Battagliese (Grumpy Old Men), Mackenzie Bell (Summer: The Donna Summer Musical), Curtis Holland (Mean Girls), Ben Laxton (The Book of Mormon), Kevin McGlynn (Kiss Me, Kate), Shina Morris (Tootsie), Jonalyn Saxer (Mean Girls), and Jesse Sharp (The Addams Family).