California Musical Theatre Announces Casting for Music Circus Season - Phillip Boykin, Paul Schoeffler, Jennifer Hope Wills and More!

After auditioning performers in New York City, Los Angeles and Sacramento, California Musical Theatre has confirmed casting for all six shows in the 65th Music Circus season. The stellar cast for the season is loaded with Broadway veterans, some of whom are making their Music Circus debuts, Tony nominees and audience favorites from previous Music Circus productions.

The six-show season begins June 9 with a classic that is a Music Circus audience favorite, Lerner and Loewe's My Fair Lady (June 9 - 14). Also on the season is the Mississippi adventureBig River (June 23 - 28); the musical comedy Bye Bye Birdie (July 7 - 12); the magical journeyPeter Pan (July 21 - 26); Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim's West Side Story (August 4 - 9); and a sixth show that will be offered as an option for season subscribers, the generation-defining Hair (August 18 - 23). It will be the first time in the Wells Fargo Pavilion for four of the shows, Big River, Bye Bye Birdie, Peter Pan, which was last at Music Circus in 1986, and Hair, which hasn't been at Music Circus since 1976.

Tickets for all 2015 Music Circus productions are on sale at the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office, 1419 H Street, by phone at (916) 557-1999, or online at Tickets.com. Single-show tickets range from $40 to $83. Season tickets are still available at a savings of up to $110 on a pair of tickets. Five-show season tickets (without Hair) range from $200 to $294, depending on performance time and seating location. Six-show season tickets (including Hair) range from $240 to $352.80. Discounts are available for groups of 12 or more by calling (916) 557-1198. For more information visit SacramentoMusicCircus.com.

For all shows, evening performances are Tuesday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Matinee performances are Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 p.m., with the exception of Hair, which has no Sunday matinee performance.

Music Circus is produced under the leadership of Artistic Director Glenn Casale and Executive Producer Scott Klier. California Musical Theatre President and CEO is Richard Lewis.

CAST/CREATIVE HIGHLIGHTS

My Fair Lady
June 9 - 14
Lerner and Loewe transform George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion into this musical theatre classic. When aristocratic professor Henry Higgins takes in Cockney pupil Eliza Doolittle on a bet, he gets far more than he wagered. Featuring "I Could Have Danced All Night," "On the Street Where You Live," "The Rain In Spain."

Director: Glenn Casale
Choreographer: Bob Richard
Music Director: Craig Barna
Production Stage Manager: Craig Horness
Assistant Stage Manager: Katie Cannon

In the Lerner and Loewe classic My Fair Lady, the role of Henry Higgins will be reprised at Music Circus by Paul Schoeffler who marks his eighth season at Music Circus, and who has performed on Broadway in Rock of Ages, Sweet Charity, Peter Pan and Beauty and the Beast, among others. Eliza Doolittle will be played by leading lady Glory Crampton, who earned critical acclaim playing in The Fantasticks and Carnival off-Broadway and has a solo singing career through which she has performed for Former President Bush and the Royal Crown Prince of Luxembourg. William Parry, playing Colonel Pickering, originated roles in ten Broadway productions, including Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George and Passion, and has performed alongside powerhouses Bernadette Peters and Meryl Streep. Broadway veteranStephen Berger, who has appeared on Broadway in Kinky Boots, The Pajama Game, Into the Woods, The Dinner Party, True West, Laughter on 23rd Street and Little Me, joins the cast as Alfred P. Doolittle.

Jason Forbach, who played Enjolras in the Broadway revival and national tour of LES MISERABLESand appeared in The Phantom of the Opera in Las Vegas, will play the love-sick Freddy Eynsford-Hill. Playing Mrs. Pearce will be Mary Jo Mecca, who has performed in a number of regional theatre productions across the country in addition to film and television roles. Making her Music Circus debut as Mrs. Higgins, Toni Sawyer has extensive regional theatre experience and can be seen in the films "The Thirteenth Floor," "Sweet Dreams," "My Life" and "Mask." Returning to Music Circus for his eighth season to play Professor Zoltan Karpathy is Shannon Stoeke, who has toured nationally in Camelot, Peter Pan and Hair.

Big River
June 23 - 28
Mark Twain's masterwork The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is brought to toe-tapping musical life by "King of the Road" Roger Miller. Huck and Jim take to the mighty Mississippi on a journey of adventure, hope and self-discovery. First time at Music Circus in 20 years. With "Muddy Water," "Waitin' for the Light to Shine." Wells Fargo Pavilion premiere-last at Music Circus in 1994.

Director: Michael Heitzman
Choreographer: AC Ciulla
Music Director: Andrew Bryan
Production Stage Manager: Craig Horness
Assistant Stage Manager: Caitlin Sapunor-Davis

In Roger Miller's musical adaptation of "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," Huck will be played by Ben Fankhauser, who was an original performer in Newsies on Broadway and toured as Ernst in Spring Awakening. Phillip Boykin, who is currently starring in the Broadway revival ofOn the Town and who was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in Porgy and Bess, joins the cast as Jim after delighting Music Circus audiences as Joe in the 2013 production of Show Boat.William Parry, playing The King, originated roles in ten Broadway productions, including Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George and Passion, and has performed alongside powerhouses Bernadette Peters and Meryl Streep. The role of The Duke will be played by Broadway's diverse Jeff Skowron who has performed comedic roles in Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast and won an Ovation Award for his portrayal of Leo Frank in Parade in L.A.

Bye Bye Birdie
July 7 - 12
The Broadway smash that introduced the world to Dick Van Dyke and won 4 Tony Awards. Musical comedy chaos ensues when pop star Conrad Birdie (think Elvis Presley) arrives in Sweet Apple, Ohio to publicize his Army draft departure by sharing "One Last Kiss" with a small town fan. With "Put On A Happy Face," "A Lot of Livin' to Do." Wells Fargo Pavilion premiere-last at Music Circus in 1999.

Director: Glenn Casale
Choreographer: Randy Slovacek
Music Director: Dennis Castellano
Production Stage Manager: Craig Horness
Assistant Stage Manager: Katie Cannon

Broadway's LES MISERABLES cast member Nathaniel Hackmann is taking us back to the sixties as Conrad Birdie in this Music Circus production of Bye Bye Birdie. His manager, Albert Peterson, will be played by Larry Raben, the off-Broadway director of Falling for Eve and Broadway/off-Broadway actor from The Producers, I Married an Angel and I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. Janine DiVita, seen on Broadway in Grease, Anything Goes and The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and in the feature film "Boychoir," will play Rosie Alvarez. Playing Ursula Merkle will be Sainty Nelsen, whose new FX series "Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll" premieres in July and whose voice can be heard in the animated series "Eureka Seven: Ao" and "Psycho-Pass." Kim MacAfee will be played by Amanda Jane Cooper, who played Glinda in the first national tour of Wicked and had a recurring role on the ABC series "Selfie." Rebecca Baxter, who played Cinderella at New York City Opera, was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for her portrayal of Cunégonde in Candide, and guest-starred in ABC's "The Middle" last season, will play Mrs. MacAfee.

Seen on Broadway in Newsies, Xanadu, Jekyll & Hyde, Beauty and the Beast and Cyrano - The Musical, Stuart Marland is playing Mr. MacAfee. Mary-Pat Green, playing Mae Peterson, was in the original Broadway cast of Sweeney Todd and Candide, has appeared in many television series including "The Middle," and will soon be seen in theaters in Marvel's "Fantastic Four."Garett Hawe, playing Hugo Peabody, made his Broadway debut playing Neleus in Mary Poppins, appeared in Newsies and can currently be seen in Matilda The Musical. And younger brother Randolph MacAfee will be played by Hunter Clary, last season's Mowgli in The Jungle Book, Winthrop in The Music Man and Prince Achmed in Aladdin at El Dorado Musical Theatre.

Peter Pan
July 21 - 26
This beloved musical about the boy who wouldn't grow up has enchanted audiences of all ages for decades. Peter, Tinker Bell and the Darling children take to the skies on a magical journey to Neverland. Wells Fargo Pavilion premiere-first time at Music Circus since 1986. Featuring "I'm Flying," "I Won't Grow Up," "Never Never Land." For this show only, tickets are available for $40 in any section for children 4 - 12 years old.

Director: Glenn Casale
Choreographer: Patti Colombo
Music Director: Jeff Rizzo
Production Stage Manager: Craig Horness
Assistant Stage Manager: Caitlin Sapunor-Davis

Leading the high-flying adventure of Peter Pan in the title role is Jenn Colella, who was most recently seen on Broadway in IF/THEN opposite Idina Menzel and who played in the Joseph Gorden-Levitt film "Uncertainty." Jennifer Hope Wills, who earned critical acclaim for her portrayal of Eileen in the revival of Wonderful Town and also performed on Broadway in The Phantom of the Opera as Christine, is returning to Music Circus for her fourth season to play Mrs. Darling. Playing Wendy will be Lori Eve Marinacci, who toured in Little House on the Prairie andKiss Me, Kate and played in the Broadway production of Hairspray. Brothers John and Michael Darling will be played by Aidin Winn, who performed earlier this year in The King and I at Dallas Summer Musicals, and Joshua Davis, a veteran at El Dorado Musical Theatre, where he also played the role of Michael. The role of Mr. Darling/Captain Hook will be played by Paul Schoeffler who marks his eighth season at Music Circus, and who has performed on Broadway in Rock of Ages, Sweet Charity, Peter Pan and Beauty and the Beast, among others.

Internationally known as Anita from the West Side Story Broadway production and tour, Desiree Davar, who was a dancer for "Glee," debuts at Music Circus as Liza/Tiger Lily. No stranger to Neverland, Korey Buecheler, playing Curly, recently played Tootles in Pittsburgh CLO's Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby. Returning to Music Circus after her 2010 performance in 42nd Street,Sarah Jenkins, who jumped rope through the first national tour of Legally Blonde, will play First Twin, a role she performed in a previous production also directed by Glenn Casale. Michael McGurk, who has appeared on Broadway in The Wedding Singer and The Music Man, is back for his seventh season at Music Circus to play Second Twin. The role of Slightly will be played byAndy Richardson who was a member of the original Broadway casts of Newsies, Gypsy starring Patti LuPone and Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Maria Briggs, who toured in Irving Berlin's White Christmas and performed in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, is making her Music Circus debut this season as Tootles/Jane. Michael Nostrand, who is reprising his Broadway and A&E's film role of Smee at Music Circus, toured in Jelly's Last Jam, The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Dracula, and has regional credits all over the country.

West Side Story
August 4 - 9
Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents, Jerome Robbins-among the greatest artists of their day-came together to create this 20th Century Romeo and Juliet and make musical theatre history. Against all odds, Tony and Maria find love in a turbulent world. With "Somewhere," "Tonight," "Maria."

Director: Bob Richard
Choreographer: Diana Laurenson
Music Director: Craig Barna
Production Stage Manager: Craig Horness
Assistant Stage Manager: Katie Cannon

The timeless West Side Story has Carolann Sanita, who has performed all over the country in regional theaters and starred in the national tour of The Music Man, feeling pretty as Maria. Tony will be played by Justin Matthew Sargent, who has spent the past four years on Broadway, including playing the lead role in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, as well as in Rock of Ages andBonnie & Clyde. Coming to Music Circus for the first time after a stretch on Broadway inCinderella, Michael Callahan will play the role of Action. Maria Briggs, who toured in Irving Berlin's White Christmas and performed in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, makes her Music Circus debut this season and will play Anybodys. Garett Hawe, playing A-Rab, made his Broadway debut playing Neleus in Mary Poppins, appeared in Newsies and can currently be seen in Matilda The Musical. The role of Baby John will be played by Andy Richardson, who was a member of the original Broadway casts of Newsies, Gypsy starring Patti LuPone and Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Reprising his role as Big Deal from the international tour of West Side Story is Adam Lendermon, who also toured nationally in Cats and had the privilege of singing Children of Eden in concert at the John F. Kennedy Center. Heidi Latsky Dance Company member Steve Schepis, who performed on Broadway in Pricilla Queen of the Dessert and Finian's Rainbow, will play the role of Diesel.

Shane Rhoades, playing the role of Riff, is an accomplished actor and choreographer, who performed on Broadway in The Boy from Oz and served as associate choreographer for the Broadway production of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Jake DuPree, who danced with two acclaimed contemporary dance companies in New York City, will play Snowboy. Internationally known as Anita from the West Side Story Broadway production and tour, Desiree Davar, who was a dancer for "Glee," reprises her role as Anita. German Alexander is making his Music Circus debut in this production as Bernardo, a role he played in the national tour of West Side Story as well. Reprising his national tour role of Chino is Miguel Falcon, who also toured as Paul in A Chorus Line and in 42nd Street. Making his third appearance on the Music Circus stage as Doc, Gary Lee Reed is a seasoned regional theater actor who has toured nationally inGodspell and regionally in The Music Man. The role of Lt. Schrank will be played by Broadway veteran Rich Hebert, who was part of the original cast of Sting's new musical, The Last Ship, which played this season on Broadway, and who previously toured in Billy Elliot, including in the 2013 Broadway Sacramento presentation of the show. Playing Officer Krupke is Dave Pieriniwho is highly active at Sacramento's B Street Theatre and has either acted in, directed or written more than 100 shows. Michael Dotson, who has appeared in more than 35 Music Circus productions, as well as many regional productions including 42nd Street, The Pajama Game andThe Andrews Brothers, will play Glad Hand.

Hair
August 18 - 23
Option to Season for Subscribers
The musical that helped define a generation and introduced rock 'n' roll to Broadway. Set against a backdrop of the Vietnam era, a group of late 1960s youth join a social revolution and "Let the Sun Shine In." Also featuring "Aquarius," "Good Morning Starshine." Wells Fargo Pavilion premiere and first time at Music Circus since 1976.

Director: Glenn Casale
Choreographer: Dana Solimando
Music Director: Dennis Castellano
Production Stage Manager: Craig Horness
Assistant Stage Manager: Caitlin Sapunor-Davis

Figuring out his identity in Hair, Claude will be played by Oliver Thornton who has an extensive career in London's West End performing in Rent as Mark, The Phantom of the Opera as Raoul and LES MISERABLES as Enjolras. Peter Saide sang in the world premiere of William Barton's opera Songs of the Mother Country, has performed regionally and off-Broadway, and will be joining the cast as Berger. Banzai from the national of tour of The Lion King and member of Music Circus' Show Boat in 2013, Sacramento's own Omari Tau returns to Music Circus as Hud. Playing Woof will be James Michael Lambert, who has performed in the national tours ofMamma Mia! and Happy Days and in a number of regional theatre productions across the country in addition to film and television roles. Member of the Hair tour Laura d'Andre, who also toured in Grease as Rizzo, is returning to Hair as Sheila at Music Circus. Stephanie Mieko Cohen, who got her start on Broadway as Young Cosette in LES MISERABLES and has recently been seen on ABC Family's "Switched at Birth" as Darla, is making her Music Circus debut as Jeanie. California native Gabrielle McClinton debuts at Music Circus as Dionne after appearing in Pippin on Broadway, "The Mentalist" on television and in the films "Fun Size" and "Won't Back Down." Playing Crissy in her Music Circus debut will be soloist Lizzie Klemperer, who has sung with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and the Southwest Florida Symphony, and toured in The Addams Family and Little House on the Prairie.

FULL CAST/CREATIVE

MY FAIR LADY
Director: Glenn Casale
Choreographer: Bob Richard
Music Director: Craig Barna
Production Stage Manager: Craig Horness
Assistant Stage Manager: Katie Cannon
Costume Designer: Marcy Froehlich
Co-Scenic Designers: Scott Klier / Jamie Kumpf
Wig and Hair Designer: Jill Lane
Lighting Designer: Brackley Frayer
Properties Designer: Laura Walters

ROLE: ACTOR
Henry Higgins: Paul Schoeffler
Eliza Doolittle: Glory Crampton
Colonel Pickering: William Parry
Alfred Doolittle: Stephen Berger
Freddy Eynsford-Hill: Jason Forbach
Mrs. Pearce: Mary Jo Mecca
Mrs. Higgins: Toni Sawyer
Zoltan Karpathy: Shannon Stoeke
Female Ensemble: Danielle Hansen
Female Ensemble: Angelina Sark
Female Ensemble: Chanel Edwards-Frederick
Female Ensemble: Janna Cardia
Female Ensemble: Julie Cardia
Female Ensemble: Kristine Bennett
Female Ensemble: Lisa Rohinsky
Female Ensemble: Jenny Florkowski
Male Ensemble: Mark Bradley Miller
Male Ensemble: Joseph Spieldenner
Male Ensemble: Omari Tau
Male Ensemble: Dennis O'Bannion
Male Ensemble: Kevin McMahon
Male Ensemble: Doug Carfrae
Male Ensemble: Sam Tanabe
Male Ensemble: Ivory McKay

BIG RIVER
Director: Michael Heitzman
Choreographer: AC Ciulla
Music Director: Andrew Bryan
Production Stage Manager: Craig Horness
Assistant Stage Manager: Caitlin Sapunor-Davis
Costume Designer: Marcy Froehlich
Co-Scenic Designers: Scott Klier / Jamie Kumpf
Wig and Hair Designer: Christine Conklin
Lighting Designer: Pamila Gray
Properties Designer: Laura Walters

ROLE: ACTOR
Huck Finn: Ben Fankhauser
Jim: Phillip Boykin
The King: William Parry
The Duke: Jeff Skowron
Female Ensemble: Lizzie Klemperer
Female Ensemble: Danielle Hansen
Female Ensemble: Chanel Edwards-Frederick
Female Ensemble: Mary Jo Mecca
Female Ensemble: Angelina Sark
Female Ensemble: Jennifer Leigh Warren
Male Ensemble: James Michael Lambert
Male Ensemble: Sam Tanabe
Male Ensemble: Dennis O'Bannion
Male Ensemble: Andy Richardson
Male Ensemble: Doug Carfrae
Male Ensemble: Shannon Stoeke
Male Ensemble: Rich Hebert
Male Ensemble: Ivory McKay
Male Ensemble: Omari Tau
Male Ensemble: Michael McGurk

BYE BYE BIRDIE
Director: Glenn Casale
Choreographer: Randy Slovacek
Music Director: Dennis Castellano
Production Stage Manager: Craig Horness
Assistant Stage Manager: Katie Cannon
Costume Designer: Maggie Morgan
Co-Scenic Designers: Scott Klier / Jamie Kumpf
Wig and Hair Designer: Jill Lane
Lighting Designer: Pamila Gray
Properties Designer: Laura Walters

ROLE: ACTOR
Albert Peterson: Larry Raben
Rosie Alvarez: Janine DiVita
Ursula Merkle: Sainty Nelson
Kim MacAfee: Amanda Jane Cooper
Mrs. MacAfee: Rebecca Baxter
Mr. MacAfee: Stuart Marland
Mae Peterson: Mary-Pat Green
Conrad Birdie: Nathaniel Hackmann
Hugo Peabody: Garett Hawe
Randolph MacAfee: Hunter Clary
Female Ensemble: Danielle Hansen
Female Ensemble: Ashley Anderson
Female Ensemble: Maria Briggs
Female Ensemble: Sarah Jenkins
Female Ensemble: Kim Arnett
Female Ensemble: Angelina Sark
Female Ensemble: Amy Quanbeck
Female Ensemble: Kathryn Mowat Murphy
Male Ensemble: Dennis O'Bannion
Male Ensemble: Andy Richardson
Male Ensemble: Nick Adorno
Male Ensemble: Michael McGurk
Male Ensemble: Adam Lendermon
Male Ensemble: Shannon Stoeke
Male Ensemble: Brian Steven Shaw
Male Ensemble: Steve Geary

PETER PAN
Director: Glenn Casale
Choreographer: Patti Colombo
Music Director: Jeff Rizzo
Production Stage Manager: Craig Horness
Assistant Stage Manager: Caitlin Sapunor-Davis
Costume Designer: Maggie Morgan
Co-Scenic Designers: Scott Klier / Jamie Kumpf
Wig and Hair Designer: Christine Conklin
Lighting Designer: Jared A. Sayeg
Properties Designer: Laura Walters

ROLE: ACTOR
Peter Pan: Jenn Colella
Mrs. Darling: Jennifer Hope Wills
Wendy Darling: Lori Eve Marinacci
John Darling: Aidan Winn
Michael Darling: Joshua Davis
Mr. Darling/Captain Hook: Paul Schoeffler
Liza/Tiger Lily: Desiree Davar
Curly: Korey Buecheler
First Twin: Sarah Jenkins
Second Twin: Michael McGurk
Slightly: Andy Richardson
Tootles/Jane: Maria Briggs
Smee: Michael Nostrand
Female Ensemble: Kim Arnett
Male Ensemble: Adam Lendermon
Male Ensemble: Steve Schepis
Male Ensemble: Steve Geary
Male Ensemble: Brian Steven Shaw
Male Ensemble: Garett Hawe
Male Ensemble: Shannon Stoeke
Male Ensemble: Jake DuPree
Male Ensemble: Rod Roberts

WEST SIDE STORY
Director: Bob Richard
Choreographer: Diana Laurenson
Music Director: Craig Barna
Production Stage Manager: Craig Horness
Assistant Stage Manager: Katie Cannon
Costume Designer: Mark Koss
Co-Scenic Designers: Scott Klier / Jamie Kumpf
Wig and Hair Designer: Jill Lane
Lighting Designer: David Neville
Properties Designer: Laura Walters

ROLE: ACTOR
Action: Michael Callahan
Anybodys: Maria Briggs
A-Rab: Garett Hawe
Baby John: Andy Richardson
Big Deal: Adam Lendermon
Diesel: Steve Schepis
Riff: Shane Rhoades
Snowboy: Jake DuPree
Tony: Justin Matthew Sargent
Anita: Desiree Davar
Bernardo: German Alexander
Chino: Miguel Falcon
Maria: Carolann Sanita
Doc: Gary Lee Reed
Lt. Schrank: Rich Hebert
Officer Krupke: Dave Pierini
Glad Hand: Michael Dotson
Female Ensemble: Lisa Rohinsky
Female Ensemble: Alexa DeBarr
Female Ensemble: Sarah Jenkins
Female Ensemble: Naomi Morgan
Female Ensemble: Lauren Boyd
Female Ensemble: Jessica Lee Coffman
Female Ensemble: Christie Portera
Female Ensemble: Kathryn Lin Terza
Male Ensemble: Christian Elan Ortiz
Male Ensemble: Christopher Shin
Male Ensemble: Thay Floyd
Male Ensemble: Christopher Brian Nachtrab

HAIR
Director: Glenn Casale
Choreographer: Dana Solimando
Music Director: Dennis Castellano
Production Stage Manager: Craig Horness
Assistant Stage Manager: Caitlin Sapunor-Davis
Costume Designer: Mark Koss
Co-Scenic Designers: Scott Klier / Jamie Kumpf
Wig and Hair Designer: Christine Conklin
Lighting Designer: David Neville
Properties Designer: Laura Walters

ROLE: ACTOR
Claude: Oliver Thornton
Berger: Peter Saide
Hud: Omari Tau
Woof: James Michael Lambert
Sheila: Laura d'Andre
Jeanie: Stephanie Mieko Cohen
Dionne: Gabrielle McClinton
Crissy: Lizzie Klemperer
Female Ensemble: Cailan Rose
Female Ensemble: Merissa Czyz
Female Ensemble: Kimber Sprawl
Female Ensemble: Danielle Mone Truitt
Female Ensemble: Chanel Edwards-Frederick
Female Ensemble: Jessica Crouch
Female Ensemble: Brittany Rose Hammond
Female Ensemble: Lisa Rohinsky
Male Ensemble: Adam Lendermon
Male Ensemble: LaVance Colley
Male Ensemble: Ward Billeisen
Male Ensemble: Seth Danner
Male Ensemble: Steven Strafford
Male Ensemble: Leigh Wakeford
Male Ensemble: Thay Floyd