Carolee Carmello, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Terrence Mann & More to Lead TUCK EVERLASTING at Alliance Theatre

The Alliance Theatre has announced the cast and creative team behind its upcoming world premiere musical, Tuck Everlasting. Based on the beloved best-selling novel by Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting is an exhilarating story about everlasting love, never-ending life, and discovering what it means to truly feel alive.

TUCK EVERLASTING will be brought to life on stage in a wholly original production, featuring a book by Tony Award nominee Claudia Shear (Dirty Blonde), music by Chris Miller (The Burnt Part Boys), lyrics by Nathan Tysen (The Burnt Part Boys), and direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Aladdin, The Drowsy Chaperone, Spamalot).

Leading the cast in the role of Winnie Foster, a young girl who stumbles upon a family with a fabulous secret, is ten-year-old Atlanta based actor Sarah Charles Lewis. Lewis has been performing in and around Atlanta since the age of five, most recently as the title character in Atlanta Lyric Theatre's production of Annie. Joining the cast are Tony Award Nominee Carolee Carmello (Scandalous, Parade) as Ma Tuck, Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Newsies The Musical) as Jesse Tuck, Robert Lenzi (South Pacific) as Miles Tuck, Tony Award Nominee Terrence Mann (Pippin, Beauty and the Beast) as the Man in the Yellow Suit, and Michael Park (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) as Pa Tuck. The cast also features Bill Buell (Cyrano de Bergerac) as Constable Joe, Michael Wartella (Wicked) as Hugo, Shannon Eubanks (Regional: The Savannah Disputation) as Nana, and Liza Jaine (Regional: Mary Poppins) as Betsy Foster.

Additional members of the Tuck Everlasting creative team include Set Designer Walt Spangler (A Christmas Story The Musical), Tony Award winning Costume Designer Gregg Barnes (Kinky Boots, Follies), Tony Award winning Lighting Designer Kenneth Posner (Kinky Boots, Pippin), and Tony Award winning Sound Designer Brian Ronan (Beautiful The Carole King Musical, The Book of Mormon).

Book-writer Claudia Shear added: "Tuck Everlasting, like all great tales of immortality, both tempts and frightens us. What makes it beloved is its romantic heart - what makes it endure is the indefinable and timeless shiver of a magical story that makes us believe."

"I am extremely excited about debuting Tuck Everlasting at the Alliance," said lyricist Nathan Tysen. "It has been a dream of mine to work there and I can't think of a better place to foster our musical. The quality and diversity of their work speaks for itself, and their patrons' interest and enthusiasm has already been overwhelming."

"Nathan & I have wanted to turn Tuck Everlasting into a musical since we met at NYU, and way before that, if you count us dreaming about it separately in our childhoods," said composer Chris Miller. "As the novel celebrates its 40th year in 2015, I can't wait to share this heartfelt, joyful show with Atlanta audiences."

"I'm so excited about the cast of Tuck Everlasting for the Alliance production," said director Casey Nicholaw. "It's a great mix of Atlanta and Broadway pros, many of whom have been involved with the production since its inception. We can't wait to bring it to life here in Atlanta."

Performances for Tuck Everlasting are Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 pm, Fridays at 8:00 pm, Saturdays at 2:30 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm, January 21 - February 22, 2015. There will be no 2:30 pm performance on Jan. 24. There will be no 7:30 pm performance on Feb. 1. Opening Night is Wednesday, February 4, at 7:30 pm.

Performances are also available for school groups and home-school groups on Thursday, January 29 and Thursday, February 12, at 11:00 am. Appropriate for grades 5-12 and applicable to Curriculum Standards: CCRR.2; CCRR.3; CC5RL.6; TAMS.1/TASHFTI.1; TAMS.11/TASHFTI.11. Tickets for school groups are deeply discounted. To book your school group, call 404.733.4661 or email allianceschoolday@woodruffcenter.org. Learn more about all field trip opportunities at http://alliancetheatre.org/content/field-trips.

Tickets start at $25 and are available at the Woodruff Arts Center Box Office in person or by calling 404.733.5000. Tickets are also available online at www.alliancetheatre.org/tuckeverlasing. Discounted rates for groups of 10 or more are available by calling 404.733.4690. Discounted rates are also available for members of the military, seniors, and students. The Alliance Theatre is located at the Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, GA 30309, at the corner of Peachtree and 15th Street.