Cavenaugh, O'Hare, et al. Set for GIGI at Reprise Theatre Company, 2/15-27

William Atherton, Matt Cavenaugh, Lisa O'Hare, Carol Lawrence, Millicent Martin and Jason Graae are the acclaimed film, Broadway and West End stars who will lead the cast of Reprise Theatre Company's second production of the 2010-2011 season, "Gigi", playing February 15 to February 27, 2011 (press opening February 16, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The musical - with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe -- will be directed by veteran musical theatre director David Lee, with choreography by Peggy Hickey and musical direction by Steve Orich.

While known for his films - "The Day of the Locust," "The Sugarland Express," "Die Hard I and II," and "Ghostbusters" - and television appearances in "Centennial," NBC's "Life," and ABC's "Lost" - William Atherton has originated roles on and off Broadway including David Rabe's "The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel," Ronnie in John Guare's "The House of Blue Leaves" and Ring Bing Ling in "Rich and Famous," and Arthur Miller's "The American Clock."

Matt Cavenaugh was most recently seen on Broadway as Tony in the 2009 revival of "West Side Story."

Lisa O'Hare starred as Mary Poppins in the West End production of the musical, and was most recently seen by Los Angeles audiences as Eliza Doolittle in the national tour of the Trevor Nunn production of "My Fair Lady" at the Ahmanson Theatre.

Carol Lawrence, in addition to creating the role of "Maria" in the original Broadway production of "West Side Story", has starred in over ten shows on Broadway, in addition to her extensive credits in virtually all mediums of entertainment. 

Millicent Martin is celebrating her 62nd year in all mediums of show business, and in addition to her many other Broadway and West End credits, starred alongside Julie Andrews in the original Broadway production of "The Boy Friend" and starred in the original Broadway cast of "Side By Side By Sondheim." 

Jason Graee, A Reprise Theatre Company favorite, starred on Broadway in "A Grand Night For Singing" and "Falsettos", among others.

Jason Alexander, Artistic Director of Reprise Theatre Company, says " 'Gigi' explores the values and mores of love for a couple who socially do not belong together. They come from two different classes, and their behavior should subscribe to a strict code of conduct but is challenged by their true passion for each other."

"Gigi" had its world premiere in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center in 1973 as part of the Civic Light Opera series and was the first stage musical to be adapted from a film musical. The film version of "Gigi" had garnered a then record-breaking nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, for its original author Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe.  The team used the film music as the basis for the stage score, adding five new songs. The Broadway production produced by Edwin Lester, won the Tony Award for Best Score in 1973.  Since then, shows such as "Beauty And the Beast" and "The Lion King" have used the idea of moving from the screen to the stage to great advantage.

The original stage production of "Gigi" starred AlfrEd Drake, the original Fred in "Kiss Me, Kate", as well as the original Curly in "Oklahoma!" (Drake was also Yul Brynner's replacement in "The King And I" when Brynner went on the road to play the show for the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera.) "Gigi" also starred Agnes Moorhead, who was very well known to audiences for having played Endora on the TV series "Bewitched."

Tickets are available for "Gigi" at www.reprise.org or through the UCLA Central Ticket Office at 310/825-2101.  Christine Bernardi Weil is Managing Director and Gilles Chiasson is Producing Director of Reprise Theatre Company. 

About the "Gigi" Company

Director David Lee is a nine-time Emmy-Award-winning director, writer and producer for television. On stage, he has directed productions of "Light Up the Sky," "Do I Hear A Waltz?," "110 in the Shade," "Diva," "Can-Can" (at Pasadena Playhouse), "How I Fell In Love" (Williamstown Theater Festival), "On The 20th Century," "Assassins," "Company," "A New Brain," "Applause," "Working," "Zorba," "Elegies" (at Reprise!), and staged readings of "The New Hope Memorial" (at the Mark Taper Lab) and "They Knew What They Wanted" (at Roundabout Theatre Company).  In 2007, he directed the acclaimed production of "South Pacific" at the Hollywood Bowl with Reba McEntire and Brian Stokes Mitchell. His writing for the theater includes a concert adaptation of "Can-Can" (Encores! with Patti LuPone) and an entirely new book for "Can-Can," which he directed at the Pasadena Playhouse (Ovation Award-Best Director).

Lee is the co-creator of "Frasier" and "Wings," which he also wrote, produced and directed. He served as writer/producer for "Cheers" and directed multiple episodes of "Everybody Loves Raymond."  In addition to 18 Emmy nominations, he is the recipient of the Directors Guild Award, Golden Globe, Producers Guild Award, GLAAD Media Award, British Comedy Award, Television Critics Association Award (three times), the Humanitas Prize (twice) and the Peabody.

William Atherton (Honore) first achieved recognition as the lead in Steven Spielberg's The Sugarland Express followed by John Schlesinger's The Day of the Locust, Robert Wise's The Hindenburg and Richard Brooks' Looking For Mr. Goodbar. He is known for signature film roles: the TV reporter, Dick Thornburg in Die Hard I and 2; the EPA official, Walter Peck in Ghostbusters; Professor Hathaway in Real Genius and the mad scientist, Dr. Faulkner in Bio-Dome. His features also include John Landis's Oscar, Bill Duke's Hoodlum, Richard Pearce's No Mercy, Alan J. Pakula's The Pelican Brief, Costa Gravas' Mad City and Ed Zwick's The Last Samurai.  He starred in the mini-series Centennial; television films including Joan Didion's Broken Trust; and as Darryl F. Zanuck in HBO's Introducing Dorothy Dandridge; and recurring roles on NBC-TV's Life and as PrincipAl Reynolds in the last season of Lost.  Upcoming feature films include the feature film thrillers The Kane Files and Jinn, both to be released in 2011.

Atherton has originated roles on and off Broadway including the title character in Joe Papp's production of David Rabe's The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel, and Ronnie in John Guare's The House of Blue Leaves and Bing Ring Ling in his Rich and Famous. He starred in the Broadway premiere of Arthur Miller's The American Clock and the Tony-winning revival of Herman Wouk's The Caine Mutiny Court Martial. Among his more than twenty well-known productions are the New York premieres of Franz Kafka's The Castle and Kressman Taylor's Address Unknown. He has received the Drama Desk Award, the Outer Circle Critics Award, the Theatre World Award and nominations for Obie and Chicago's Joseph Jefferson Awards.

Matt Cavenaugh (Gaston), a native Arkansan, was most recently seen on Broadway as Tony in the 2009 revival of "West Side Story."  Previous Broadway credits include "Grey Gardens", (playing both Joe Kennedy Jr. and Jerry Torre), "A Catered Affair," and "Urban Cowboy." Matt has traveled the country in the national tour of "Thoroughly Modern Millie", and worked at numerous regional theatres including The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, Williamstown Theatre Festival, George Street Playhouse, The Goodspeed Opera House, Dallas Theatre Center and The Denver Center, among others. 

Television credits include "Sondheim" The Birthday Concert" with the NY Philharmonic, "As The World Turns," "One Life To Live," as well as the indie films, "Sexual Dependency" and "New Brooklyn." Original cast recordings include "West Side Story," "Grey Gardens," and "A Catered Affair." Matt's debut album with his wife, actress Jenny Powers, will be released Valentine's Day 2011. Matt serves on the advisory board of Early Stages, a non-profit organization fostering literacy through the arts in the NYC public school system.  Matt is also a regular contributor to Beverly Hills Lifestyle Magazine.  Learn more at www.matt-cavenaugh.com.

Jason Graae (Dufresne and other roles) Jason Graae 's Broadway appearances include "A Grand Night For Singing", "Falsettos", "Stardust", "Snoopy!" and  "Do Black Patent Leather Shows Really Reflect Up?" Off-Broadway he has appeared in "Forever Plaid", "Olympus on My Mind", "All in the Timing", "Hello Judah, Hello Faddish (Drama Desk Nomination- Best Actor in a Musical)" and many more.

Jason Made his Metropolitan Opera House debut as featured vocalist in Twyla Tharp's "Ever last" with American Ballet Theatre. In Los Angeles, he recently won his second L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for outstanding achievement in musical theatre. Jason originated the role of "Houdini" in the L.A. production of "Ragtime" at the Shubert Theatre and was featured in "Forbidden Broadway" (Ovation Award). At the Hollywood Bowl he played Benny South street in "Guys and Dolls" and  "Marcellus" in "The Music Man ".With Reprise, he was featured in "Anything Goes"(Ovation Nomination),"The Boys From Syracuse", "Of Thee I Sing!" and "Kismet". He's also been seen in shows at the Colony, The El Portal, The Rubicon, and this last year he was Pinch in "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" at La Mirada and as the Priest/Janitor in "See What I Want to See" at the Blank.

Carol Lawrence (Aunt Alicia) an actress, singer and dancer, Carol Lawrence created the role of Maria in the original Broadway production of "West Side Story."  She has performed on stage in many musicals from Broadway to Los Angeles. Carol is equally at home on the small screen, making numerous appearances over the years in a variety of shows, both as an actress and as a host. In addition Carol shares her beautiful singing voice with her fans, performing concerts with symphonies around the United States and Canada.

Millicent Martin (Mamita) Millie Martin, Gigi's Mamita, is celebrating her 62nd year in show business having started in the children's chorus in Covent Garden Opera House in "La Boheme," and lately playing HRH The Queen for the Jonas Brothers as well as appearing on "Hot In Cleveland" with her bff Betty White. Millie feels blessed to have worked with so many fine actors & directors; going into the chorus of "South Pacific" with Sean Connery & Larry Hagman (understudying Mary Martin) then appearing as a Perfect Young Lady in "The Boyfriend" with Julie Andrews for London & Broadway.  One day she was cast in David Lee's production of "Light Up the Sky" at the Pasadena Playhouse, which led to 3 years on "Frasier" as Daphne's dreadful mother Gladys.

Other television credits include "Will & Grace", "Days Of Our Lives" as Lily Faversham, "Murphy Brown," "Downtown," "That Was The Week That Was (TW3)," "Moon & Son," "Mainly Millicent," 'Zack & Cody The Suite Life," "Coach," "Des O'Connor," "The Danny Kaye Show," "Drew Carey," "From A Bird's Eye View," " Funny Girl Happened On the Way To The Piano," "Gigolo & Gigolette," "Glitter," "Halloweentown 4," "Hardball,"  "Jimmy Tarbuck," "The Julia McKenzie Special," "Kiss Me Kate," "Libel," L.A. Law," "London Palladium," "Liberace," "Max Headroom," "Merv Griffin," "Morecambe & Wise,"  Co-hosting "Night of 100 Stars" with Julia McKenzie, "Newhart," "Orphans, Waifs & Wards," "Plan B," "Star Raving Mad," "That Beryl Marsden," "That's Life," "This Is Your Life," and "Gilmore Girls."

Millie was one of the creators and stars of the original production of "Side By Side By Sondheim" on Broadway & recently made a special appearance as the master of ceremonies in the Pasadena Playhouse production. Other theater credits include "42nd Street" and "King of Hearts" on Broadway, "Shirley Valentine," "The Beggar's Opera," "Two Into One," "Love, Julie," "Peter Pan," "The Rivals," "Dinner at 8:30," "Follies," the musical version of "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane," "Guys & Dolls," "Noises Off," "Absurd Person Singular," "Noel," "The Skin Of Our Teeth," "Pygmalion," "Our Man Crichton," "The Card," Expresso Bongo" (Paul Scofield's only musical) and "I Do, I Do," as well as appearing in 5 Royal Command Performances.

Lisa O'Hare (Gigi) Training: Royal Ballet School and Millennium College. U.K. Theatre credits: "Mary Poppins" (Mary Poppins), Prince Edward Theatre, West End; "My Fair Lady" (Eliza Doolittle), U.K. National Tour; "Mary Poppins" original cast, Prince Edward Theatre, West End; "Acorn Antiques" original workshop cast directed by Trevor Nunn; "Anything Goes" (Sailor Girl/U.S. Hope), Theatre Royal Drury Lane; "On Your Toes," Royal Festival Hall; "Copacabana," Scandinavian Premier. Cast recordings: "Copacabana" (Denmark), "Mary Poppins" (Disney and Cameron Mackintosh).

About Reprise Theatre Company

Since its inception in 1997, Reprise Theatre Company has been a focus of the Los Angeles musical theatre community, producing productions of great American musicals, and a wide variety of concerts, staged-readings, special events and outreach programs.  In May 2007, Jason Alexander became Artistic Director.  Christine Bernardi is Managing Director and Gilles Chiasson is Producing Director of Reprise.
 
Since its inaugural production of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Promises, Promises," which starred Mr. Alexander, Reprise has brought to the stage vibrant productions from all eras of American musical theatre including the Gershwins' "Of Thee I Sing" and "Strike Up the Band," Cole Porter's "Anything Goes," and Rodgers and Hart's "The Boys from Syracuse" and "Babes in Arms," Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel," as well as Richard Rodgers' later "No Strings."  The "Golden Era" has been well represented - Burton Lane and E.Y. Harburg with "Finian's Rainbow," Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe with "Brigadoon," Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden and Adolph Green with "On the Town" and "Wonderful Town," Irving Berlin with "Call Me Madam," Robert Wright and George Forrest with "Kismet," both of the Richard Adler and Jerry Ross musicals "The Pajama Game" and "Damn Yankees," Johnny Mercer and Gene dePaul with "Li'l Abner," Jule Styne with "Bells are Ringing," and Frank Loesser with "The Most Happy Fella" and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."
 
Musical theatre reached a new peak of popularity in the sixties, along with new creative talents, and Reprise has presented shows by many of them including Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt with "The Fantasticks," Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick with "She Loves Me," Gerome Ragni, James Rado and Galt MacDermot's "Hair," Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone with "1776," Charles Adams and Lee Strouse with "Applause," Stephen Schwartz with "Pippin," Cy Coleman with "On the Twentieth Century" (libretto by Betty Comden and Adolph Green), "City of Angels" (lyrics by David Zippel), and "I Love My Wife" (libretto by Michael Stewart), Jerry Herman with "Mack and Mabel," Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's "Once on This Island," Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager's "They're Playing Our Song," and four Stephen Sondheim musicals - "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "Company," "Sweeney Todd," and "Sunday in the Park with George."
 
Many of the great stage performers working today, as well as those who make their residence primarily in Los Angeles, have appeared in Reprise shows including Scott Bakula, Christine Baranski, Brent Barrett, Orson Bean, Jodi Benson, Stephanie J. Block, Stephen Bogardus, Dan Butler, Len Cariou, Carolee Carmello, Vicki Carr, Patrick Cassidy, Anthony Crivello, Jason Danieley, Lea DeLaria, Cleavant Derricks, Manoel Feliciano, Rodney Gilfry, Kelsey Grammer, Josh Grisetti, Harry Groener, Bob Gunton, Sam Harris, Gregory Harrison, Simon Helberg, Mimi Hines, Judy Kaye, Jane Krakowski, Marc Kudish, Ledisi, Vicki Lewis, Judith Light, Rebecca Luker, Eric McCormack, Maureen McGovern, Joey McIntyre, Donna McKechnie, Andrea Marcovicci, Marin Mazzie, Julie Migenes, Karen Morrow, Burke Moses, Kelli O'Hara, John O'Hurley, Ken Page, Robert Picardo, David Hyde Pierce, Larry Raben, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Roger Rees, Charles Nelson Reilly, Cathy Rigby, Alexandra Silber, Douglas Sills, Rex Smith, Brent Spiner, Lea Thompson, Steven Weber, Lee Wilkof, Ruth Williamson, Marisa Jaret Winokur, Lillias White, Fred Willard, and Rachel York.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos