Edward Watts and Roz Ryan Join Cast of Broadway-Bound SCANDALOUS

This fall, celebrated stage veterans Edward Watts (Finian's Rainbow) and Roz Ryan (Chicago, The Pajama Game, Dreamgirls) return to Broadway to co-star in the new musical SCANDALOUS: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson.

Edward Watts will play the dual roles of Robert Semple, the firey Irish evangelist from the early twentieth century who becomes Aimee's first husband; and David Hutton, a charming Los Angeles actor who becomes Aimee's third husband during the height of her nationwide celebrity.

Roz Ryan portrays Emma Jo Schaeffer, the tough talking, no nonsense madame of a brothel who befriends Aimee early in her ministry and becomes a constant fixture in her life for years to come.

Watts and Ryan -- both of whom are reprising their respective roles from the musical's pre-Broadway production at Seattle's Fifth Avenue Theatre last fall -- join previously announced leading lady and two-time Tony Award nominee Carolee Carmello (Parade, Lestat, Sister Act) as Aimee Semple McPherson, and two-time Tony Award winner George Hearn (Sunset Boulevard, La Cage aux Folles) in the dual roles of James Kennedy and Brother Bob.

With book and lyrics by Kathie Lee Gifford and music by David Pomeranz and David Friedman, SCANDALOUS begins performances at Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre (250 W. 52nd St.) on Saturday, October 13, 2012.

Opening Night is set for Thursday, November 15 (6:30 p.m.).

Edward Watts most recently appeared on Broadway in the revival of Finian's Rainbow, and in the NYC Opera production of The Most Happy Fella. Off-Broadway, he appeard as El Gallo in the 50th Anniversary cast of the The Fantasticks.

His national touring credits include Les Miserables (Enjolras), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Adam Pontipee) and Beauty and the Beast (Gaston).

This summer, he played the role of Joe Bradley in the new musical adaptation of Roman Holiday at The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. His other regional credits include Titanic in Concert at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle; 1776 at Goodspeed Opera; A Little Night Music at Michigan Opera Theatre; Lancelot in Camelot, Harold Hill in The Music Man and Miles Gloriosus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Music Theater of Wichita; Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun at Sacramento Music Theatre; and Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma.

His many television credits include recent appearances on NBC "Today" with Kathie Lee and Hoda, "Rescue Me," "The Sopranos," "As the World Turns," "All My Children."

Roz Ryan is perhaps best known to Broadway audiences for her role as the tough-as-nails Matron "Mama" Morton in the long-running musical hit Chicago, a role she has played on Broadway, on tour and internationally for more than ten years.

Her other Broadway credits include Ain't Misbehavin', Dreamgirls, One Mo' Time, The Pajama Game and A Christmas Carol. Her national and international touring credits include Annie, South Pacific and Blues in the Night.

On television, Ms. Ryan is best known for her role as Amelia Hetebrink in the long-running NBC comedy "Amen," starring Sherman Hemsley. Her other television roles include Mae Palmer in "Barbershop" (Showtime) and Mrs. Dixon in "Good News" (UPN).

Her many television credits as a voiceover artist include "Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated," "The Looney Tunes Show" (Warner Bros.), "Kick Buttowski: Suburban Dardevil" (Disney Channel) and "The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack" (Cartoon Network).

Her film credits include Went to Coney Island, Cotton Club, I Think I Love My Wife, The Invention of Lying and Waiting for Forever.

Directed by David Armstrong, SCANDALOUS is based on the life of Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944), the world's first media superstar evangelist -- a woman whose passion for saving souls equaled her passion for making sensational headlines and attracting overflow crowds of thousands throughout the world. Time Magazine named Aimee Semple McPherson one the most influential people of the twentieth century.

Set in 1920's Los Angeles, holiness collides with Hollywood in this extraordinary tale of one remarkable woman's charismatic rise to fame amidst scandalous love affairs and growing controversy, inevitably ending in her much-publicized fall from grace.

Additional casting will be announced soon.

With choreography by Lorin Latarro (Fanny at City Center) and musical direction by Joel Fram, SCANDALOUS features scenic design by Walt Spangler (Desire Under the Elms), costume design by Gregory A. Poplyk (Broadway debut), lighting design by Tony Award winner Natasha Katz (Once, Aida), sound design by Ken Travis (Newsies, Memphis) and orchestrations by Tony Award winner Bruce Coughlin (The Light in the Piazza).

SCANDALOUS: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson is produced by Dick and Betsy DeVos, Foursquare Foundation and Jeffrey Finn, Executive Producer, in association with The 5th Avenue Theatre (David Armstrong, Executive Producer and Artistic Director; Bernadine Griffin, Managing Director; Bill Berry, Producing Director).

Visit SCANDALOUS online at www.ScandalousOnBroadway.com.