Emily Skinner is Miss Mona in 'Whorehouse' Benefit Concert

The Actors' Fund of America has announced that Tony-nominee Emily Skinner will take on the role of Miss Mona in The Fund's one-night-only benefit production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas on October 16th at The August Wilson Theatre. 

In addition, Jersey Boys' Daniel Reichard, Peter Gregus, Matt Scott and Tony-winner Christian Hoff have joined the cast.

"We feel very fortunate to have Emily.  She's a remarkable actress; funny, sexy and the perfect choice," said event producer Tim Pinckney in making the announcement.

Skinner, who recently appeared as Agnes Gooch in the Kennedy Center production of Mame and at NYMF in Have a Nice Life, received a Tony Award nomination for her star-making performance as Daisy Hilton in Side Show. Other New York credits include Dinner at Eight, The Full Monty, James Joyce's The Dead, My Life with Albertine, and Jekyll & Hyde. She also toured in the Disney revue On the Record, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center in Company, Merrily We Roll Along and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Originally staged on Broadway in 1978 (and consequently a movie starring Dolly Parton and Burt Reynolds), "this musical dramatizes the real-life story of a legendary house of ill-repute that remained open for many years until the Governor orders the local sheriff to shut it down.  The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is a rip-roaring, high octane production," state notes.   

Other cast members include Jennifer Hudson ("American Idol," Dreamgirls; the Movie), Harry Groener (Spamalot, Crazy for You); Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone) Andrea McArdle (Annie, State Fair, Beauty and the Beast); Felicia Finley (The Wedding Singer, Aida); Mary Faber (Avenue Q); Richard Kind (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels); Constantine Maroulis ("American Idol," The Wedding Singer), Michelle Kittrell (All Shook Up), Amber Efe (The Seven), J. Elaine Marcos (The Wedding Singer), Rachelle Rak (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Christina Norrup (The Producers), Angie Schworer (The Producers), Jen Cody (Urinetown), Dennis Stowe (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Bret Shuford (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Jeff Lewis (Fiddler on the Roof), Jason Patrick Sands (The Producers), Will Taylor (La Cage Aux Folles), Roxane Barlow (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Matt Rossoff (Reefer Madness), Rick Faugno (Wonderful Town), Justin Greer (The Producers), and the cast of the award-winning musical [title of show]. 

Rounding out the cast are: MaryAnn Hu, Kate Pazakis, Sue Goodman, Nina Hennessey, Naomi Naughton, Ed Carlo, Giovanni Stella, Darius Nichols, Phil Fabry, Charlie Schwartz and Trent Armand Kendall.

The creative team comprises: Director, Mark S. Hoebee; Artistic Producer/Musical Director, Seth Rudetsky; Choreographer, Denis Jones; Set Design, Paul Weimer; Costume Design, Michael Growler; Producers, Tim Pinckney/Steven Yuhasz

The Actors' Fund of America is a nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals - both performers and those behind the scenes - in performing arts and entertainment.  Administered from offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, The Actors' Fund is a safety net, providing programs and services for those who are in need, crisis, or transition.

Best Little Whorehouse in Texas will be presented Monday, October 16, at 7:30 pm, at the August Wilson Theatre, 245 West 52nd Street, New York. Tickets are $2,500/$1,000/$500/$250 and are available by phone at 212.221.7300 x133 or email tickets@actorsfund.org.

Visit www.actorsfund.org for more information.