GODSPELL's Hannah Elless Joins NYMF's BABY CASE, 7/16-22

Right from the Broadway production of Godspell, Hannah Elless joins the cast of Michael Ogborn's award winning musical Baby Case, playing the role of Adela St. John. Baby Case is directed by Jeremy Dobrish and produced by Charlie Fink, Michael Ogborn, Robert Soslow, Juliana Schauerman, Dorothy Flynn, Caroline Castagno, Glenn Gunderson, Kathy Lou Leone, Diane Santillo, and Anne Makara. Baby Case will play from July 16 - 22, 2012, at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 W 42 St). Baby Case is presented by The New York Musical Theatre Festival.

In 1927, publicity-shy Charles Lindbergh, Jr. makes the first non-stop, solo flight across the Atlantic and becomes a great American hero, the envy of millions... until his infant son is kidnapped, setting off the first true media circus of modern times! Baby Case gives a kaleidoscopic look at a nation gripped by gossip and hypnotized by the strobe of flash bulbs as one family's personal tragedy spirals into a national obsession and a murder trial morphs into sensationalized, headline entertainment.

Hannah Elless made her Broadway debut in Godspell directly from the Broadway national tour of Mamma Mia! Her credits consist of work with several New York and regional theaters including her most recent appearance as Mary in the world premiere of Neil Bartram and Brian Hill's new musical, The Adventures of Pinocchio, at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Favorite credits include: V-Day (NYMF, Urban Stages); The Giver (NAMT, New World Stages); Beautiful Disaster w/Leslie Kritzer (Joe's Pub); Living for Today, One More Sleep til' Christmas w/William Finn (Laurie Beechman Theater); Private Lives, The Emperor's New Clothes (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Lizzie in Baby(Actors Theatre Company); Ophelia in Hamlet (Epic Theater); Aricia in Phaedra(Whole Art Theater); Constance in The Three Musketeers (All Ears Theatre); Linnet Bird in Oscar Wilde At His Best (Rodeo Theatre). Hannah is a native of southwest Michigan where she graduated from Western Michigan University with a BFA in Music Theatre Performance.

Ms. Elless joins the talented cast of Baby Case which includes: EuGene Barry-Hill (The Lion King, Ain't Misbehavin'), Jason Collins (National Tour: Annie, Signs of Life), Tom Riis Farrell (B'way: Chicago, Coram Boy, Dirty Blonde, Wrong Mountain, 1776.), Michael Thomas Holmes (B'way: Oklahoma!, National Tour The Producers), Anika Larsen (Seth Rudetsky's Disaster! The Musical, B'way's Avenue Q, Xanadu, All Shook Up, Rent ), Matthew G. Myers (National Tour Handel's Messiah Rocks, Jesus Christ Superstar), Patricia Noonan (NYMF's Pride and Prejudice, Death Takes a Holiday, Signs of Life), Melissa van Der Schyff (B'way Bonnie & Clyde- Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award Noms, Big River), Will Reynolds (National Tour Mamma Mia Regional: A Room With A View, Emma,), Kurt Zischke (Signs of Life, Whistle Down the Wind.). Creative team includes: Denise Puricelli (Music Director), Warren Adams (Choreography), Martin Lopez (Set & Costume Design), Zach Blane (Lighting Design), Daryl Eisenberg, CSA (Casting), Heather Hogan (Stage Manager) and Liz Ulmer (Consulting Producer).

Baby Case was originally presented by Arden Theatre Company in Philadelphia, where the world premiere production received raves from audiences and critics alike, The Philadelphia Inquirer headline declared "'Crime of the Century' yields the season's best musical." That production won four Barrymore Awards, including Best Musical and Best Score.

Baby Case is written by Michael Ogborn, directed by Jeremy Dobrish, with choreography by Warren Adams and musical direction by Denise Puricelli.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at www.nymf.org or by calling (212)352-3101. The Pershing Square Signature Center is located at 480 West 42nd Street. Running time 2hrs with intermission.

Now in its ninth year, the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) is the largest annual musical theatre event in America and is widely regarded as the essential source for new material and talent discovery. NYMF provides a launching pad for the next generation of musicals and their creators to ensure the continued vitality of one of America's greatest art forms. Hailed as the "Sundance of Musical Theatre," NYMF discovers, nurtures, and promotes promising musical theatre artists and producers at all stages of development, and inspires a diverse audience through vibrant, accessible, powerful new work.