Heather MacRae to Star in Anne of Green Gables Musical

Heather MacRae will headline the cast of TheatreworksUSA's Anne of Green Gables.  The world premiere musical, which will be presented as part of the theatre's 45th Anniversary season, will play a limited seven-week engagement at Off-Broadway's Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street), beginning Friday, March 23 through Saturday, May 5, 2007. Opening night is Thursday, March 29 at 7 p.m.
 
"Lucy Maud Montgomery's cherished classic novel is re-imagined in this all-new stage musical adaptation, which follows the journey of the wildly independent and adventurous red-haired orphan, Anne Shirley, who is mistakenly sent to Green Gables to live with an elderly bachelor and his spinster sister. Soon after her arrival, she quickly turns the entire community upside-down with her indomitable spirit and scope for imagination," according to press materials. 

Directed by Tyler Marchant (India Awaiting), the world premiere musical adaptation of Anne of Green Gables features book and lyrics by Gretchen Cryer and music by Nancy Ford, the creative team behind I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It On the Road and The American Girls Revue.  The show will be presented by special arrangement with the Lucille Lortel Foundation.

The show will star Heather MacRae (Falsettos, Coastal Disturbances, Hair) as Rachel, with Bethe Austin (I Sent a Letter to My Love) as Marilla Cuthbert, Erick Devine (Seussical, Ragtime) as Matthew Cuthbert, Andrew Gehling (Hello Dolly!, Paper Mill) as Gilbert Blythe, Piper Goodeve (The Pursuit of Persephone) as Anne Shirley, and Alison Walla (Fiddler on the Roof, revival) as Diana. Alison Faircloth (Junie B. Jones) and Michael Mendiola (After the Fair) complete the ensemble.
 
The production features scenic design by Beowulf Boritt (…Spelling Bee), costume design by David Woolard (All Shook Up), lighting design by Clifton Taylor (The Big Voice: God or Merman?) and sound design by Eric Shim (Great Expectations). Dave Hab provides orchestrations.
 
Tickets are only $25 each, and are now available by visiting or calling www.TicketCentral.com at 212-279-4200. This production is recommended for ages 8 and up.  Visti www.TheatreworksUSA.org for more information on TheatreworksUSA.

Photo of Piper Goodeve as Anne by Joan Marcus