Jeanna de Waal, Ben Thompson and More Join Marin Mazzie & Molly Ranson in New CARRIE Musical! Full Cast Announced!

MCC Theater has announced the complete cast for the newly reworked and fully re-imagined production of Carrie, the musical. Carrie features music by Michael Gore, lyrics by Dean Pitchford (Academy Award winning composer and lyricist for the original film Fame) and a book by Lawrence D. Cohen (who also adapted the 1974 novel by Stephen King for the 1976 Brian DePalma film). Directed by Stafford Arima, performances for Carrie begin January 31, 2012, at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC). The official opening night is set for March 1, 2012.

Joining previously announced stars Marin Mazzie (Carrie’s mother, Margaret) and Molly Ranson (in the title role) are Christy Altomare, Carmen Cusack, Jeanna de Waal, Derek Klena, Ben Thompson, Wayne Wilcox, Corey Boardman, Blair Goldberg, F. Michael Haynie, Andy Mientus, Elly Noble, and Jen Sese. Understudies are Mackenzie Bell, Jake Boyd, and Anne Tolpegin.

Understudies inculde: Mackenzie Bell: u/s “Lynn Gardner”, “Chris Hargensen”, “Frieda”, “Helen”, and “Norma”, Jake Boyd: u/s “Tommy”, “Mr. Stephens”  Freddy,  Stokes, George, Anne Tolpegin: u/s “Lynn Gardner”, “Margaret White”

The creative team also includes Matt Williams (chorography), Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Music Direction and Arrangements), David Zinn (Set Design), Emily Rebholz (Costume Design), Kevin Adams (Lighting Design), Sven Ortel (Projections Design), Jonathan Deans (Sound Design), Doug Besterman (Orchestrations), AnnMarie Milazzo (Vocal Design), Leah J. Loukas (Wig and Hair Design) and Rick Sordelet (Fight director).

Based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel, the musical Carrie has not been seen since its legendary 1988 Broadway production.

Individual tickets for Carrie are priced at $89 with premium tickets available. Go to www.mcctheater.org for more information.

MCC’s world premiere production of Wild Animals You Should Know, by Thomas Higgins is now running through December 11 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre under the direction of Trip Cullman (A Small Fire, Bachelorette). In Wild Animals You Should Know, Matthew (Jay Armstrong Johnson) and Jacob (Gideon Glick) are an unlikely pair of friends. Matthew is a soccer star, full of brio and teenage swagger. Jacob is, well, not. Beneath the surface, though, the two are locked in an innocently erotic game of cat and mouse. When Matthew's reluctant father, Walter (Patrick Breen), is wrangled by his wife Marsha (Alice Ripley) into chaperoning the boys' trip to a wilderness scout camp, he finds himself drawn into their adolescent game. But Matthew has secretly decided just how far he's willing to go for his final act of scouting and everyone might do well to heed the scouts' motto: Be Prepared. The production opened officially on November 20, 2011. Tickets are available by visiting www.mcctheater.org.

For more information on MCC Theater, visit www.mcctheater.org.

Marin Mazzie (Margaret White). Critically acclaimed actress and singer, Marin Mazzie, has been heard in many of the country's major symphony halls, cabaret and concert venues, and has been seen starring in some of the most memorable musicals on the Broadway stage and London's West End.

Marin most recently starred on Broadway in the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, Next to Normal and in the Broadway production of Enron. She received Tony and Drama Desk nominations and an Outer Critics Circle Award for her performance as Lilli/Katharine in the hit revival of Kiss Me, Kate, and later received an Olivier Award nomination when she made her West End debut in the show. Other Broadway credits include: Monty Python’s Spamalot (also West End), Ragtime (Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics nominations), Passion (Tony nomination), Man of La Mancha, Into the Woods, Big River, and Out of this World and Kismet (Encores!). Her Off-Broadway appearances comprise of: The Vagina Monologues, The Trojan Woman: A Love Story, and The World Goes Round (also National Tour). Marin has been seen in productions at The Goodman Theatre, Arena Stage, The Denver Center, La Jolla Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, and Pittsburgh CLO. Marin's television appearances include a recurring role on “Still Standing” (CBS) and guest appearances on “Without a Trace,” “Numb3rs,” “Jake in Progress,” “Stacked,” “Pryor Offenses” and “One Life to Live.” Other television appearances include PBS' Great Performances: “Passion,” “My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies,” and “My Favorite Broadway: The Love Songs,” all on DVD, and also the long-running PBS series “An Evening With The Pops,” the Boston Pops' tribute to Jerry Herman, as well as appearing on two of the Boston Pops' annual “Pops Goes the Fourth of July” celebrations for television. Albums include: Opposite You (PS Classics), Kiss Me, Kate (DRG), Ragtime (RCA), Passion (Angel), and Out of this World (DRG), My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies, My Favorite Broadway: The Love Songs (Hybrid), Julie Styne in Hollywood (PS Classics), Broadway Divas (RCA), The Stephen Schwartz Album (Varese Saraband), and John Adams' opera I Was Looking at the Ceiling and then I saw the Sky (Nonesuch). Marin holds an honorary doctorate and has a musical theater scholarship in her name from her alma mater, Western Michigan University.

Molly Ranson (Carrie) appeared on Broadway in Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem, directed by Ian Rickson and the Steppenwolf production of August: Osage County, directed by Anna D. Shapiro. She subsequently continued with August: Osage County at The National Theatre in London (Olivier Award Nomination – Best Company Performance), and at the Sydney Theatre Company in Australia. Off-Broadway Molly has appeared in the Vineyard Theatre and Playwrights Horizons co-production of The Burnt Part Boys. Regionally she performed in the premiere of the musical adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, directed by Mark Lamos. For the last few years she has been associated with this production of Carrie through readings and workshops. Molly is a graduate of LaGuardia Arts High School, where she was the recipient of a Drama Desk Scholarship Award.

Christy Altomare (Sue Snell) is thrilled to be a part of this production. Credits include: Wendla in the first National Tour of Spring Awakening. She just completed a run of John Caird and Paul Gordon’s new musical Daddy Long Legs (Jerusha). Regional credits include: Little Women (Amy), Bye Bye Birdie (Kim). Last Five Years (Kathy). TV: “The Big C”. Singer/Songwriter/recording artist. Music at: www.christyaltomare.com, www.myspace.com/christyaltomare. Follow her on Twitter @christyaltomare. Christy is a graduate of the College Conservatory of Music (CCM) with a BFA in musical theater. Special thanks to the creative team, MCC, Telsey + Co, Station 3, KSR, Edie Robb, teachers, friends, and family for all your support.

Carmen Cusack (Lynn Gardner) most recently starred as Nellie Forbush in the first national tour of the Lincoln Center production of South Pacific, directed by Bartlett Sher. She has also starred as Elphaba in Wicked around the world; including Chicago, the U.S. national tour and Australia. Carmen has appeared extensively in the UK as well. Recent West End and UK national tour credits include Fantine in Les Misérables, Rose in The Secret Garden (Royal Shakespeare Company), Christine in Phantom of the Opera, Personals, Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens, and Over the Rainbow. carmencusack.com.

Jeanna de Waal (Chris Hargensen) is very proud to be joining this production of Carrie. BA (hons) Acting, The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. Previous work includes We Will Rock You; London West End. American Idiot; Broadway. The Rocky Horror Show; The Old Globe, San Diego. Workshops: Carrie, MCC Theater. The Boys in the Photograph, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton. Tina Girl Star, Sam Buntrock. Thank you Stone Manners for all your support. Muts, Pops and Dweeb I love and miss you always.

Derek Klena (Tommy Ross) is thrilled and honored to be making his NY debut in Carrie! He is currently a Junior at UCLA, and grew up performing throughout Southern California. Regional credits: Hairspray (Link), Glory Days (Will), Happy Days (Richie Cunningham), Cinderella (Prince), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph) IVTL Award, High School Musical (Troy), Big River (Huck) IVTL Award. Derek was a finalist in the LA’s Next Great Stage star competition, and a contestant sent to Hollywood Week in Season 9 of “American Idol.” Heartfelt thanks to the creative team, MCC Theater, Telsey + Co, KSR, Gersh, Rachel Rothman, MET2, Centre Stage and his many mentors, family and friends for their constant support. Love you Mom, Dad, Lauren and Dillon!

Ben Thompson (Billy Nolan) is currently appearing in the Off-Broadway revival of Rent (Original Cast – The Man and others, Roger and Collins u/s). Ben also appeared in the Original Broadway Cast of American Idiot. National tours include Big River, High School Musical, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Ben has numerous regional theatre credits including the world premiere of American Idiot at Berkeley Rep. Ben has involved with numerous workshops and readings, including an early incarnation of this production of Carrie, Bernice Johnson Reagon’s opera Parable of the Sower at New York City Opera (directed by Peter Sellars), and Disney’s Alladin.

Wayne Alan Wilcox. (Mr. Stephens) The Normal Heart (Drama Desk Award), Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Coram Boy, Suddenly, Last Summer (Roundabout), A Man of No Importance (Lincoln Center), Full Monty, Importance of Being Earnest, Last Five Years, Light in the Piazza, “Rent,” “Interview,” "Gilmore Girls", "Law and Order", and upcoming “Under.”
Corey Boardman (George) is a New York-based actor and performer. Most recently, Corey finished an extended run of Outlaws: The Ballad of Billy the Kid as Billy, in the New York Musical Theater Festival. Of the production, Backstage wrote, "This Billy is not unlike the antihero immortalized by James Dean in "Rebel Without a Cause."' Other theatre highlights include Academy in South Korea (where he won a DIMF award for Best Supporting Actor), Florida, and NYMF, the original off-Broadway run of Next To Normal, and Matthew in Altar Boyz at New World Stages. Corey is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is honored to help spread the horror of Carrie to another generation. Go Pack Go, Towey.

Blair Goldberg (Norma). Broadway: Annie Get Your Gun (U/S Jessie/Nellie, Original Revival Cast). Other credits include: Carrie (MCC Developmental Lab, Norma), If It Only Even Runs a Minute 5 (NYMF), In That Valley (NAMT), Time To Kill (Beth), The Fix, Aida (Amneris), Grease (Marty). Recipient of the Young Talent Award in the 2010 Lotte Lenya Competition and winner of the 2007 Shining Star Competition for WOR Radio (Northeast Region). She also performed in the 2011 Broadway's Rising Stars Concert at Town Hall.

F. Michael Haynie (Freddy) is so bloody thrilled to be with the Carrie team. It’s not every day you get to play with a tremendous family like this! A graduate from NYU: Tisch, F's past credits include: various highschoolers in several different fictional highschools, a Band Geek, a 16th century artist, and a rock n' roll John Adams. Upcoming: you can see F. Michael in David Chase's new film The Twylight Zones (Working Title) in theatres this fall. Check out F's music: YouTube.com/SongsintheKeyofF. Thanks: Ms, D, JP, FF&FA, the Mine, my first NY family TWUSA and my GOTEMS.

Andy Mientus (Stokes). Off-Broadway debut. Previous: Spring Awakening (Hanschen, 1st National, dir. Michael Mayer), February House (New York Stage and Film, dir. Davis McCallum), Rent (Mark, Pioneer Theatre Company), 2 NYMF Outstanding Individual Performance awards. Readings: new work for The Public, Roundabout, McCarter, Diner (Kathleen Marshall, Sheryl Crow, Barry Levinson), Bare (as Peter), Let Loose the Horses (score by The Rescues). Training: PA Governors School for the Arts, University of Michigan. Thanks to MCC Theater, Telsey Casting, Harden-Curtis Associates, and Stafford Arima.

Elly Noble (Helen) is ecstatic to be making her MCC debut with Carrie! Hailing from Greensburg, PA, Elly graduated from Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts and moved straight to the city. New York credits include York Theatre Company's The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd directed by Tony nominated Marcia Milgrom Dodge, and a number of readings in and around town. Love and endless thanks to my closest friends, family, the creative team and KSR!

Jen Sese (Frieda) is thrilled to be remaking history with Carrie! Previous credits include Hair (Broadway), Mamma Mia! (Las Vegas Company) and Spelling Bee (Original Chicago Company). Appreciation and gratitude to her agents at The Mine, Telsey, the entire creative team and the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) Thanks Mom, Dad, Matt, TULAM.

David Zinn (Scenic Design) For MCC: Set design for The Submission and The Pride. Bway: Set and costume design for Seminar, costume design for Other Desert Cities, Good People, Bengal Tiger…, In The Next Room…(Tony, Drama Desk Nomination), Tale of Two Cities, and Xanadu. Recent off-bway: set and costume design for Completeness, The Select (The Sun Also Rises), Middletown, Chair, Orpheus X; costumes for We Live Here, and Kin. Other: set and or costumes for ART, Yale Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, Mark Taper Forum, Berkeley Rep, New York CIty Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Los Angeles Opera, and many others.

Kevin Adams (Lighting Design) Three time Tony winner Kevin Adams has designed American Idiot, Spring Awakening, Next To Normal, Passing Strange, Hedwig And The Angry Inch, the revivals of Hair and Rent as well as the plays Man And Boy, The 39 Steps, The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide..., Some Men, The Illusion, Peter And Jerry, Betty's Summer Vacation and Take Me Out. He has designed solo shows for John Leguizamo, Eve Ensler, Eric Bogosian, Sandra Bernhard and Anna Deveare Smith. He has received an Obie for Sustained Excellence, two Lortel Awards, a Drama Desk and Outer Critics Award and an Olivier nomination.

Jonathan Deans (Sound Designer) recent Broadway credits include Priscilla Queen of the Desert, SPIDER-MAN, La Cage aux Folles, Young Frankenstein, Pirate Queen, Lestat, Taboo, Follies, Seussical, Music Man, Fosse, Parade. His work with Cirque du Soleil includes Viva Elvis, Ovo, LOVE, KA, Zumanity, O, Mystere, La Nouba, Corteo. He was nominated for a Tony award in 2010 and has been presented with a USITT award for 'Distinguished Career in Sound Design'. Jonathan was born in England where he started his sound design career and now lives in USA.

Sven Ortel (Projection Design) Sven works internationally designing projections and imagery for Theatre, Opera, Dance, Musical and beyond. Broadway: Deuce, Faith Healer, Jumpers, The Woman In White (projection realization and system design), The Little Mermaid, Woman On the Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown, Wonderland. West End: The Sea, Marguerite, As You Desire Me, Jumpers, Hitchcock Blonde (projection realization), The Woman in White. Elsewhere (selection): A Disappearing Number (World Tour), Measure For Measure (National Theatre and world tour), Tiefland, (Zurich, Barcelona), Rebecca (Vienna), The Three Musketeers (Berlin, Stuttgart), Richard II (Old Vic, Recklinghausen) Swan Lake for SF Ballet, TFANAs Hamlet, The Ring Cycle under maestro Valerie Gergiev in St.Petersburg, Russia. Current and future projects include the musicals Rebecca in Switzerland, Germany and on Broadway as well as Disney's Newsies. More information at www.svenortel.com

Doug Besterman (Orchestrations) A five-time Tony Award nominee, and three-time winner, Doug’s Broadway orchestration credits include: On a Clear Day, Sister Act, How To Succeed… (2011 Tony Award nomination), Elf, Young Frankenstein (Drama Desk Award nomination), Tarzan, Dracula, Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002 Tony Award / Drama Desk Awards), The Producers (2001 Tony and Drama Desk Awards), Seussical, Music Man (Drama Desk and Tony Award nominations), Fosse (1999 Tony Award), Big (Drama Desk Award nomination), Damn Yankees (Drama Desk Award nomination), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. International: Sister Act (London, Hamburg), Guys and Dolls (Picadilly Theatre, London), Der Schuh Des Manitu (Theatre des Westens, Berlin). Off-Broadway: Weird Romance, Jack's Holiday, Johnny Pye and the Foolkiller, The Gifts of the Magi, Godspell; also in New York: King David, A Christmas Carol, and the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. Regional credits: It Shoulda Been You (George Street Playhouse), Limelight (La Jolla Playhouse), Minsky’s (Ahmanson Theater, Los Angeles), An American In Paris, Captains Courageous, I Sent A Letter To My Love, Paramour, Lawnchair Man, Eliot Ness in Cleveland, Jeanne la Pucelle, Opal; also, the ballets Frankie and Johnnie…and Rose, Take Five - More Or Less, But Not For Me and Double Feature for choreographer Susan Stroman. Film/television: Nine, The Producers (also music producer), Chicago, Mulan, Anastasia, Pocahontas, Lincoln, Cinderella, Annie, Geppetto, South Pacific, Superstar, Scrubs - and the upcoming Smash. Doug has arranged for many vocalists, including Christine Andreas, Toni Braxton, Sutton Foster, Jane Krakowski, Beyonce Knowles, Barry Manilow, Mandy Patinkin, Barbra Streisand, as well as the Boston Pops Orchestra. As a composer, Doug’s music has been recorded by singer Christian Bautista, heard in the films The Punisher, Out of Step and Exit Speed, TV shows “Summerland” and “One Life To Live,” in concert with the United States Military Academy Concert Band, and in the musical Hats.
Michael Gore (Composer). In 1981, Michael won two Academy Awards for the movie Fame -- one for Best Original Score, and a second for Best Song with lyricist Dean Pitchford. He was also nominated for "Out Here On My Own" from the same film, making three nominations that year. Also for Fame, he won a Golden Globe for best song, and was nominated for a Grammy. The movie's soundtrack sold in excess of 7 million copies worldwide. In 1983, he was again nominated for a Best Score Oscar for James L. Brooks' Terms of Endearment. His instrumental version of the movie's theme went Top 5 on the Adult Contemporary charts. He composed the original score for John Hughes' Pretty in Pink in 1986, and was a major contributor to the musical underscore for James L. Brooks' Broadcast News in 1987. Other scores include Albert Brooks' Defending Your Life, Anthony Minghella’s Mr. Wonderful, The Butcher’s Wife, and Superstar. As a songwriter, he collaborated with lyricist Pitchford on the song "Never" for Herbert Ross' Footloose. With lyricist Lynn Ahrens, he wrote two original songs for Todd Graff’s Camp. Notable in Michael's songwriting credits is the music for Whitney Houston's multi-platinum seller, "All The Man That I Need", which simultaneously reached #1 on the pop, adult contemporary, and rhythm and blues charts. Artists including Luther Vandross, Patti LaBelle and L.L. Cool J. have performed his compositions. Michael served as the Producer for a series of nine recordings for the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. His The Gershwins in Hollywood won Germany’s prestigious Deutsche Schalplatten Award. His Rodgers and Hammerstein’s CD of The King and I starring Julie Andrews and Ben Kingsley received critical acclaim, was Number One on Billboard’s Classical Crossover Album chart for 17 weeks, and remained in the Top Ten for almost a year. As the album’s producer, he was nominated for a Grammy and won The Billboard Award for top Crossover Recording. In addition to Executive Producing ABC’s acclaimed 3-hour Special Event telefilm of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific starring Glenn Close and Harry Connick, Jr., he produced all the music for the film and its soundtrack recording. As a solo recording artist, he composed and performed “October Moon” for “Song Without Words II” for Windham Hill. Upcoming musical projects include a solo piano album of his own film themes and original pop compositions. As a film producer with partner Lawrence D. Cohen, he is co-producing a 3-D feature adaptation of Stephen King’s The Sun Dog with producer Bill Haber, set to begin production this coming spring. With Cohen, he is also developing 90 Days, an original drama with songs that the pair will produce for The Weinstein Company, as well as an original thriller set in New York and Buenos Aires

Dean Pitchford (lyricist) was born and raised in Hawai’i and graduated from Yale. He began his performing career off- and on-Broadway (Godspell; Pippin) before turning to songwriting, screenwriting and directing. He has been nominated for four Academy Awards (winning Best Song for “Fame,” co-written with Michael Gore), three Golden Globes (winning for “Fame”), seven Grammys and two Tonys. His songs - recorded by such artists as Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Cher, Peter Allen, LL Cool Jay, Kenny Loggins, Hugh Jackman, Dolly Parton, Bette Midler and Martina McBride - have sold over 70 million records. The musical stage adaptation (co-written with Walter Bobbie) of his original screenplay for Footloose ran for more than seven hundred performances on Broadway and is now being seen all over the world. Dean’s Young Adult novels, The Big One-Oh and Captain Nobody, have been published by Putnam/Penguin, and his performances of their audiobook recordings (released by Listening Library/Random House) were both nominated for Grammy Awards. His third novel, Nickel Bay Nick, is due in 2013.

Lawrence D. Cohen’s (book writer) first feature script was his adaptation of Stephen King’s debut novel, Carrie (1976). His screenplay for the classic Brian de Palma film earned him an Edgar Award nomination from the Mystery Writers of America. After beginning his career as a film/theater critic and essayist for a number of leading periodicals, he worked as an assistant to famed Broadway director-choreographer Michael Bennett on the latter’s Tony Award-winning Twigs, as well as the musical Seesaw. While working for film and TV producer David Susskind, he discovered the script of Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, and went on to become Production Executive of the 1975 Martin Scorsese film. Continuing his ongoing relationship with Stephen King in 1980, he wrote the 4-hour teleplay of It which USA Today called “the scariest movie ever made for TV.” It and his subsequent adaptation of King's The Tommyknockers (1993) became two of the network's highest-rated miniseries. In 2007, he was reunited with the Master of Horror with his adaptation of “The End of the Whole Mess” for TNT’s “Nightmares & Dreamscapes” anthology series. The Writers Guild of America nominated the script as Best Drama Episode. Other films include Ghost Story, based on Peter Straub's bestseller, which starred Fred Astaire, John Houseman, Melvyn Douglas and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. The Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Films nominated it for its Saturn Award as Best Horror Film. For ABC, he wrote the 3-hour teleplay adaptation for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific (2001), and served as the project’s Executive Producer with partner Michael Gore. Upcoming projects include a 3D film adaptation of Stephen King's novella, The Sun Dog, that he and Gore are co-producing with Bill Haber. He has also scripted 90 DAYS, an original drama with songs, which he and Gore are producing for The Weinstein Company. In addition, he is writing an original thriller set in New York and Buenos Aires.

Stafford Arima’s (Director) production of Altar Boyz received the 2005 Best Off-Broadway Musical Outer Critics Circle Award and was nominated for 7 Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Musical. He was nominated for a 2004 Olivier Award as Best Director for his West End production of Ragtime. Other works include: Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (Stratford Shakespeare Festival), The Tin Pan Alley Rag (Roundabout Theatre Company – nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award as Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical); Candide (San Francisco Symphony); The Secret Garden (World AIDS Day benefit concert, NYC); A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim (Boston Pops); Bright Lights, Big City (Prince Music Theater, PA); Marry Me A Little (Cincinnati Playhouse); The Princess and the Black-Eyed Pea (San Diego Rep. – nominated for 3 NAACP Theatre Awards); Bowfire (PBS television special/North American tour); Ace (The Old Globe, CA); and Abyssinia (Goodspeed Musicals). Arima also served as associate director for the Broadway productions of Seussical and A Class Act. Upcoming projects and/or in development: A Separate Peace (book by Warren Leight, score by Todd Almond) and Allegiance (by Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione). Arima is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. He studied at York University in Toronto where he was the recipient of the Dean's Prize for Excellence in Creative Work.