Kerry Butler, Craig Bierko & More to Join Klea Blackhurst in Readings of HAZEL

Casting has been announced for the upcoming Equity Lab presentation of the new smash hit musical comedy Hazel: A Musical Maid in America, based on the Saturday Evening Post cartoon character and the multi-Emmy award-winning television series. Klea Blackhurst, who played the title role in the much buzzed about reading of the musical that took place last October, returns as the irrepressible maid. She will be joined by Tony Award nominee Kerry Butler as Dorothy Baxter, Ed Watts as George Baxter, and Tony Award nominee Craig Bierko as Bonkers Johnson. As was previously announced, Lucie Arnaz (who directed the October reading) will direct the presentation. Hazel features a score by Ron Abel (music) and Chuck Steffan (lyrics), a book by Kleban Award winner Lissa Levin, and choreography by Chet Walker.

The special two-day event will feature four performances of this hilarious and heartwarming new musical for industry-only audiences on May 28th and 29th at the Lyric Theatre performance space in New York City.

In a statement, Lucie Arnaz commented, "Flattered beyond belief at the reception our first Equity reading received and very excited to be asked to continue on to guide Hazel into her newest incarnation."

Hazel is based on one of the most beloved and enduring characters in American popular culture. Hazel, a saucy maid with a wry sense of humor, timeless wisdom, and a heart of gold, was created by cartoonist Ted Key as a single-panel cartoon for The Saturday Evening Post in 1943 and has been distributed to newspapers by King Feature Syndicate since 1969 and currently on the web as well. A sitcom about her ran in prime time from 1961 through 1966 and garnered its star, Shirley Booth, two Emmy Awards. In her own musical, Hazel will touch all audiences with her humanity, common sense, and warmth.

Photo by Jennifer Broski