Kevin Earley, Curt Bouril, Jennie Sophia & More Set for Goodman Theatre's BRIGADOON; Runs 6/27-8/3

Casting is complete and rehearsals begin May 20 for Goodman Theatre's new production of Brigadoon-Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's big, beautiful and beguiling song and dance fantasy. Chicago director/choreographer Rachel Rockwell, hailed as a "brilliant, insightful, mistress-of-grand-scale musicals" (Chicago Sun-Times) and named "2012 Chicagoan of the Year" by the Chicago Tribune, makes her Goodman debut. Brigadoon runs June 27 - August 3 in the Albert Theatre (opening night is Monday, July 7). Tickets ($25 - $93; subject to change) are on sale now, available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Brigadoon, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn). JPMorgan Chase is the Major Corporate Sponsor. Allstate Insurance Company and PwC are Corporate Sponsor Partners. Towers Watson is the Opening Night Sponsor. Chicago Tribune is the Media Partner. A full performance calendar follows.

Rockwell's cast of 28 features Kevin Earley (Broadway's A Tale of Two Cities and LES MISERABLES) as Tommy Albright and Curt Bouril (off-Broadway's Million Dollar Quartet) as Jeff Douglas-the two American vacationers who stumble upon the mythical 18th century village of Brigadoon, which appears for only one day every 100 years. Jennie Sophia (Nellie Forbush in the national tour of South Pacific) plays Fiona, the girl with whom Tommy falls in love. Tommy is then forced to choose between returning to the world he knows-or taking a chance on life and love in Brigadoon. Joining the cast are Larry Adams(Stuart Dalrymple), Jordan Brown(Charlie Dalrymple), Joseph Foronda (Archie Beaton), Rhett Guter (Harry Beaton), George Keating (Sandy Dean), Michael Aaron Lindner (Angus MacGuffie), Roger Mueller (Mr. Lundie), Maggie Portman (Meg Brockie), Olivia Renteria (Jean MacLaren), Emily Rohm(Jane Ashton), Katie Spelman (Maggie Anderson), Craig Spidle (Andrew MacLaren),Richard Strimer (Frank) and Rod Thomas (MacGregor). Rockwell's ensemble includesWilliam Angulo, Stephanie Binetti, Jessica Blair, Courtney Cerny, Bryan Howard Conner, Tehran Dixon, Ann McMann, Jamy Meek, Drew Nellessen, Emma Rosenthal andMalachi Squires. Headshots and bio information can be found in the Press Room.

"In every sense, Brigadoon is a dream piece: an emotionally rich story, romantic in the purest sense of the word, rendered against a glorious score and beautifully orchestrated story ballets-one of the things I enjoy most as a choreographer, but something few musicals have," saidRachel Rockwell, who was approached by Alan Jay Lerner's daughter, Liza Lerner, to revive her father's seminal work. "I'm thrilled and honored to collaborate with this incredible company of artists to give audiences a fresh look at a musical they've long known and loved."

An orchestra of 13 brings to life two-time Tony Award-winning composer Frederick Loewe's lilting score for the Goodman revival, including such memorable songs as "Almost Like Being in Love," "The Heather on the Hill," "Waitin' For My Dearie," "There But For You Go I" and "I'll Go Home with Bonnie Jean." Roberta Duchak is the Music Director and Joshua Clayton is the Orchestrator for the Goodman's production. Valerie Maze is the Assistant Music Director and Conductor.

"Brigadoon has one of the finest scores in classic musical theater. Every timeless song is filled with lush melodies and a wonderful emotional journey that makes it unique and memorable," said Duchak, who previously worked with Rockwell on LES MISERABLES, The Sound of Music,Sweeney Todd, Ragtime and Miss Saigon at Drury Lane Oakbrook Theatre.

To refresh the original book for Brigadoon's 2014 revival, Rockwell taps librettist Brian Hill.Triple Tony and Academy Award-winning lyricist and librettist Alan Jay Lerner memorably interwove a serious love story with a lighter romantic subplot to contrast the warmth and simplicity of the country with the cool bustle of city life in his 1947 original work.

"Brigadoon is a classic for a reason, and we've approached this version with the care and respect that a classic deserves," said Hill, a Drama Desk Award-nominated librettist for the Broadway musical The Story of My Life. "We plan to rejuvenate the Goodman's Brigadoon in a way that still holds all of the magic, passion and spectacle that people remember."

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos