Lauren Kennedy Headlines VIOLET at Kennedy Theatre

Broadway actress and Raleigh native Lauren Kennedy (Spamalot, Les Miserables, Sunset Boulevard) returns to her home state to star in Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy's production of the musical Violet, which coincidentally is a show that has ties to her home state.

Violet is a story of a young disfigured woman who embarks on a journey by bus from her farm in Spruce Pine, North Carolina all the way to Tulsa, Oklahoma in order to be healed. Based on the short story "The Ugliest Pilgrim" by another NC native, Doris Betts, with music by Jeanine Tesori and libretto by Brian Crawley.

Eric Woodall, who is also originally from the area, returns to direcT. Woodall, a long time friend of Kennedy, is now one of the top casting agents at the prestigious Tara Rubin Casting in New York."I leap at any opportunity to come home to NC; especially when it involves reuniting with Lauren Kennedy in any way," says Woodall. "What a joy, to leave my "NY Casting Life" behind for a few weeks, to direct this beautiful, southern musical. I can't think of a better way to spend these hot summer nights....and they are HOT!"

For Kennedy, the feeling was mutual on many levels. "We chose to put Violet in our season because Eric Woodall had a passion to direct it, and I have always been in love with the story," says Kennedy. "It is such a wonderful piece of theatre...some of the best music written
for theatre in the last 20 years. I think we all feel lucky to be working on this show and being in the room with such an incredibly gifted ensemble of actors and creators," she said.
In addition to Kennedy, the cast includes Yolanda Rabun (Landlady/Gospel Soloist), Melvin Tunstall III* (Flick), Jason Sharp (Monty), David McClutchy (Preacher), Heather Patterson-King* (Old Lady/Hotel Singer), Mary Mattison Vallery (Young Violet), Dennis Delamar (Father), Jeffrey Todd Parrot (Billy Dean), Nick DeVito (LeRoy Evans/Earl), Hazel Edmond (Music Hall Singer/ Mabel), Jim Dadosky (Bus Driver/Mechanic) and Conner Lillis (Ensemble/Swing).

Woodall is working alongside Hot Summer Nights veteran Musical Director Jay WrighT. Woodall's
production team includes Christine Rapp (Stage Manager), Chris Bernier (Set/Light Design), Eric
Collins (Sound Design), Richard Young (Props), Denise Schumaker* (Costumes), (Will Mikes (Video Projection), Kate McMillan (ASM) and Andrew Britt (AD). In the band with Wright
(Conductor/Keyboards) are Jackson Cooper (Music Assistant/Keyboards), Joan Beck (Violin), Drew
Lile (Guitar/Banjo), John Simonetti (Bass) and Todd Proctor (Percussion).

Performances of Violet run Wednesday-Saturday at 8PM. Sunday matinees are at 3PM. Shows take
place at the Kennedy Theatre inside the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh.
Tickets cost $22.00 for general admission and $18 for senior adults, students and military (with ID).

The season closes with a special concert presentation of Oh, What a Night! at the Fletcher Opera
Theatre in the PECPA (August 31 & September 1) and at the Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell
Theatre at Barton College (September 3 & 4). Tickets for Oh, What a Night! are $27.00 for general
admission and $22 for senior adults, students and military (with ID). Show tickets can be purchased by calling 866-811-4111 or online through the Hot Summer Nights at the Kennedy website: www.hotsummernightsatthekennedy.org.