Leslie Kritzer Joins Cast of NEWSICAL: FULL SPIN AHEAD, 3/25

Two-time Drama Desk nominee Leslie Kritzer, whose Broadway credits include Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair, Legally Blonde and Hairspray, will join the cast of Newsical: Full Spin Ahead beginning March 25, 2011. She steps in for Christine Pedi, who has injured her ankle. Kritzer will perform through April 23. Pedi will return on April 24.

With the addition of Kritzer come all new songs and sketches about the day's hot topics, from Charlie Sheen's accelerated meltdown to Christina Aguilera's gradual meltdown to the entire world's collective meltdown due to Royal Wedding Fever. These topics and more are given composer Rick Crom's signature treatment in a hilarious 90-minute revue of all the most talked about topics of the year, including Don't Ask Don't Tell, Oprah's Final Season, Lady Gaga, Jersey Shore, Bristol Palin and many more surprises!

Kritzer received critical acclaim and a Time Out New York award for her sold-out Joe's Pub run of Leslie Kritzer Is Patti LuPone At Les Mouches, a performance she repeated at The Plush Room in San Francisco. Off-Broadway and regional credits include Every Tongue Confess (Arena Stage), Memory is the Mother of all Wisdom (Barrington Stage Company), Rooms, On The Town (Encores!), The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Drama Desk Nomination), Bat Boy, Godspell, Pop!, Broadway: Three Generations (Kennedy Center), Cabaret, Born Yesterday, the world premiere of Vanities, Urinetown (National Tour), Evita, and an acclaimed "Fanny Brice" in Funny Girl. She has performed at London's Royal Albert Hall as a guest soloist honoring Tim Rice and Alan Menken and can be heard on several cast recordings. Film credits include 17 Photos Of Isabel. Television credits include Law & Order SVU (NBC) 3LBS (CBS) and Jason and Jessica (HBO). Upcoming: Leslie Kritzer: Senioritis at Joe's Pub May 1 and 2.

No one in the news is safe! NEWSical, the Drama Desk-nominated comedy revue, is back lampooning all the top events, headlines, newsmakers, celebrities and politicians of the day in an all-new version entitled NEWSical: Full Spin Ahead. With songs and material being updated on a regular basis, composer-lyricist Rick Crom's topical musical comedy is an ever-evolving mockery of all the news that's fit to spoof.

Mark Waldrop (When Pigs Fly, My Deah, Inventing Avi, Papermill Playhouse's Gypsy) directs an ensemble that includes Christina Bianco (Drama Desk nominee, Forbidden Broadway), Michael West (Forbidden Broadway, When Pigs Fly), John Walton West (Drowsy Chaperone national tour, The Producers national tour), Amy Griffin (How the Grinch Stole Christmas) and Tommy Walker (Evil Dead).

Crom received two Drama Desk nominations for his work on NEWSical. He appeared on Broadway in Urinetown, Footloose and The Goodbye Girl. Rounding out the creative team are Ed Goldschneider (music director), Jason Courson (set designer), Josh Starr (lighting designer), David Kaley (costume designer) and Scott Delacruz (stage manager). Newsical: Full Spin Ahead is produced by Tom D'Angora (Broadway Diva Christmas, Naked Boys Singing!, Divas I've Done) and Elyse Pasquale (Betty Rules).

NEWSical: Full Spin Ahead began previews on December 13th with a January 9th opening at The Kirk at Theatre Row. Theatre Row is located at 410 West 42nd Street. Tickets are $70 and can be purchased through Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 279-4200 or (800) 432-7250. For performance schedule and more information visit www.telecharge.com.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos