Matt Cavenaugh to Join Broadway's 'A Catered Affair'

Jujamcyn Theaters has announced that Matt Cavenaugh will join the cast in this season's Broadway production of A Catered Affair, the new musical with book by four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein, score by John Bucchino and directed by Tony Award-winner John Doyle.  Also starring the previously announced Faith Prince, Tom Wopat, Harvey Fierstein and Leslie Kritzer, A Catered Affair will open on Thursday, April 17, 2008, at a Jujamcyn theater (to-be-announced).  Preview performances begin March 25.  Prior to Broadway, the new musical will inaugurate the 2007-8 Season at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre (performances begin September 20th), according to producer Jordan Roth (Vice President, Jujamcyn Theaters).

In A Catered Affair, Matt Cavenaugh will create the role of 'Ralph Halloran,' the groom-to-be opposite bride Leslie Kritzer in this musical set in 1953 Bronx centered on a family wedding. 

Cavenaugh was recently seen in the dual roles of Joseph Patrick Kennedy, Jr./Jerry in the Tony nominated Grey Gardens, which ended its Broadway run yesterday.  He made his Broadway debut in 2003, starring in Urban Cowboy.

"Funny, heartbreaking and oh so human, A Catered Affair reveals relationships strained to their limits when a couple must decide whether to spend their life savings on a family business or to launch their only daughter's marriage with a lavish catered affair.  Harvey Fierstein's book and John Bucchino's score seize the opportunity to explore the meaning of family and the need for love, both new and reawakened," state press notes. 

A Catered Affair will be produced on Broadway by Jujamcyn Theaters, Jordan Roth, Harvey Entertainment/Ron Fierstein, Richie Jackson and Daryl Roth.  The musical is based on the Turner Entertainment motion picture distributed by Warner Brothers and written by Gore Vidal, and the original teleplay by Paddy Chayefsky.

The Broadway theater and design team will be announced shortly.

A native Arkansan, Matt was last seen on Broadway as Joe Kennedy, Jr. and Jerry in the Tony nominated Grey Gardens.  He made his debut as Bud in the Broadway production of Urban Cowboy.  National Tours include Thoroughly Modern Millie.  Off-Broadway and regional credits include: Grey Gardens (Playwrights Horizons), 2 Lives (George Street Playhouse), Palm Beach (La Jolla Playhouse), Carousel (Pittsburgh CLO), Princesses (Goodspeed), Anything Goes (Williamstown, TUTS), and Footloose (TBTS).  On TV, he has been seen in "One Life to Live" and "As the World Turns."  Film work includes Sexual Dependency.

Photo by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.