BroadwayWorld is excited to bring you a first look at Ogunquit Playhouse's stage, screen and television Valerie Harper starring in the role of the wealthy and stylish 'Millicent Winter' in the delightful Nice Work If You Can Get It, on stage July 22, to August 15. Check out the cast in action below!
Also joining the cast is two-time Emmy Award winner Sally Struthers as the Dutchess Estonia, a temperance enforcer who is set against a gang of bootleggers in this madcap musical comedy set during the Roaring Twenties.
This brand-new musical written by Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro is based on material by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse and was nominated in 2012 for 10 Tony Awards, winning two. This high-stepping Broadway musical recalls the golden age of American musicals, complete with extravagant dance numbers, glittering Broadway costumes and a treasure trove of George and Ira Gershwin's most beloved songs, including "But Not For Me," "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," "I've Got a Crush on You" and "Someone to Watch Over Me."
This sparkling tale combines laughter, romance and Broadway magic for an evening bursting with girls, glamour and the glorious songs of the Gershwins. The champagne is flowing and the gin is fizzing with a cast of outrageous characters who gather in New York City to celebrate the wedding of wealthy playboy Jimmy Winter, played by Joey Sorge, whose world is suddenly turned upside down by bootleggers, rumrunners and gold diggers thanks to the feisty street-wise Billie Bendix, played by Amanda Lea LaVergne, and the fast-talking, wise-cracking bootlegger Cookie McGee played by James Beaman.
Starring as Jimmy Winter is Joey Sorge who was part of original Broadway casts of Nice Work If You Can Get It withMatthew Broderick and Kelli O'Hara, and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying. He has also performed on Broadway in The Drowsy Chaperone, Thoroughly Modern Millie and as Young Buddy in the 2001 revival of Follies. Sorge was last seen at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Singin' in the Rain and The Drowsy Chaperone.
Amanda Lea LaVergne returns to the Ogunquit Playhouse stage to play Billie Bendix after last appearing as Kathy Selden in Singin' In the Rain and as Red Girl in Shout! The Mod Musical. She has appeared on Broadway in Annie, Grease, and The People In The Picture and she originated the role of Campbell in the world premiere of Bring It On the Musical in Atlanta.
Bootlegger Cookie McGee is played by James Beaman who starred as Sir Robin in the First National Tour of Monty Python's Spamalot. He has created roles in two new musicals, Frog Kiss and The Road To Qatar!, and he has also appeared in regional theatres in the U.S. as Thénardier in LES MISERABLES, John Adams in 1776, and Smee in Peter and the Starcatcher, as well as many leading and featured roles at The Kennedy Center, Goodspeed Musicals, North Shore Music Theatre, and many more. He last appeared at the Ogunquit Playhouse in 2014 in Buddy, TheBuddy Holly Story and in 2007 in La Cage aux Folles.
Directing the Ogunquit Playhouse production is Larry Raben who recently directed the world premiere of Tony-winnerJoe DiPietro's Falling For Eve Off-Broadway and won the LA Ovation Award for Best Direction for Singin' In The Rain. Raben has helmed many shows throughout the U.S. including Catch Me If You Can, Hairspray, The Wedding Singer, Always Patsy Cline.
Peggy Hickey joins the creative team as Choreographer. She recently choreographed the 2014 multi-Tony Award winning A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, for which she was also nominated for an Outer Critics Circle and Astaire Award for Best Choreography. She also choreographed My Fair Lady for the New York City Opera starringKelsey Grammer, Brian Dennehy and Kelli O'Hara, as well as directed and choreographed Hansel and Gretel, and Cinderella at Lincoln Center. She has choreographed shows for 25 years with Los Angeles Opera, most recently The Ghosts of Versailles starring Patricia Racette and Patti LuPone.
Musical Director is Charlie Reuter who conducted the First National Tour of Nice Work If You Can Get It and served as assistant conductor for the Tony Award-winning musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder as well as Dreamgirls at The Muny starring Jennifer Holliday.
Mark your calendars now and get ready to see every show this year. Tickets are on sale now. Prices start at $44 per show. To learn more about becoming a Playhouse member, or to purchase tickets and gift certificates, visitwww.ogunquitplayhouse.com or call the Ogunquit Playhouse Box Office at 207-646-5511.
Photo Credit: Gary Ng
Sally Struthers as Duchess Estonia Dulworth with Vice Squad
Breighanna Minnema as Eileen Evergreen and ensemble
Noelle Marion, Heather Stinson, Elyse Collier, Joey Sorge as Jimmy Winter, Ashlea Potts, Madison Mitchell, Kristina Miller
Amanda Lea LaVergne as Billie Bendix and Joey Sorge as Jimmy Winter
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