Rachel Bay Jones and Jennifer Hope Wills Join GHOSTLIGHT Reading, 12/2

Pippin star Rachel Bay Jones (Women on the Verge...; Hair) and Jennifer Hope Wills (Wonderful Town; The Phantom of the Opera) have joined the cast of the highly anticipated industry reading of Ghostlight, with book, music and lyrics by Matthew Martin and Tim Realbuto. Jones and Wills join previously announced Tony nominee Robert Cuccioli, Trevor McQueen, and Kimberly Faye Greenberg. The industry reading will take place on December 2nd at the famed New 42nd Street Studios.

Ghostlight had a sold out and extended run at the Signature Theatre in 2011 as part of NYMF. The show has been revamped since then. Alison Holman will provide musical direction for the upcoming reading, with the creators Martin and Realbuto co-directing.

Ghostlight tells the true story of infamous Ziegfeld Follies girl and silent film star Olive Thomas, whose ghost is said to still haunt the New Amsterdam Theatre today. In Ghostlight, we see Olive's rise to fame in the Ziegfeld Follies alongside Fanny Brice, her affair with Ziegfeld (who was famously married to stage and screen star Billie Burke), her whirlwind Hollywood marriage to Jack Pickford, and ultimately her tragic downfall, which led to her mysterious death at age 25 in Paris.

Ms. Jones will play Molly Cook, a comedienne in the Follies and Olive's best friend who ultimately unlocks a major secret. Ms. Wills will play Doris/Cora/Lois Long and others. Casting for the coveted roles of Billie Burke and Olive Thomas will be announced shortly.

Although the reading is closed to the public, the creators have initiated a raffle to anyone who donates to their IndieGoGo campaign. The winner of the raffle will receive two seats to the special event. You can donate to Ghostlight and enter the raffle at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ghostlight-a-new-musical.

Jones is currently receiving critical acclaim for starring as Catherine in the hit Broadway revival of Pippin. Her other Broadway credits include Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown; Hair; and Meet Me in St. Louis. She starred Off-Broadway in Hello Again, as well as the National Tour of A Christmas Story. Her popular solo album ShowFolk was recently released by Plum Song Records following sold out engagements at Joe's Pub.

Wills is most known for starring on Broadway as Eileen Sherwood opposite Brooke Shields in the critically acclaimed revival of Wonderful Town (She also recorded the new cast recording with Shields). Ms. Wills holds the distinction of being The Phantom of the Opera's third longest running Christine Daaé in Broadway history. She played for role for over four years and well over 900 performances. Her other Broadway credits include Beauty and the Beast and The Woman in White. Wills also starred in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn for City Center Encores! and The Merry Widow at The Metropolitan Opera.