Rent's Frenchie Davis Featured in Monica! The Musical, Sept. 21-Oct. 2
By: BWW News Desk Aug. 29, 2005
Rent star and ex-American Idol contestant Frenchie Davis will be featured in the cast of Monica! The Musical, a satirical show based on the presidential sex scandal that launched at least a thousand punchlines. It will run from September 21st to October 2nd at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater (307 W. 26th St., between 8th and 9th Avenues) as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival.
Davis will play Bettie Currie in the show, which stars Christine DiGiallonardo as rule-breaking intern Monica Lewinsky, Megan Lawrence as Hillary Clinton (both actresses are currently featured in Two Gentlemen of Verona at the Delacorte Theatre), Duke Lafoon as the philandering Bill Clinton, Rashad Naylor as Vernon Jordan, Kristie Dale Sanders as Janet Reno, Charlie Pollock as Ken Starr, and Josh Walden as George Stephanopoulos.
Monica! The Musical features music by Adam Blau, and book and lyrics by Daniel J. Blau and Tracie Potochnik. Casey Hushion directs the show, which was performed as a workshop last October with DeGiallonardo on board as Monica, and Shoshana Bean, Rob Evan and Donna Lynne Champlin also featured in the cast. The new production will boast lighting design by Jason Lyons, props and scenic design by Seth Sklar Heyn, as well as musical direction by Nadia DiGiallonardo.
Rent marks Davis' Broadway debut; she is the "Season of Love" soloist. She has also appeared as Effie in a national tour of Dreamgirls and has performed regionally in Little Shop of Horrors as well as in a production of Jesus Christ Superstar in Germany. The soulfully-voiced Davis was an American Idol favorite, but was dropped in 2003 due to an internet controversy.
Monica! The Musical's performance schedule is Sept. 21st at 8 PM, Sept. 22 at 4:30 PM, Sept. 24th at 1 PM, Sept. 25th at 1 PM, Sept. 28 at 7 PM and October 2nd at 1 PM. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased here or here or by calling 212-352-3101.
For more information, visit www.monicathemusical.com or www.nymf.org.
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