Risch Steps in for Injured Hoff in PAL JOEY

Understudy Matthew Risch has stepped into the title role of Joey Evans in PAL JOEY while an injured Christian Hoff rests.

Hoff injured his foot Friday evening and the production cancelled the Saturday Matinee on November 22^nd. Risch takes over the role for the next number of performances, Hoff is expected to return early next week.

Matthew Risch was last seen on Broadway in Legally Blonde.

Roundabout Theatre Company's (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) Pal Joey stars Stockard Channing (Vera Simpson), Christian Hoff (Joey Evans) and Martha Plimpton (Gladys Bumps) with Robert Clohessy (Mike), Jenny Fellner (Linda English), Daniel Marcus (Ludlow Lowell), Steven Skybell  (Ernest), Timothy J. Alex, Brian Barry, Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines, Lisa Gajda, Anthony Holds, Nadine Isenegger, Mark Morettini, Kathryn Mowat Murphy, Abbey O'Brien, Hayley Podschun, Matthew Risch, Krista Saab and Eric Sciotto.

PAL JOEY features a new book by Tony® Award winner Richard Greenberg , based on the original book by John O'Hara, with music direction by Tony® Award winner Paul Gemignani, choreography by Graciela Daniele, directed by two-time Tony® Award winner Joe Mantello at Studio 54 on Broadway.

PAL JOEY opens officially on Thursday, December 11th, 2008 at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th Street).  This will be a limited engagement through February 15th, 2009.

The design team includes two-time Tony® Award winner Scott Pask (Sets), five-time Tony® Award winner William Ivey Long (Costumes), Tony® Award nominee Paul Gallo (Lights), Tony Meola (Sound), Don Sebesky (Orchestrator), Eric Stern (Dance Arranger) and Paul Huntley (Hair and Wig Design)..

Set in Chicago in the late 1930s, PAL JOEY is the story of Joey Evans, a brash, scheming song and dance man with dreams of owning his own nightclub.   Joey abandons his wholesome girlfriend Linda English, to charm a rich, married older woman, Vera Simpson, in the hope that she'll set him up in business.

Tickets are available by phone at (212) 719-1300, online at www.roundabouttheatre.org or at the Studio 54 Box Office (254 West 54th Street).  Ticket prices range from $36.50 to $121.50.

Pal Joey will play Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8:00PM with a Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinee at 2:00PM.

Through ACCESS Roundabout, 100 tickets will be available for the first preview performance (November 14th) for only $10 each.

For more information please visit www.roundabouttheatre.org

Photo Credit: Walrer McBride/Retna Ltd.