Ryan Silverman & Hannah Elless Join SOMEWHERE IN TIME at Portland Center Stage

Producers announced today that Ryan Silverman (Passion, The Phantom of the Opera) and Hannah Elless (Godspell, Mamma Mia!) will star as Richard Collier and Elise McKenna in Portland Center Stage's (PCS) upcoming world-premiere production of the new musical Somewhere in Time, based on the novel by renowned author Richard Matheson (I Am Legend, What Dreams May Come) and the subsequent hit film starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour and Christopher Plummer.

Somewhere in Time begins preview performances on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 with a new official opening night set for Wednesday, June 5. Tickets are on sale now at www.pcs.org/somewhere.

Ryan Silverman is currently starring as Giorgio in the Off-Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Passion at Classic Stage Company. He starred as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera both on Broadway and in Las Vegas. He has also been featured in Music in the Air at City Center Encores!; Cry-Baby on Broadway and The Most Happy Fella at New York City Opera.

In London's West End, he played Tony in the Olivier Award-nominated revival of West Side Story. He starred as Sky in the U.S. National Tour of Mamma Mia!, as Jose in the world premiere of the new musical Carmen at La Jolla Playhouse and in the Chicago production of Wicked.

His television and film credits include "Gossip Girl," "The 5 Minarets of New York," Sex and the City 2 and "True Blood."

He has performed in concerts with The New York Pops, Philadelphia Pops, Philadelphia Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony, Seattle Symphony, The Cincinnati Pops, Utah Symphony, Houston Symphony and Edmonton Symphony, among others.

Hannah Elless made her Broadway debut last season in the revival of Godspell at Circle in the Square Theatre. She has appeared Off-Broadway in The Other Josh Cohen at SoHo Playhouse and in the U.S. National Tour of Mamma Mia!

Her regional stage credits include Baby (Actors Theatre Company, Chicago); Private Lives, The Adventures of Pinocchio (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Beauty and the Beast, Gertrude McFuzz, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Hamlet and Phaedra.

Her film credits include The Lake Effect and About Face.

As previously announced, Somewhere in Time will also star three-time Tony Award nominee Marc Kudisch (9 to 5, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Robinson, Elise's protective and controlling manager - a role made famous in the film adaptation by Christopher Plummer.

Additional casting will be announced soon.

In Somewhere in Time, young playwright Richard Collier has an encounter with a mysterious old woman on the opening night of his earliest success; she entreats him, to his bewilderment, to "come back to me." Several years later, with his life and career in disarray, he seeks quiet and contemplation and checks in to a storied hotel from his youth. But his stay at the hotel turns into the journey of a lifetime as he unravels history-and time-to discover a powerful but perhaps impossible love.

The 1980 film of Somewhere in Time is a romantic classic, beloved by several generations of moviegoers. This world premiere musical adaptation invites those who love the story, and those discovering it for the first time, to experience its magic with original music by Doug Katsaros, lyrics by Amanda Yesnowitz and book by Ken Davenport.

"Years ago, I fell hopelessly in love with the story of Somewhere in Time, just as our lead character falls hopefully in love with Elise McKenna, and I'm thrilled that we will be premiering the production in Portland this spring," said Davenport. "Yes, the theater is the right size for our show. Yes, traveling to Portland from New York City is easy. But that's not why we're so excited to be going to Portland. Giving birth to a new musical isn't easy. And, well, the people of Portland Center Stage under the incredible direction of Chris Coleman, and the people of Portland itself, are exactly the type of family that you want in that delivery room."

Somewhere in Time will be directed by Scott Schwartz, whose Broadway credits include Golda's Balcony and Jane Eyre. He also directed Bat Boy: The Musical (Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Award, Best Off-Broadway Musical); tick, tick...BOOM! (Outer Critics Circle Award, Best Off-Broadway Musical); Franz Kafka's The Castle (Manhattan Ensemble Theater) and No Way to Treat a Lady (Off-Broadway).

Two-time Tony nominated John Carrafa (Urinetown, Into The Woods) will choreograph.

The creative team for Somewhere in Time also includes set design by Alexander Dodge, costume design by PCS resident designer Jeff Cone, lighting design by Mike Baldassari, orchestrations by Doug Katsaros and Bruce Coughlin and musical direction by Patrick Vaccariello.

For more information, visit www.SomewhereInTimeTheMusical.com.

"I'm proud that Portland Center Stage has earned a reputation as a theater committed to, and excelling in, the production of new work," said Artistic Director Chris Coleman. "We have also cultivated an audience for great musicals, so when the opportunity arose to become part of launching this exciting world premiere musical, we knew it would be a terrific addition to our 25th Anniversary Season."

Portland Center Stage production sponsors for Somewhere in Time are our Season Superstars Umpqua Bank (Lead Corporate Champion), Tim & Mary Boyle; 24 Hour Fitness, Express Employment Professionals and Ketel One, with additional funding from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, RACC/Work for Art and the Oregon Arts Commission.

Somewhere in Time is produced by special arrangement with Davenport Theatrical Enterprises, Inc. (www.DavenportTheatrical.com).