SNL Vet Cheri Oteri Joins Cast of NEWSICAL in December!

Former Saturday Night Live funny-girl Cheri Oteri joins the cast of off Broadway's NEWSical The Musical for four weeks only. NEWSical The Musical is the forever changing, completely un-sanitized musical mockery of all the news that's fit to spoof.  From Bloomberg's sign language interpreter to Honey Boo Boo Child to the aftermath of the 2012 Presidential Election, NEWSicalthe Musical sets all of today's biggest pop culture headlines to song.  Earlier this fall, celebrity gossip guru Perez Hilton joined the show for a limited run, followed by Broadway's original Annie, Andrea McArdle.  Comedian Cheri Oteri is the next guest star to take the raucous stage.  She'll appear in NEWSical The Musical from December3rd through  December 30^th.

"Cheri Oteri is going to be in my current events musical comedy!  I think I can die happy now," cheered the show's producer Tom D'Angora at this morning's announcement. "Cheri Oteri is one of the funniest people in North America. I promise we will make the most of having this super talent in our show!"

Cheri Oteri starred on Saturday Night Live from 1995 – 2000.  She was a third of the so-called "SNL female power trio" that also included Molly Shannon and Ana Gasteyer. On SNL, she was known for playing myriad characters, including "Arianna," one half of "The Spartan Cheerleaders" alongside Will Ferrell; "Rita DelVecchio", the Italian lady who policed the street from her front yard; hyper child bus passenger "Althea McManaman"; overly perky, and ill-informed, "Morning Latte" talk show host "Cass Van Rye"; and "Nadine," a testy employee who constantly ordered everyone to "Simma down now!" Her dead-on impressions of Barbara Walters, Mariah Carey, Robin Byrd and Judge Judy also bolstered her fame.

Since leaving Saturday Night Live, Oteri has appeared in several movies, including Scary Movie, Inspector Gadget, Liar Liar, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd, Shrek the Third, Southland Tales, Park, Major Movie Star and Surveillance. Upcoming films include Bad Parents (with Janeane Garafolo) and Grown Ups 2 (with Adam Sandler, Kevin James, David Spade, and Chris Rock).  Her television credits include guest spots on Strangers with Candy, Just Shoot Me (for which she received an Emmy nomination), Curb Your Enthusiasm, and she recently completed an episode of the new hit show, The New Normal. 

NEWSical The Musical features Christine Pedi (Sirius XM Host, Little Me, Talk Radio), Michael West (When Pigs Fly, Forbidden Broadway), Tommy Walker (Evil Dead The Musical), Susan Mosher (Hairspray), Emily McNamara (NYC Nightlife star) and Ryan Knowles (host of Nickelodeon's ME:TV).

Rick Crom is the creator and writer of NEWSical The Musical. He has appeared on Broadway in Urinetown, Footloose and The Goodbye Girl.  On television, he appeared on FX's critically acclaimed series Louie starring comedian Louis C.K.

NEWSical The Musical is directed by Mark Waldrop (When Pigs Fly, My Deah, Inventing Avi, Papermill Playhouse's Gypsy) and produced by Tom D'Angora (Naked Boys Singing!, ICONS, Broadway Diva Christmas, Divas I've Done). Rounding out the creative team are Ed Goldschneider (music director), Jason Courson (set designer), and Ryan Obermeier (stage manager).

The Associated Press calls NEWSical The Musical "The Daily Show set to music!". It was named Best New Musical of 2011 by the Off Broadway Alliance for its infectious melodies, razor-sharp lyrics, biting satire and having more unpredictability than a Courtney Love tweet.

NEWSical The Musical plays at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Tickets are $85 - $110 and can be purchased through Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7250. For performance schedule and more information visit www.NEWSicalthemusical.com.