Second Stage Theatre Finds its LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE; Hannah Rose Nordberg Cast as 'Olive'

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has found its LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE. Nine-year old HANNAH ROSE NORDBERG will play Olive Hoover, who aspires to the coveted title of "Little Miss Sunshine," in this new musical comedy from Tony Award winners James Lapine (book/direction) and William Finn (music and lyrics). Hannah joins the previously announced cast members Stephanie J. Block and Will Chase, who will portray Olive's parents, Sheryl and Richard Hoover. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE will kick off Second Stage Theatre's 35th anniversary season on October 15 and will officially open in mid-November.

HANNAH ROSE NORDBERG lives in Santa Monica, California with her mom, dad and older brother. She is nine years old and going into fourth grade. Her favorite subjects in school are math and science. She loves playing jump rope and two touch at recess time. Hannah started doing musical theater with Creative Kids Youth Theater Project in Los Angeles at the age of six. She has performed in fourteen different musicals, her favorites being Wicked (Glinda), Annie (Miss Hannigan), Seussical (Gertrude McFuzz) and Beauty and the Beast (Gaston). Hannah's other interests include gymnastics, tap dancing, ballet, jazz, hula, bouncing on her trampoline, playing laser tag, rock climbing, camping, skiing, riding bikes, swimming, and having play dates with friends. Being a huge animal lover, Hannah volunteers at a dog rescue center in Los Angeles in her spare time. She is saving up her money to get a puppy (and a phone) this Christmas. In 2011, she won first place in her school district for a hip hop dance routine she choreographed that celebrated diversity. The title of her piece was "We Are All In This Together."

On life's twisty road, sometimes you need to pull over and change direction. When the coveted title of "Little Miss Sunshine" is unexpectedly within her reach, young Olive Hoover convinces her family to make the 800 mile trek to the pre-teen pageant of her dreams. Along the way, a series of mishaps threatens to derail the group's quest for the crown, until they realize a young girl's far-fetched goal may actually hold the key to the family's happiness. From the Tony Award-winning team of James Lapine and William Finn comes LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, a new musical comedy about one modern family's unexpected route to brighter days. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE is based on the film, Little Miss Sunshine, written by Michael Arndt.

James Lapine and William Finn's previous collaborations include the Tony-winning hits Falsettos and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. William Finn is also the composer of In Trousers, Romance in Hard Times, and A New Brain. James Lapine is the book writer/director of the musicals Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, and Passion, among others.

LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE will feature scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Jennifer Caprio, lighting design by Ken Billington,and sound design by Jon Weston. Choreography will be by Michele Lynch. The music director will be Vadim Feichtner.

For subscription or ticket information, please call the Second Stage Box Office at 212-246-4422 or visit the company's website, www.2ST.com. All performances are staged at Second Stage's Tony Kiser Theatre, 305 West 43rd Street (just west of Eighth Avenue).

Photo Credit: BC Studios