Stephanie Rothenberg, Edward Watts Lead Guthrie Theatre's ROMAN HOLIDAY, Beg. Previews Tonight, 6/9

The Guthrie Theater previously announced complete casting for the sparkling new musical Roman Holiday. This song-filled delight-based on the iconic 1953 Paramount Pictures film starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck-includes timeless music and lyrics by Cole Porter and a book by Paul Blake. The production plays from tonght, June 9 – August 19 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage and features soul-stirring Porter standards like "Easy to Love," "Just One of Those Things" and "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye." Guthrie Associate Artistic Director John Miller-Stephany (1776, God of Carnage and A Streetcar Named Desire) directs.

Stephanie Rothenberg portrays Princess Anne-a radiant young woman on a widely publicized European tour in Rome who sneaks away from her royal duties to explore the city. Rothenberg recently made her Broadway debut in the Tony-nominated revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, stepping into the role of Rosemary. Edward Watts plays Joe Bradley-a handsome, crafty American newspaper reporter who charms the princess. Watts most recently appeared in the long-running production of The Fantasticks in New York City.

Taking on the role of the Countess, Princess Anne's watchful lady- in-waiting, is Michelle Barber. Barber has appeared in numerous productions in the Twin Cities including Caroline, or Change at the Guthrie. Jim Stanek is Bradley's sidekick and photographer friend Irving Radovich. Stanek has appeared in a myriad of Broadway productions including Lestat and Little Women. Christina Baldwin plays Francesca Scabulo, the sultry Italian singer who dates Radovich. Baldwin was most recently seen on the Guthrie's stage as Buttercup in last summer's blockbuster musical H.M.S. Pinafore.

Roman Holiday also includes a talented 21-member ensemble featuring David Anders, Matt Baker, Liam Benzvi (University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program-class of 2012), Joseph Bigelow (BFA Actor Training Program-class of 2013), David Anthony Brinkley (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), David Colacci, Drew Franklin, Gabriela Garcia, Michael Gruber, Mary Ann Lamb, Ann Michels (A Streetcar Named Desire), Jared Oxborough, Aaron Lloyd Pomeroy, Laura Rudolph, Lainie Sakakura, John Skelley (Hay Fever), Alan Sorenson, Peter Thomson (Charley's Aunt), Angela Timberman (The Birds), Tony Vierling (Little House on the Prairie) and Alexandra Zorn.

Rounding out the cast are Lee Mark Nelson (The Burial at Thebes) and Christian Demaris, Marc Oka, Carolyn Doherty and Janet Hayes Trow in their Guthrie debuts.

In this irresistibly sweet romance, a radiant young princess is on a widely publicized European tour. When the demands of her official duties and rigorous schedule become too much to bear, she sneaks away to explore the Eternal City on her own. Disguising herself as a commoner and employing a fictitious name, she meets an American newspaper reporter who feigns ignorance of her true identity to land an exclusive story. But his plan crumbles as the couple tour one of the world's most romantic cities and find themselves falling in love.

The artistic team includes Alex Sanchez (Choreographer), Andrew Cooke (Musical Director/Conductor), Todd Rosenthal (Set Designer), Mathew J. LeFebvre (Costume Designer), Donald Holder (Lighting Designer), Scott W. Edwards (Sound Designer), Wendell K. Harrington (Projection Designer), Larry Blank and Doug Besterman (Orchestrations), Michael Horsley (Vocal Arrangements/Associate Musical Director), Samuel S. Davis (Dance Arrangements), Jo Holcomb (Dramaturg), D'Arcy Smith (Voice and Dialect Coach), Robin H. McFarquhar (Fight Director), Chris A. Code (Stage Manager), Jason Clusman and Michele Harms (Assistant Stage Managers), Brian Sostek (Assistant Director) and Lainie Sakakura (Associate Choreographer).

Roman Holiday begins preview performances tonight, June 9, opens June 15 and continues through August 19 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage at the Guthrie Theater. Single tickets start at $29 and are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE, 612.225.6244 (Group Sales) and online at www.guthrietheater.org.

The GUTHRIE THEATER (Joe Dowling, Director) was founded by Sir Tyrone Guthrie in 1963 and is an American center for theater performance, production, education and professional training. The Tony Award-winning Guthrie Theater is dedicated to producing the great works of dramatic literature, developing the work of contemporary playwrights and cultivating the next generation of theater artists. With annual attendance of nearly 500,000 people, the Guthrie Theater presents a mix of classic plays and contemporary work on its three stages. Under the artistic leadership of Joe Dowling since 1995, the Guthrie continues to set a national standard for excellence in theatrical production and performance. In 2006, the Guthrie opened its new home on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, the Guthrie Theater houses three state-of-the-art stages, production facilities, classrooms and dramatic public lobbies. www.guthrietheater.org