Stephen Wallem Replaces Alexander Gemignani in SHREK at the MUNY

The Muny announced two principal casting changes for the 2013 season. Stephen Wallem will play the title role in Shrek, and Dee Hoty will play the Reverend Mother Mary Regina in Nunsense Muny Style!

Stephen Wallem will join Julia Murney who plays Princess Fiona, Rob McClure as Lord Farquaad, Michael James Scott as Donkey, and Natalie Venetia Belcon as Dragon. This will be director John Tartaglia's Muny directorial debut, after his critically-acclaimed performance as the Genie in last year's production of Disney's Aladdin.

Dee Hoty will join Phyllis Smith (Sister Julia, Child of God), from NBC's The Office, and Tari Kelly as Sister Mary Amnesia, Beth Leavel as Sister Robert Anne, Sarah Meahl as Sister Mary Leo, and Terri White as Sister Mary Hubert. Special guest stars include Ken Page as Sister Mary Wilhelm and Lara Teeter as Father Virgil.

Stephen Wallem (Shrek) is a SAG Award-nominated actor best known at Thor on the Emmy-winning Showtime series Nurse Jackie, now in its fifth season. He began his career as a stage actor and After Dark Award-winning cabaret singer in Chicago. New York credits include Hazel in the Encores! production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Pipe Dream at New York City Center and teaming with Edie Falco for a sold-out run of the original cabaret The Other Steve and Edie. National tours include Forever Plaid, Into the Woods, and Scrooge starring Richard Chamberlin. He performed in nearly 2,500 performances as both Jinx and Sparky in various companies of Forever Plaid including Chicago, Las Vegas, Denver, and the first national tour. He performed at the Ravinia Festival with Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald and Michael Cerveris in A Little Night Music, Passion, and Sunday in the Park with George. He will be making his professional opera debut this September in Anna Nicole for New York City Opera.

Dee Hoty (Reverend Mother Mary Regina) returns to The Muny after her 2010 appearance in Footloose, and her 2005 performance in the title role in Mame. She got her start in theatre at Cleveland Play House. She has since earned three Tony Award nominations for starring roles in Footloose, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public, and The Will Rogers Follies. She starred on Broadway and in eight major U.S. cities as Donna in Mamma Mia! Additional Broadway credits include Bye Bye Birdie at Roundabout Theatre Company, City of Angels (Outer Critics Circle nomination), Me and My Girl, Big River, The Five O'Clock Girl and Shakespeare's Cabaret. Other highlights include playing Diana Vreeland in Full Gallop, tours of 9 to 5 as Violet, Barnum, Doctor Doolittle, Phyllis in Follies (Paper Mill, cast recording), and Kay Thompson in Stormy Weather (Barrymore Award, L.A. Ovation Award nomination). Film and television includes Smash, Elementary, Law & Order(s), the soaps, commercials, voiceovers, recordings and cabaret work. Ms. Hoty is a graduate of Otterbein College with an honorary doctorate from the same.

To purchase season tickets by phone, call (314) 361-1900, extension 550. Single tickets are available at The Muny Box Office in Forest Park, online or by calling (314) 534-1111. The Muny Box Office is now open from 9 am to 9 pm, 7 days a week.

Photo Credit: Monica Simoes