Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma today announced casting and production teams for its annual summer shows, featuring new and returning national talent, including
Steve Blanchard,
George Dvorsky,
Dee Hoty,
Victoria Huston-Elem,
Meredith Inglesby,
Amanda Lea LaVergne,
Danny Rothman,
Emily Skinner,
Chuck Wagner, and more. All four productions- LES MISERABLES, DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID, MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT, and A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC - will perform at the Civic Center Music Hall in Oklahoma City.
"We are delighted to have an incredibly talented group joining us this summer," said
Michael Baron, Lyric's artistic director. "Their combined efforts will produce four extraordinary productions for our Oklahoma audiences. I'm particularly thrilled about our new productions of LES MISERABLES, which will include over 100 voices, and
Stephen Sondheim's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, starring Tony Award nominee
Dee Hoty and
George Dvorsky."
LES MISERABLES, heralded as one of the greatest musicals of all time, is Lyric's first production at the Civic Center this summer.
Chuck Wagner, who was a member of LES MISERABLES' Broadway cast,
Victoria Huston-Elem, most recently seen in the first national tour of THE ADDAMS FAMILY, and
Danny Rothman, recently seen in
Goodspeed Musicals' production of AMAZING GRACE, join the cast as Jean Valjean, Fantine, and Javert, respectively. Lyric favorites
Julie Johnson and Tommy Cunningham will also appear in the show as the scheming innkeepers, the Thenardiers. This classic score will be sung by over 100 voices and a full orchestra, giving it the richness it deserves.
Michael Baron is slated to direct the musical, which runs June 24 through 28.
Broadway's "under the sea" spectacular musical, DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID, will follow. The cast is led by New York-based actresses
Emily Skinner and
Amanda Lea LaVergne. Skinner, who is slated to play Ursula, has previously been seen on Lyric's stage in SWEENEY TODD. She was nominated for a Tony Award for SIDE SHOW, and has most recently been seen on Broadway in BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL. LaVerge, who will play Ariel, has been seen on Broadway in ANNIE and GREASE. DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID runs July 8 through 12, and will be directed by Lyn Cramer and choreographed by Brian J Marcum.
Broadway veterans
Steve Blanchard and
Meredith Inglesby join Lyric for the hysterical MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT, playing July 22 through 26. Blanchard, who has previously been seen on Lyric's stages in TARZAN and CALL ME MADAM, will play the gallant King Arthur.
Meredith Inglesby has graced the Broadway stage in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID, and is cast as the voluptuous Lady of the Lake.
Matthew Alvin Brown and
Monte Riegel Wheeler, who worked on Lyric's recent production of Richard O'Brien's THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, bring their outrageous comedic talents to the show as Sir Robin and Sir Lancelot. Lyric's associate artistic director, Ashley Wells, directs and
Brian Barry choreographs.
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, featuring the classic song "Send in the Clowns", runs August 5 through 9.
Dee Hoty, a Tony Award nominee for her work in FOOTLOOSE and THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES, joins the cast as the free-spirited actress Desiree Armfeldt. Playing opposite Hoty will be
George Dvorsky as Fredrick Egerman. Dvorsky was recently seen in the Oklahoma City Philharmonic's THE CHRISTMAS SHOW, and on Broadway in THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL.
Emily Skinner joins the cast as Charlotte Malcolm, along with local favorites Mateja Govich, Lexi Windsor, and
Charlotte Franklin.
David Andrews Rogers, who has worked with Lyric for over 20 years, will music direct.
Michael Baron will direct and
Jeremy Benton will choreograph.
Lyric has assembled an excellent production team for these four productions, which includes scenic designs by Michael Raiford for LES MISERABLES and
Adam Koch for A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, lighting design by Helena Kuukka, sound design by
Toby Algya, costume design by Jeffrey Meek, and properties design by Courtney Strong.
Edward G. Robinson,
Michael Lavine, and
Zak Sandler will music direct LES MISERABLES, DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID, and MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT, respectively.
Tickets to all of Lyric's 2014 shows are now on sale. Purchase tickets by visiting Lyric's box office at 1727 NW 16th Street, calling (405) 524-9312 or visiting
LyricTheatreOKC.com.
About Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma: Founded in 1963, Lyric is Oklahoma's leading professional theatre company. For over 50 years, Lyric has produced classic and contemporary musicals and plays featuring both nationally known Broadway stars and local favorites. Lyric produces four large-scale, fully orchestrated musicals at the Civic Center Music Hall each summer, as well as four smaller works at the Plaza Theatre during the spring, fall and winter. Lyric's Thelma Gaylord Academy is a professional training ground for students ages 5-18 offering classes in all aspects of musical theatre. Academy students have the opportunity to perform in two full-scale productions each year on the Plaza Theatre stage.
Pictured: Hallie Hunt as Young Cosette, from LES MISERABLES. Photo by KO Rinearson.
