Welcome to The Hummingbird! Meet the Full Cast of AIRLINE HIGHWAY, Opening Tonight on Broadway

Manhattan Theatre Club's presentation of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of Airline Highway, the new play by Pulitzer Prize finalist Lisa D'Amour (Detroit), directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Casa Valentina, Take Me Out), opens tonight, April 23 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). Scroll down to learn more about the company and watch interviews with the cast!

The Broadway cast of Airline Highway features Carolyn Braver (Steppenwolf's Leveling Up, "Chicago Fire"), Tony Award nominee and Steppenwolf ensemble member K. Todd Freeman (Steppenwolf's The Song of Jacob Zulu, Fetch Clay/Make Man), Scott Jaeck (Steppenwolf's August: Osage County, The Irish Curse), Ken Marks (Father Comes Home from the Wars), Caroline Neff (Older Children, Steppenwolf's The Way West), Tim Edward Rhoze (Steppenwolf's The Crucible and Wendell Green), Judith Roberts (Present Laughter, "Orange Is The New Black"), Joe Tippett (Ashville, Ghost Brothers of Darkland County), and Tony Award winner Julie White (The Little Dog Laughed, From Up Here).

Completing the 16-person ensemble are Todd d'Amour, Shannon Eagen, Venida Evans, Joe Forbrich, Leslie Hendrix, Sekou Laidlow, and Toni Martin.

In the parking lot of The Hummingbird, a once-glamorous motel on New Orleans' infamous Airline Highway, a group of friends gather. A rag-tag collection of strippers, hustlers and philosophers have come together to celebrate the life of Miss Ruby, an iconic burlesque performer who has requested a funeral before she dies. The party rages through the night as old friends resurface to pay their respects.

CAROLYN BRAVER
(Zoe)

Carolyn Braver is thrilled to make her Broadway and New York debut. Chicago theatre: Airline Highway, Leveling Up (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); The Knowledge (Steep Theatre Company); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Drury Lane); Princes of Waco (Signal Ensemble). Film: The View From Tall. TV: "Chicago Fire." This is for her parents and brother.

K. TODD FREEMAN
(Sissy Na Na)

Steppenwolf Company member since 1993. At Steppenwolf: The Brother/Sister Plays, The Tempest, Topdog/Underdog, A Clockwork Orange, ...Cuckoo's Nest (Broadway), The Song of Jacob Zulu (Broadway, Tony nomination). Other Broadway: Wicked. Off-Broadway: Fetch Clay/Make Man (NYTW, Obie Award); Spunk, The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide... (Public Theater); Uncle Tom's Cabin (Drama Dept.). Regional: Angels in America, Miss Evers' Boys (Mark Taper Forum). Television and film: "Elementary," "The Slap," "Believe," "A Gifted Man," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "NYPD Blue," "A Different World," Anesthesia (dir. Tim Blake Nelson), The Dark Knight, The Cider House Rules and Grosse Pointe Blank.

SCOTT JAECK
(Wayne)

His MTC debut, after creating the role at Steppenwolf. Broadway: August: Osage County and The Night of the Iguana at Roundabout Theatre. Off-Broadway: The Irish Curse, SoHo Playhouse. Regional theatres: Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre Co., Goodman Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Co., Cleveland Play House, Northlight Theatre, Writers Theatre, Alliance Theatre, Indianapolis Repertory, Pasadena Playhouse, Milwaukee Repertory. He also performed as part of the Complete Works Festival at the RSC, in Stratford-Upon- Avon, in Henry IV, Parts I and II. Television credits: "Chicago Fire," "Elementary," "Person of Interest," "Boardwalk Empire," "Charmed," "ER," "Seinfeld," "Star Trek: Voyager" and "TNG" and "Santa Barbara."

KEN MARKS
(Francis)

South Side Chicago born, and delighted to be in amongst Steppenwolf, Lisa and Joe. Thirty years working on Broadway and off; favorites include Dancing at Lughnasa, Bethany by Laura Marks, Our Town and Orson's Shadow with Cromer, Stuff Happens with Dan Sullivan, Spring Awakening, Wilbur in Hairspray, years as Uncle Ben in Spider-Man and recently Suzan-Lori Parks' glorious Father Comes Home From The Wars at the Public Theater with Jo Bonney. Education: Northwestern and Yale. Living in Brooklyn with Laura and their two daughters, Eleanor and Clarissa.

CAROLINE NEFF
Krista

Caroline Neff makes her Broadway and Manhattan Theatre Club debut with Airline Highway. Select Chicago credits: The Way West, The Three Sisters (Steppenwolf Theatre); The Knowledge, A Brief History of Helen of Troy (Jeff Award, Best Actress) and Harper Regan (Steep Theatre); The Downpour (Route 66); Port (Griffin Theatre); 4000 Miles (Northlight); Moonshiner (Jackalope). Film/television credits: "Chicago Fire," "Chicago PD," Open Tables, Older Children. She is a proud company member of Steep Theatre in Chicago and holds her BA from Columbia College Chicago.

TIM EDWARD RHOZE
(Terry)

Tim Edward Rhoze is the producing artistic director of the Fleetwood- Jourdain Theatre in Evanston, Illinois. FJT is supported by the City of Evanston and its residents. His regional theatre directing credits include Having Our Say, Home, Yellowman, Intimate Apparel, Fences, The Piano Lesson, Ain't Misbehavin', K2 and The Glass Menagerieamong others. Tim has performed in more than 40 productions including The Crucible and the world premiere of Airline Highway at Steppenwolf; Waiting forGodot, Ma Rainey and others at the Goodman Theatre. For my beautiful ballerina daughter Kara, my heart and soul -- I love you!

JUDITH ROBERTS
(Miss Ruby)

Judith Roberts is thrilled to be returning to Airline Highway directly from Steppenwolf. TV/film: "Orange Is the New Black" (SAG Award), Fred Won't Move Out, Eraserhead, "The Heart, She Holler," "New Amsterdam,"Dead Silence, Minnie and Moskowitz, The Nanny Diaries, Choke, Stardust Memories, "Law & Order," The Aspern Papers. New York and regional: Richard III, Medea, Present Laughter, Death Tax, Coriolanus, The Threepenny Opera, A Streetcar Named Desire, Hamlet, Happy End.

JOE TIPPETT
(Bait Boy)

New York theatre credits include Ghost Brothers of Darkland County (AEG tour); Ashville (Rattlestick Playwrights Theater); Happy Birthday (Actors Company Theatre); A Thick Description of Harry Smith, Unanswered We Ride, Fish Eye, Seven Minutes in Heaven and The Young Left (Cherry Lane Theatre). His regional and international theatre credits include Familiar (world premiere, Yale Repertory Theatre); The May Queen (Chautauqua Theater Company); Bull Durham (world premiere, Alliance Theatre); Unanswered We Ride (Edinburgh); Picnic (Triad Stage); Three Sisters, The Corn Is Green and Romeo and Juliet (Williamstown Theatre Festival). His film and television credits include License Plates and "Boardwalk Empire."

JULIE WHITE
(Tanya)

Broadway: The Little Dog Laughed (Tony and Obie Awards, Best Actress; Drama Desk, OCC, Lortel, Drama League noms.), Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, The Heidi Chronicles. Off-Broadway includes Twelfth Night, The Understudy, From Up Here (MTC), Fiction, Bad Dates. TV includes "Nurse Jackie," "Alpha House," "Go On," "Grace Under Fire," "Six Feet Under," Film includes Lincoln; Breaking Upwards; My Idiot Brother; Life Partners; Hello I Must Be Going; The Astronaut Farmer; Michael Clayton; The Nanny Diaries and Transformers 1, 2 and 3.

TODD D'AMOUR
(Ensemble; u/s Bait Boy)

Regional: Detroit (Theaterworks, dir. Shana Gold), Venus in Fur (Southern Rep, Geva, dir. Aimee Hayes), Numb (Goat in the Road, performer/co-creator), The Lily's Revenge (Southern Rep), A Streetcar Named Desire (Seaside Music Theater). New York: The Verge (PL 115, Ontological), Ether Steeds (Fringe, Best Ensemble), Red Tide Blooming (Taylor Mac, PS122), Stanley 2006 (HERE Arts Center, co-creator with Lisa D'Amour). Film: Wendell and the Lemon (2015 Slamdance premiere, dir. Lawrence Krauser), The Heart Wants... (dir. Paavo Hanninen, NOLA Film Fest). Thank you Alita, Lisa and family, Joe and New Orleans!!

SHANNON EAGEN
(Ensemble; u/s Zoe)

Thrilled to be making her Broadway debut! Film/TV: "Low Winter Sun," Whip It, Prayers for Bobby. Proud graduate, University of Michigan, BFA theatre performance. Go Blue! Thanks to loving parents and siblings, Chad, wonderful friends, CLA Management and MTC for this incredible opportunity.

VENIDA EVANS
(Ensemble; u/s Miss Ruby)

Venida Evans is overjoyed to be working with this creative team. Theatre: To Kill a Mockingbird (Barrington Stage), The Amen Corner (Broadway), The Wiz (national tour), Stepping Out (national tour). Best known for portraying Mrs. Brooks on HBO'S "Treme," other TV and film appearances include "Blue Bloods," "Nurse Jackie," "Alpha House," "Boardwalk Empire," "Guiding Light," Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I Origins, Home, A Strange Brand of Happy, The Adjustment Bureau, Transamerica.

JOE FORBRICH
(Ensemble; u/s Francis, Wayne)

Broadway: Lucky Guy. Shakespeare in the Park: Measure for Measure, All's Well... The Public: Stuff Happens. The Duke on 42nd St.: Rose Rage. The Barrow Group: Who You See Here. Second Stage: A Soldier's Play. Regional: Steppenwolf: Morningstar, Wendall Greene. The Goodman: Blue Surge. Recurring on "Law & Order," "Blue Bloods" and "30 Rock"; guest star on many others. Playwright: The Whaleship Essex.

LESLIE HENDRIX
(Ensemble; u/s Tanya)

Broadway: Hollywood Arms, The Music Man, Indiscretions, A Streetcar Named Desire. Off-Broadway: Susan and God (Mint), 7th Monarch (Acorn), The Cider House Rules (Atlantic), The Cover of Life (American Place), The Body Politic (59E59). TV/film: Nineteen years as Medical Examiner Rodgers on "Law & Order" and all its spinoffs, "Community," "The Good Wife," "The Mysteries of Laura," "Blue Bloods," "Elementary," Arthur, Made for Each Other, NotInterested, Stain Removal.

SEKOU LAIDLOW
(Ensemble; u/s Sissy Na Na, Terry)

Broadway debut. Theatre: Father Comes Home From theWars (American Repertory Theater), A Civil War Christmas (Baltimore Center Stage), The Mountaintop (Philadelphia Theatre Co.), Of Mice and Men (Pioneer Theatre Co.). Film: The Mend, Stereotypically You, Pop Foul. TV: "Person of Interest," "The Carrie Diaries," "Smash," "The Wire," "Law & Order" and the web series "What's Your Emergency." He is a graduate of the Juilliard School's Drama Division and thanks God for this opportunity.

TONI MARTIN
(Ensemble; u/s Krista)

Toni Martin of Milwaukee, WI, moved to Chicago, IL after completing her artistic internship at the Milwaukee Rep. Chicago credits include A Raisin in the Sun (TimeLine Theatre), for which she won the Black Theatre Alliance Award for Best Supporting Actress; The MLK Project (Writers Theatre); Hair (Barn Theatre, Augusta, MI); and most recently Airline Highway (Steppenwolf Theatre). Television credit includes "Chicago Fire." Toni is thrilled to make her MTC debut!