Kennedy, Keller, Etc. Round Out 'Lone Star Love' Bway Cast

Lone Star Love, a new musical comedy starring Academy Award-nominee Randy Quaid in his Broadway debut as Colonel John Falstaff, has announced full casting as it begins rehearsals this week for its Seattle engagement at The 5th Avenue Theatre. The show will open on Broadway on Monday, December 3rd at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street, East of Broadway).  Previews will begin Thursday, November 1st.

As previously announced, Tony Award-nominee Robert Cuccioli and three-time Tony Award nominee Dee Hoty will star as Frank Ford and Margaret Anne Page respectively. They are joined by Lauren Kennedy (Spamalot, Side Show) as Agnes Ford, Clarke Thorell (Hairspray) as Fenton, Ramona Keller (Brooklyn) as Miss Quickly, Drew McVety (Spamalot) as Doctor Caius, Dan Sharkey (The Music Man) as George Page, Kara Lindsay as MissAnne Page, Nick Sullivan (Footloose) as Sheriff Bob Shallow and BranDon Williams as Abraham Slender.

The ensemble includes, Stacey Harris, Amanda Lea LaVergne, Ryan Murray, Monica Patton, Miguel A. Romero, Chad Seib, Jeremy Benton, Anne Horak, Kristie Dale Sanders, and Tony Lawson.

"Red Clay Ramblers Chris Frank and Jack Herrick head up the on-stage band, which also includes Sam Bardfeld, Gary Bristol, Shannon Ford and Emily Mikesell.  The Red Clay Ramblers won a special 1999 Tony Award for Fool Moon, for which Frank Rich in The New York Times described them as "a musical group whose eclectic repertory is that of a fantasy roadhouse band from a vanished rural America.  Bluegrass, New Orleans, classical folk and gospel sounds emerge in nutty profusion from these talented instrumentalists and singers, whose music making is perfection."

Lone Star Love marks the Broadway debut of Golden Globe Award-winning actor Randy Quaid. He has starred in numerous films including The Last Picture Show, Midnight Express, The Last Detail, and the upcoming Real Time, Gary the Tennis Coach and the Milos Forman-directed Goya's Ghost, in which he undertakes the role of King Carlos IV of Spain. On television, Quaid received the highest praise through awards and reviews for his portrayals of the psychologically complex Lyndon Baines Johnson and the larger-than-life Colonel Tom Parker.  His previous stage credits include Shakespeare in the Park's The Golem and Sam Shepard's True West and God of Hell, in which he originated the starring role.

The Broadway production will follow a limited engagement at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle from September 8th – 30th. For more information, visit www.5thavenue.org.

Lone Star Love is "inspired by Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor transplanted to the Wild West shortly after the Civil War." Directed and choreographed by Randy Skinner, the musical is conceived by John L. Haber, with a book by Robert Horn and Haber and a foot-stomping score by Red Clay Rambler Jack Herrick.  John Rando is on board as Creative Supervisor for the production.

The show will be produced on Broadway by Avenue A Productions, Roger Berlind, Robert Boyett Theatricals, Edmund and Eleanor Burke, Rusty and Susan Carter, Jon and Jeanne Cutler, Daisy Theatricals, and Michael Speyer/Bernard Abrams.  Executive Producer is Mary Ann Anderson, and Linda Wright and the late Frederic B. Vogel are Associate Producers.  Roger Gindi is General Manager.

The musical's creative team includes Derek McLane (sets), Jane Greenwood (costumes), Ken Billington & Paul Miller (lighting) and Tom Morse (sound).  Barry Moss is Casting Director, Jack Herrick is Musical Director and Ken Lundie is Associate Musical Director.

An earlier version of Lone Star Love presented by Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Producing Director, Rosetta LeNoire, Founder) played a highly successful limited engagement Off-Broadway as part of the 2004-05 season under Michael Bogdanov's direction.

The musical's Broadway playing schedule will be Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm, Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm, and Sunday at 3pm.  Tickets are available beginning Sunday, September 23rd  through Telecharge.com online or by phone at (212) 239-6200. Tickets prices range from $36.50 to $111.50.

Photo - Lauren Kennedy