Jenna Leigh Green, who is most known for starring as everybody's favorite mean girl Libby Chessler on the hit sitcom "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch", as well as her stage performances in WICKED and BARE, will play the female lead role of Annie Caden in the upcoming motion picture YES, based on Tim Realbuto's play.
Ms. Green will star opposite the previously announced Nolan Gould ("MODERN FAMILY") and Tim Realbuto, who will reprise his role from the Off-Broadway production. Green was originally cast as Wendy, the main character's mother in flashbacks, but was pushed up to the role of his sister Annie when another actor's schedule became impossible to film around.
In a statement, Realbuto said "I'm absolutely thrilled! I actually wrote the role of my sister Annie specifically for Jenna. I believe things work out exactly the way they should in life, and this is a prime example."
Jeanine Bartel, who is known for playing Valerie Holt on NBC's "CHICAGO P.D.", will now play the role of Wendy Nawakowski. Also joining the cast is Michael Nigro, who starred as Fredrich von Trapp opposite Carrie Underwood in "THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE!" on NBC. Mr. Nigro will play the role of George Saiger, a previous student of Patrick, the main character, and the center of a tabloid scandal.
Rounding out most of the principal cast is Gabi Faye (IMMORTAL) and Erin Leddy (GHOSTLIGHT THE MUSICAL) as Patrick's students Samantha and Meadow, respectively. The rest of the cast will be announced within the week.
Realbuto's two-person play has been expanded to include several new characters and locations for the big screen (he also penned the screenplay).
YES tells the story of alcoholic, pill-popping, washed up child-star Patrick Nolan (Realbuto), who is begrudgingly dragged from his nearly uninhabitable apartment by his sister Annie (Green) to see his niece in a high school production of 'Romeo and Juliet.' Starring as Romeo is 17-year-old Jeremiah (Gould), who immediately catches Patrick's eye. Patrick, who was involved in a scandal involving a minor years earlier (which ruined his career and his life), decides to mentor Jeremiah. What begins as an innocent acting lesson turns into something much more dangerous, and a love affair of two surprisingly common minds. The destruction, or salvation, of the two main characters will last a lifetime.
Rob Margolies (SHE WANTS ME; LIFELINES) will direct and produce the film, which will be released through his company Different Duck Films. Filming begins on June 2nd throughout New York City and Los Angeles. No release date has yet been set.
Although it has not yet been officially decided by the MPAA, YES will most likely be rated 'R' due to strong language, drug and alcohol use, mild sexual situations, and violence.
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