Cast Announced for Chicago Premiere of A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME

Broadway In Chicago and the producers of A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME are delighted to announce the full casting for A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME, a slice-of-life original musical comedy that makes its Chicago debut at Broadway In Chicago's Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut) for a limited six-week engagement March 20 through April 29, 2018.

Broadway's Linedy Genao (On Your Feet! Original Broadway Cast) will play the role of Agnes Crookshank, Marissa Rosen (Off-Broadway's The Marvelous Wonderettes) will play Dottie O'Farrell, Libby Servais (Lysistrata Jones Original Broadway Cast, National Tours: Wicked, Chicago, Legally Blonde) will play Connie Olsen and Cortney Wolfson(Broadway: The Addams Family, Les Miserables) will play Joan Smith. Chicago native Madison Kauffman will understudy all four roles.

Music Director and Chicagoan Kara Kesselring also joins A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME after working with the Broadway smash hit Jersey Boys in Chicago and on the second national tour. At the helm of the production is Director & Choreographer Lorin Latarro whose previous credits include choreographing the Broadway and National Tour of Waitress, the Broadway transfer of Donmar Warehouses's Les Liaisons Dangereuses with Janet McTeer and Liev Schreiber, Waiting for Godot with Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart and Lin-Manuel Miranda's This American Life.

THE 1950s: It's the beginning of rock n' roll, the racial barrier begins to crack, the Korean War is over, and husbands are returning home. Ronald Reagan is a model for Lifebuoy Soap and Rock Hudson is "the World's Most Eligible Bachelor."

And women are getting antsy.

Meet Joan, Connie, Dottie, and Agnes. Four best friends living in Winnetka, IL. They meet every Wednesday for a Betty Crocker cooking contest, imagining how the prizes might change their lives. Their weekly gathering isn't just about cooking, but a time to confide secrets and share frustrations.

Usually, it's LIFE Magazine that's read cover to cover in between mixing, sifting, and chopping. However, a different kind of reading material arrives. Shocked but inspired by the Kinsey report, their lives take an interesting turn.

A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME is a fabulously fun romp tracing the changing lives of these four Winnetka women from the 1950s to the sexual revolution of the 1960s. This homage to prior generations of women who blazed new trails features a rollicking original score of '50s and '60s music with great harmonies, all backed by an all-female rock n' roll band.

Written by Debra Barsha and Hollye Levin, A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME is a slice-of-life original musical comedy following four friends whose Betty Crocker cooking club becomes a turning point in their lives.

CAST/CREATIVE BIOGRAPHIES

Linedy Genao (Agnes Crookshank) is thrilled to be back onstage in Chicago, where she made her professional debut originating the role of Rachel (Gloria u/s) in ON YOUR FEET! at the Oriental Theatre. BROADWAY: ON YOUR FEET! (Original Broadway Cast). REGIONAL:In the Heights (Olney Theatre Center, Vanessa). AWARDS: Broadway World Regional Awards Winner (2017); Helen Hayes nominee (2018); Illustrious Award nominee (2017); Astaire Award nominee (2016). Con amor a mi familia, para siempre. Twitter/Instagram: @linedygenao

Marissa Rosen (Dottie O'Farrell) is a born & raised New Yorker making her Chicago debut! Most recently seen in the Off-Broadway production of The Marvelous Wonderettes & touring Europe with Priscilla Queen of the Desert. She has toured regionally & internationally with some of her favorite credits including Jawbreaker, Grease, Legally Blonde, Bare, Urinetown & Into the Woods. Lots of love to Bloc, The Rosenettes & my ridiculously supportive family & friends. For my grandpa...forever in the front row... www.marissarosen.com @themarissarosen

Libby Servais (Connie Olsen) was recently seen floating in a bubble as Glinda the Good in Wicked on Broadway. She was also in the original Broadway cast of Lysistrata Jones. National Tour/Regional favs: Wicked, Chicago (Roxie), Legally Blonde (Elle Woods), How To Succeed (Rosemary). Graduate of Baldwin Wallace Music Conservatory. Love and gratitude to this magical cast and team, her family, Stephan, teachers, CGF and beautiful dog child, Pearl! www.LibbyServais.com / @LibbyServais

Cortney Wolfson (Joan Smith) Broadway: Kinky Boots (Nicola), The Addams Family and Les Misérables. Tours: The Addams Family (Wednesday) and Legally Blonde (Serena, Brooke Wyndham). Other Stage Favorites: Romy in the World Premiere of Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (5th Avenue Theatre), Kinky Boots (NYC Readings), Pool Boy (Barrington Stage) and The MUNY. Film/TV: Are You Joking? and The Battery's Down. Proud Indiana native and graduate of The University of Michigan, BFA. C+C. Twitter/Instagram: @cortneywolfson

Madison Kauffman (Understudy) is over the moon to be part of the Taste of Things to Come family! NYC Credits: Numbers Nerds (NYMF); Chicago Credits: Disney's The Little Mermaid (Paramount Theatre), Numbers Nerds (CMTF/CPA Theatricals), and Heathers the Musical (Kokandy Productions). BFA Musical Theatre (Millikin University). Madison would like to thank Lorin and the Taste family for this wonderful opportunity as well as her family and besties for their endless love and support as she conquers her dreams! Thank you for supporting live theatre!

KARA KESSELRING (Music Director) has been a pianist, vocalist, and educator on the Chicago music scene for two decades. Kara is proud to have been the keyboardist and vocalist in the Broadway smash hit Jersey Boys in Chicago and on the 2nd Broadway National Tour. She's performed and arranged for the retro group Under The Streetlamp. Kara is a bandleader in one of Chicago's top society dance bands, Standing Room Only Orchestra. In addition to freelance pop & jazz work on the vibrant Chicago music scene, Kara is a singer/songwriter with her original band, Sugarcreek Road, Kara's album "Hurry Up & Relax" is on itunes. Special thanks to Patrick, Iris, and their dog Crazy Daisy!

Lorin Latarro (Director & Choreographer) choreographed Broadway and National Tour of Waitress, the Broadway transfer of Donmar Warehouses's Les Liaisons Dangereuses with Janet McTeer and Liev Schreiber, Waiting for Godot with Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, Lin-Manuel Miranda's This American Life: 21 Chump Street at Brooklyn Academy Of Music, and is Associate Choreographer of Curious Incident Of the Dog in the Night-Time and American Idiot. Lorin is a graduate and adjunct professor at The Juilliard School. Upcoming choreography: Merrily We Roll Along at Roundabout, Heart of Rock and Roll at Old Globe, and a world premiere La Traviata at The Met. www.lorinlatarro.com

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut) are on sale now and range from $30-$75 with a select number of premium seats available. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000 and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

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