WSRep Announces Casting For EMMA! A POP MUSICAL At Raue Center

Williams Street Repertory (Founding Artistic Director, Richard Kuranda**), McHenry County's growing professional theater company, is excited to announce "Emma! A Pop Musical," is coming to the stage in downtown Crystal Lake this spring. This production is the first in a series of high profile theatre projects that will welcome talent from the region and around the world. This sparkling new musical based on Jane Austen's classic novel opens on March 29, 2019 and runs select dates through April 20, 2019 at Raue Center For The Arts.

"I am excited to be back at WSRep directing this fast paced, modern day musical version of Jane Austen's novel," says Director Robin M. Hughes** (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, Guthrie Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre). "'Emma' is so fun and full of iconic pop hits that everyone can relate to, and I can't wait to share this show with our WSRep audience."

Emma, a senior at Highbury Prep, is certain she knows what's best for her classmates' love lives and is determined to find the perfect boyfriend for shy sophomore Harriet by the end of the school year. But will Emma's relentless matchmaking get in the way of finding her own happiness?

Based on Jane Austen's classic novel, this sparkling new musical features the hit songs of legendary girl groups and iconic female singers from The Supremes to Katy Perry! Girl power has never sounded so good.

"This is the perfect spring soundtrack, and if you love a good John Hughes film, imagine it set to your favorite pop hits, like Whitney Houston's 'How Will I Know?,' Pat Benatar's 'Heartbreaker,' Katy Perry's 'Roar,' and Cyndi Lauper's 'Girls Just Want To Have Fun," says Hughes. "That's 'Emma'!"

WSRep's production of "Emma! A Pop Musical" features Jordan Nazos as Emma Woodhouse. Nazos' recent credits include the international premiere of "The Breath of Stars" and "Seussical the Musical" (Open Door Theatre Company). Sara Haverty, whose most recent credits include "A Chorus Line" (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre) and "The Polar Express Train Ride," appears as Harriet Smith. The cast also features Ben Mulgrew* as Jeff Knightley. Mulgrew's recent credits include the national tour of "The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical" and "Yours, Anne" (Half Moon Theatre).

The cast also features Michael Metcalf as Frankie Churchill. Metcalf recently appeared in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (Brightside Theatre) and "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" (Steel Beam Theatre). Madison Boan, whose most recent credits include "The Deckchairs" and "Yankee Doodles" (The Conspirators), appears as Jane Fairfax.

WSRep's "Emma! A Pop Musical" also features Levi Skoog as Philip Elton. Skoog recently appeared in "Hairspray" (Brightside Theatre) and "Shrek The Musical" (Windy City Performs). Alexander Watson, whose most recent credits include "The Miracle" (Redd Opera Co.) and "Guys and Dolls" (Festival 56), as Martin. Alaina Wis, who previously worked with WSRep in "Tenderly," appears as Ashley.

The production also features Marisa Boynton, who recently appeared in "Company" (Union Theatre) and "Big Fish," (Jedlicka Performing Arts Center) as Miss Bates. Justice Good, whose previous credits with WSRep include "Ring of Fire" and the world premiere of "Bomber's Moon," appears as Mr. Weston. The cast also includes Amanda Zgonina as Miss Taylor. Her recent credits include "A Chorus Line" (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre) and "Shrek The Musical" (Surging Films & Theatrics).

"Emma! A Pop Musical" also features Madelyne Forrester, Chamaya Moody and Korinne Yonan as members of the Welcoming Committee. Forrester and Moody will also appear in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre) this spring and Yonan's most recent credits include "Spring Awakening" (Theatre Nebula) and "Little Shop of Horrors" (Deerfield Family Theatre).

The ensemble features Becca Duff, who recently appeared in "LezSing Cabaret" (Pride Films and Plays) and "39 Steps" (Brightside Theatre); Logan Friese, whose recent credits include "Hairspray" (Brightside Theatre) and "Legally Blonde" (Middleton Players); Jon Parker Jackson, whose most recent credits include "Bare" (Refuge Theatre Project) and "Barney the Elf" (The Other Theatre Co.); and Emma Widlowski, who recently appeared in "Kiss Me, Kate" (Big Noise Theatre) and "Hairspray" (Brightside Theatre).

The ensemble also features Reese Clostermery, who recently appeared in "Birds of a Feather" (Greenhouse Theater Center) and "Sweeney Todd" (North Central College). Liam Bell, whose recent credits include "Beauty and the Beast" and "Spamalot" (Woodstock Opera House), also appears in the ensemble, along with Mya Berg, who previously appeared in WSRep's production of "Gypsy".

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