CO Natives Angela Reed and Mat Hostetler Among WAR HORSE Tour Cast at Buell Theatre, Now thru 1/20

Producers Bob Boyett and The National Theatre of Great Britain have announced full casting for the upcoming Denver engagement of the 2011 Tony Award-winning Best Play, War Horse. The company, comprised of more than 30 performers, includes Andrew Veenstra as Albert Narracott, Brian Keane as Arthur Narracott, Michael Wyatt Cox as Billy Narracott, Todd Cerveris as Ted Narracott, Colorado native Angela Reed as Rose Narracott, Jason Loughlin as Lieutenant James Nicholls, Jason Alan Carvell as Private Schnabel and Colorado native Mat Hostetler as Veterinary Officer Martin. War Horse plays the Buell Theatre tonight, January 8-20. Tickets are on sale now at denvercenter.org or by calling 303.893.4100.

Also featured in the cast are Michael Stewart Allen, Danny Beiruti, Brooks Brantly, Laurabeth Breya, Brian Robert Burns, Grayson DeJesus, Catherine Gowl, Aaron Haskell, Mike Heslin, Jon Hoche, Chad Jennings, Nathan Koci, Jessica Krueger, Nick LaMedica, Rob Laqui, Megan Loomis, Christopher Mai, Gregory Manley, Andrew May, John Milosich, Alex Morf, Patrick Osteen, Jon Riddleberger, Lavita Shaurice, Derek Stratton and Danny Yoerges.

Angela Reed, playing Rose Narracott, grew up in Douglas County graduating from Ponderosa High School. Angela studied theater and psychology at the University of Colorado. Her Denver Center Theatre Company credits include: The Whale, After Ashley and Map of Heaven. Angela performed on Broadway in The Country Girl, Rock 'n' Roll and The Rainmaker; in the national tour of Spring Awakening and in Off-Broadway productions with Mint Theater, Keen Company and Classic Stage Company. Aside from the Denver Center, other regional work includes: Old Globe, ART, Baltimore Center Stage, Pasadena Playhouse, City Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville, St. Louis Rep., Cleveland Play House, among others. Angela has appeared on the "Law & Order" franchise, "Blue Bloods" and "Third Watch." She holds an MFA from The University California, San Diego.

Mat Hostetler, playing Veterinary Officer Martin, makes his national touring debut in War Horse. Mat grew up in Glenwood Springs and received his MFA from The National Theatre Conservatory, NTC, in Denver. Audiences remember Mat from The Denver Center Theatre Company's productions of The Merry Wives of Windsor and Richard III as well as Colorado Shakespeare Festival's Three Musketeers, Macbeth and Hamlet. His New York credits include: American Jornalero (Working Theatre), Richard II (Sonnet Rep), with TV/ Film appearances in "Smash," "Boardwalk Empire," "White Collar," "Six Feet Under," "Cold Case," "JAG," "Navy NCIS," The Utopian Society. Mat received his BA from the University of Kansas.

The winner of five 2011 Tony Awards including Best Play, War Horse has been seen by more than 2 million people worldwide and is currently playing at New York's Lincoln Center Theater, in London's West End, at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre and on tour across North America. Future productions of War Horse are planned for Australia, Berlin and South Africa, as well as a UK Tour.

The tour of War Horse, based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo and adapted by Nick Stafford, is directed by Bijan Sheibani based on the original Tony Award-winning direction by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, and presented in association with Handspring Puppet Company. At the heart of the show are life-sized puppets which bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to thrilling life on stage.

Michael Morpurgo's novel, War Horse, is also the inspiration for Steven Spielberg's feature film of the same name, which was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture.

War Horse is the powerful story of young Albert's beloved horse, Joey, who has been enlisted to fight for the English in World War I. Joey is caught in enemy crossfire and ends up serving both sides of the war before landing in no man's land. Albert, not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission to find his horse and bring him home. What follows is a remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship, filled with stirring music and songs and told with the some of the most innovative stagecraft of our time.

In addition to Best Play, War Horse received Tony Awards for Best Direction of a Play (Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris), Best Scenic Design of a Play (Rae Smith), Best Lighting Design of a Play (Paule Constable), and Best Sound Design of a Play (Christopher Shutt). A Special Tony Award was given to Handspring Puppet Company for their integral work on the production.

War Horse received its World Premiere in a limited engagement at the National's Olivier Theatre in 2007. The play returned to The National Theatre for a second run playing from in 2008-2009 before transferring to the West End's New London Theatre in Spring 2009 where it continues to play an open-ended run.

The lead producers of the National Tour of War Horse are Bob Boyett and The National Theatre of Great Britain.

Single tickets for War Horse start at just $25. To charge by phone, call Denver Center Ticket Services at 303.893.4100. TTY (for Deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons): 303.893.9582. Groups of 10 or more, please call 303.446.4829. Additionally, tickets may be purchased at the Denver Center Ticket Office, located in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex lobby. Buy and print online at denvercenter.org.

Photo © Brinkhoff/Mögenburg