Jon Peterson and Kirsten Wyatt & More Set for Theatre Aspen's 2015-16 Season!

Theatre Aspen announced casting for the organization's upcoming slate of repertory shows, which includes CABARET, Peter and the Starcatcher, Junie B Jones the Musical and Other Desert Cities.

The Hurst Theatre will open June 24th with the groundbreaking revival version of the musical CABARET, (book by Joe Masteroff music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb) starring Jon Peterson and Kirsten Wyatt as The Emcee and Sally Bowles, respectively. Mark Martino helms a cast that also features Broadway veterans Lori Wilner, Richard Vida, along with Allen E. Read, Mark Campbell, Nikki Boxer, Elise Kinnon, Joe Bettles, Michael E. Salinas, Michelle Coben, Amanda Paige, Spencer Hansen, Aidan Sank, Carter Graham, and Alie Walsh Dame.

Martino will also direct Peter and the Starcatcher, by Rick Elice, based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Thom Christopher Warren (Lion King) stars as Black Stache and is joined by Curran Connor, Jon Peterson, Richard Vida, Allen E. Read, Mark Campbell, Spencer Hansen, Billy Cohen, Joe Bettles, Michael E. Salinas, with Aidan Sank as Peter and Michelle Coben as Molly.

Megan Byrne stars as Brooke in Other Desert Cities, by Jon Robin Baitz, directed by Sarna Lapine (War Horse, Light in the Piazza). Also starring is Lori Wilner (Polly), Jack Wetherall (Lyman), Curran Connor (Trip) and Peggy J. Scott as Silda.

Junie B. Jones The Musical, based on the Barbara Parks series, with book and lyrics by Marcy Heisler and music by Zina Goldrich, will be directed and choreographed byDevanand Janki, whose choreography for the original Off-Broadway production garnered a Lortell Award nomination. Starring as Junie B. Jones is newcomer Gianna Yanelli, with Spencer Hansen as Herb, and Kelsey Schergen, Eddy Cavazos, Lyon Hamill, Amanda Paige, Michelle Coben and Joe Bettles rounding out the cast.

The repertory season runs June 24th through August 22nd. The theatre recently announced the launch of the Aspen Theatre Festival, featuring new plays and musicals being developed for the stage, running August 25th through August 28th.

The festival begins with a world-premiere reading of The Agent, by Scott Martin, directed by multiple Emmy-winner, Jay Sandrich (Soap, Cosby, Mary Tyler Moore Show). The new musical Finn the Fearless, by Andrew Butler and Andrew Farmer, will also be presented in a developmental workshop, directed by Kent Nicholson. The husband and wife writing team of Nell Benjamin and Laurence O'Keefe will present music from their co-writing and individual projects and will work specifically with the Theatre Aspen Apprentices and select company members on their new, original musical Life of the Party.

Theatre Aspen (Aspen Non-Profit Business of the Year in 2012) was awarded the "Outstanding Regional Theatre" Henry Award in Denver in 2009 and Alison Luff (Matilda)won a Best Supporting Actress Denver Post Ovation Award for her work as Olive in Theatre Aspen's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Denver Post Ovation nominees include Joan Hess, Beth Malone (Fun Home), Aaron Rhyne, Julia Foran and Sandy Duncan.

All productions take place in the Hurst Theatre in Rio Grande Park and will be underwritten by season sponsor ANB Bank, with the generous support of Franklin and Barbara Carson, Jessica and John Fullerton, Soledad and Bob Hurst, Darlynn and Tom Fellman, Jim and Brenda Grusecki, Liz Armstrong, Terri and Tony Caine, Brett Bossung, the City of Aspen, CCI, Les Dames d'Aspen, The Thrift Shop and The Aspen Club and Spa.

Media sponsors include the Aspen Times, Aspen Daily News, Sopris Sun, Aspen Sojourner, Aspen Magazine, Aspen Peak, Aspen Public Radio and KSPN/KNFO.

For further information contact Theatre Aspen at 970-925-9313 or visit www.theatreaspen.org.

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