Theatre Aspen Launches 30th Summer Season Today with LES MISERABLES

Theatre Aspen's 30th summer season begins today. The summer repertory season includes the Tony Award-winning epic LES MISERABLES, opening today, June 25th, the one-man comedy Fully Committed, opening July 6th and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, which opens July 12th. All shows run through late August.

Theatre Aspen's new production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's LES MISERABLES, is based on the novel by Victor Hugo, with music by Schönberg and lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. Carbonell Award winner Mark Martino will direct the musical, starring Mike Eldred as Jean Valjean, Aloysius Gigl as Javert, Beth Malone as Fantine and Richard Vida as Thénardier. Andrea Ross will play the urchin Eponine, Nikki Boxer is Mme. Thénardier, Chelsea Groen is Cosette, and the students Marius and Enjolras are played by Daniel Berryman and Matt Bailey, respectively. The cast is rounded out by ensemble members Franz Alderfer, Christopher Behmke, Andrew Diessner, Daniel Schwait, Jennifer Michaud, Chelsie Nectow and MerEdith Owens. The children, all from Aspen, are Antoinette Caine, Carter Graham, Jaidyn Hurst, Anakeesta Ironwood, Karuna Owens and Sophie Schlosser, who at 11 is already a TA veteran.

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, by Clark M. Gesner, (book, music and lyrics), is based on the "Peanuts" comic strip created by Charles M. Schulz, and TA will present the most recent version, featuring additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and new dialogue by Michael Mayer. The cast includes Daniel Berryman as Charlie Brown, Matt Braver (Linus), Bailey Frankenberg (Lucy), Alie Walsh(Sally), Luke Steinhauer (Schroeder) and Ravi Roth as Snoopy. Artistic Director Paige Price will direct and JoAnn M. Hunter will choreograph.

Becky Mode's Fully Committed will round out the season, starring Matt Bailey and helmed by esteemed television director Jay Sandrich. In mid June, the Aspen Food and Wine Classic 2013 will use the Hurst Theatre as a venue, providing a fitting kick off to the tour de force one-man show about one of New York's hottest restaurants and the patrons trying desperately to book a table.

In January, Theatre Aspen was named the "Aspen Non Profit of the Year," and was awarded an "Outstanding Regional Theatre" Henry Award in Denver in 2009. Alison Luff (Wicked/Scandalous) won a Best Supporting Actress Denver Post Ovation Award for her work as Olive in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Recent Ovation nominees also include Joan Hess, Beth Malone, Aaron Rhyne,Julia Foran and Sandy Duncan.

Productions take place in the new Hurst Theatre in Rio Grande Park and will be underwritten by season sponsor ANB Bank and Soledad and Bob Hurst, with the generous support of Darlynn and Tom Fellman, Liz and Jane Armstrong, The City of Aspen, Joshua & CO., Charles and Nancy Wall, Jim and Brenda Grusecki, Mandy Gray and Randy Work, Dan and Maureen Holman, and The Aspen Club and Spa.

Tickets and season passes are on sale now. Contact the Wheeler Box Office at 970.920.5770 or aspenshowtix.com. For further information contact Theatre Aspen at 970-925-9313. For more information, visit www.theatreaspen.org.

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