Naples Native Actress Lana Neuman to Make Equity Debut in TheatreZone's SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS

Equity actress Lana Neuman makes her professional debut as the innocent and morally upstanding Susan Hunsecker, the young sister of the sinister New York columnist J.J. Hunsecker, in TheatreZone's production of Sweet Smell of Success. Based upon the 1957 film noir, the Tony-award winning musical opens the professional theatre group's 11th anniversary season with 11 performances January 7 through January 17, 2016.

"Lana is a very talented actress and a true triple threat," says director Mark Danni. (A triple threat can sing, dance and act). "We've been waiting for her to be available to perform at TheatreZone for a long time and are thrilled to cast her in the female lead role of Susan," he adds.

Lana and her director first met when she was a student at The Community School of Naples and performed in Danni's renowned annual Showtime extravaganzas. As an amateur actress, she also acted in TheatreZone's production of Tommy in the role of Sally Simpson.

"Returning to my hometown Naples and making my professional debut at TheatreZone feels like the stars are aligned. It feels just right," says Ms. Neuman. "I love working with Mark. A big reason why I chose a professional career in musical theatre is because of Mark and his wife Karen along with music director Charles Fornara and his wife actress Dawn," she explains. "They're my team," she adds.

Lana attended the University of Florida for two years studying musical theatre and then relocated to NYC to pursue her acting and singing dreams. She received a certificate from the prestigious American Musical & Dramatic Academy (AMDA) and then spent a couple of years traveling the world while working as Princess Ariel for Disney Cruises. Returning to New York, she worked in several regional shows and Off Broadway readings and showcases. Then, came the audition for Susan and the return to her hometown.

"The role of Susan has a big arc," confides Lana. "I sing three songs and my character gets to explore what it's like to walk in her brother's shoes," she continues. "She may start off as an inguene, but Susan gets tough....it's similar to my relocation to New York City...I had to get tough, too," she reminisces.

Joining Ms. Neuman are Equity actors Gerritt VanderMeer (Whistle Down the Wind, Grand Hotel and Next to Normal) in the role of the self righteous and combative J.J. Hunsecker and Daniel Schwab (Little Women, Grand Hotel, and 110 in the Shade) as his sycophantic protégé, the power-hungry flack Sidney Falco. Tim Russell has been cast as Dallas, the slandered jazz musician and Carolann Sanita (Tracey in High Society) returns to TheatreZone as Rita, Falco's long suffering waitress-turned-girlfriend with a past.

The Ensemble cast, responsible for creating tension through song and dance, consists of Brent Kuenning, Dave Thome, Adolpho Blaire, Josh Kolb, Pierre Tannous, Megan Jimenez, Juliet Jewett, Kayley Stevens and Alana Ferraro.

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