Thomas Williams, Holland Vavra to Lead All-Houston Cast in PIPPIN at TUTS

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) introduces the fully Houston-based cast and creative team for the upcoming production of PIPPIN.

"I am very excited to be working with the local talent. I have had the privilege of working with many of them over the last several years, and there is a lot of talent to tap into here in Houston. I am very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with so many of them as well as being afforded the opportunity to work with new emerging talent in the community," said Michelle Gaudette, who is the Director and Choreographer of PIPPIN.

Holland Vavra, known to Houston audiences from her frequent work at Stages Repertory Theatre in productions such as THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES and BIG FISH, and from her roles in TUTS productions of A CHRISTMAS STORY and THE MUSIC MAN, will star as Leading Player. Thomas Williams will play the title role of Pippin. Williams most recently appeared on the TUTS stage in HEATHERS. Brian Mathis, who has appeared in the national tours of SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, and in TUTS' recent productions of MARY POPPINS and OLIVER!, will be playing Charles. Rob Flebbe will be playing the role of Lewis. Flebbe has appeared in many TUTS productions including VICTOR/VICTORIA, A CHORUS LINE and MISS SAIGON. Lauren Pastorek, who has appeared in many tours including OKLAHOMA!, Will Rogers FOLLIES and MY FAIR LADY will be playing Fastrada. Chesley Ann Santoro, who is playing Berthe, is a favorite of Houston audiences, has appeared in more than 20 productions with TUTS including BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE WIZARD OF OZ and THE MUSIC MAN. Betty Marie Muessig will be playing Catherine. Muessig has appeared in many TUTS productions including THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, CABARET, and LES MISERABLES. Humphreys School of Musical Theatre student, Julian Lammey, who recently appeared in TUTS' production of INTO THE WOODS will be playing Theo.

Rounding out the cast in the Ensemble are Chadwick Adams; Ashley Chasteen; Courtney Chilton; Laura Henning; Logan Keslar; Carlynn Laurie; Christopher Tipps; and Anthony Vincent.

Adams has appeared in a variety of regional theatre productions including TUTS productions of WEST SIDE STORY and EVITA. Chasteen who just appeared as Cassie in the Atlanta Lyric Theatre's production of A CHORUS LINE, appeared in National Tours of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN and CATS; and was most recently on the TUTS stage in A CHRISTMAS STORY. Chilton has a vast number of regional theatre credits including roles in GYPSY, WEST SIDE STORY, THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, and TUTS' recent production of MARY POPPINS. Henning performed for six seasons as a Rockette, played Cassandra in the CATS national tour, and has been in numerous regional shows including TUTS productions of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, MARY POPPINS, and OLIVER!. Keslar was recently in TUTS' productions of DREAMGIRLS, INTO THE WOODS, and HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING has also been seen on Broadway in shows such as the Tony-Award?-winning revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES. Laurie's regional theatre credits include THE WIZARD OF OZ, THE LITTLE MERMAID, and a TUTS production of CABARET. Tipps, a former TUTS Humphreys School of Musical Theatre student, has appeared in a number of TUTS shows including 13: THE MUSICAL, LES MISERABLES, and WHITE CHRISTMAS. Vincent has appeared in many regional theatre productions including SINGING IN THE RAIN, A CHORUS LINE, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and last season's TUTS production of MARY POPPINS.

PIPPIN originally opened on Broadway in 1972 and won five Tony Awards? and was revived on Broadway in 2013 where it won four Tony Awards? including Best Revival of a Musical.

"PIPPIN is a journey of a young man trying to find out who he is and prove himself to his father. Through music and dance we live the story as orchestrated by the Leading Player with the help of her band of players. On this journey there is mystery, intrigue, deceit, death, peer pressure, despair, kindness, strength and love. All the makings for a fun creative night at the theatre," said Gaudette.

Joining Gaudette on the creative team, will be Thom Culcasi as Musical Director, Ryan McGettigan as Scenic Designer, Christina Giannelli as Lighting Designer, Andrew Harper as Sound Designer and Colleen Grady as Costume Designer.

PIPPIN, with book by Roger O. Hirson and music & lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, will play at Miller Outdoor Theatre July 11-16, 2017.

The Theatre Under The Stars production of PIPPIN is sponsored in part by Wells Fargo, The Brown Foundation, Inc., The Wortham Foundation, Inc., the Miller Theatre Advisory Board, Inc., the George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Children's MemoriAl Hermann Hospital is the official healthcare partner of Theatre Under The Stars and the official sponsor of the 2016/17 Season. United Airlines is the official airline partner of Theatre Under The Stars. KTRK ABC13 is the official media partner of Theatre Under The Stars.?

For more information, please visit www.tuts.com. Theatre Under The Stars is Houston's leading Musical Theatre Company since 1968, with a focus on education and community engagement. TUTS is a 501(c)(3) Non Profit Organization that relies on the generous support of our donors to deliver first-rate theatre experiences.

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