Davis Gaines, Benjamin Schrader and Rebecca Ann Johnson to Lead MTW's DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, 7/8

Broadway's scamming, scheming, double-crossing musical hit Dirty Rotten Scoundrels cons its way onto the Carpenter Center Stage via Musical Theatre West (MTW) for 13 performances July 8-24. The production stars Broadway veterans Davis Gaines (Phantom of the Opera, Camelot) and Benjamin Schrader (Book of Mormon, Avenue Q) , and Ovation Award nominee (for MTW's Young Frankenstein) Rebecca Ann Johnson. From the composer/lyricist David Yazbek (The Full Monty) and a book by Jeffrey Lane, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is based on the Steve Martin and Michael Caine film, written by Dale Launer and Stanley Shapiro & Paul Henning. Brilliantly crafted with wit, double-entendres , and show-stopping numbers, the Broadway show earned 11 Tony Award nominations, including "Best Musical," "Best Book," and "Best Score" and the Drama League Award for "Best Musical." Tickets are available at www.musical.org or by calling (562) 856-1999, ext. 4. Tickets are $20 and up.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels centers on two con men living on the French Riviera - the suave and sophisticated Lawrence Jameson (Davis Gaines), who makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money; and Freddy Benson, a small-time crook who, more humbly, swindles women by waking their compassion with fabricated stories about his grandmother's failing health. After meeting, they unsuccessfully attempt to work together only to find that this small French town isn't big enough for the two of them. So they make a bet: the first one to swindle $50,000 from a young heiress, triumphs and the other must leave town. What follows is a series of hilarious schemes, masquerades and double-crosses that will keep you laughing, humming and guessing to the end!

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels opened on Broadway in March 2005 to rave reviews. Clive Barnes (New York Post) raved, "A knockout punch to Broadway's funnybone! One of the liveliest, funniest, best-performed musicals in years. Super-smart and superior in every way." And Terry Teachout (The Wall Street Journal) proclaimed, "I know funny when I see it, and this show is a perfect hoot! A big hit." Davis Gaines is best known for his turn as the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, in which he starred in more than 2,000 performances during the show's run on

Broadway, in Los Angeles, and in San Francisco. Webber and Hal Prince then turned to Gaines to star in the World Premiere of Whistle Down the Wind. Additional Broadway and National Tour credits include Hello, Dolly! with Carol Channing, Camelot with Richard Burton, and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. For MTW, Gaines starred as Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha, for which he earned both an Ovation Award and BroadwayWorld Award for "Best Lead Actor in a Musical"; King Arthur in Spamalot; Harold Hill in The Music Man; Richard Henry Lee in 1776; and Mack Sennett in Mack and Mabel. For his portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in SILENCE! The Musical, Gaines earned an LA Weekly Award for "Best Male Musical Performance" and an Ovation Award nomination for the role of Fred/Petruchio in Kiss Me, Kate.

Broadway veteran Benjamin Schrader has the distinction of co-starring in three Tony Award-winning productions on Broadway, including The Book of Mormon, Ragtime, and Avenue Q as well as the critically acclaimedPeter and the Starcatcher. Off-Broadway Schrader appeared in Next to Normal, SCREAM, and Dog Sees God. Television audiences will recognize him from his roles on "True Detective," "Revenge," and "Rebels and Redcoats." He can be heard as the Brother Troll in the hit film "Frozen."

Rebecca Ann Johnson earned an Ovation Award nomination for her turn as Elizabeth in MTW's production of Young Frankenstein, and has since returned to star in Singin' in the Rain and the West Coast premiere of Big Fish. She has also appeared in Who Could Ask for Anything More (Rubicon Theatre), Children of a Lesser God (Deaf West Theatre) and Pippin (Mark Taper Forum).

Musical Theatre West's production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is directed and choreographed by Billy Sprague, Jr. with musical direction by John Glaudini. The production is made possible by 2015-2016 Season Honorary Producers Don & Marlene Temple, who also serve as Honorary Producers for this production; The Ackerman Family/Evalyn M. Bauer Foundation; and Ken & Dottie Reiner. Associate Producers for the show include Howard& Elaine Davis, Richard Neri & Kurt Schulzman and Show Sponsors are Jerry Bloeser, Dr. Myron Bloom, Larry & Shari Nemirow, and Ethel Severson. MTW Executive Director Paul Garman serves as Producer. This production is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

Tickets are now on sale for Musical Theatre West's production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at the Carpenter Center. For call (562) 856-1999 ext. 4 or go to www.musical.org.

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