Photo Flash: First Look at Shayne Kennon, Will Blum, Leigh Ann Larkin & More in Barry Manilow's HARMONY at CTG/Ahmanson Theatre

Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's "Harmony," a new musical, opens next Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and plays through April 13 (Previews began March 4). Directed by Tony Speciale, with music by Manilow and book and lyrics by Sussman, "Harmony" tells the true story of The Comedian Harmonists, an ensemble of six young men in pre-WWII Germany who rose from unemployed street musicians to become world-famous entertainers, selling millions of records, starring in over a dozen films, and selling out the most prestigious concert halls around the world. Yet while The Comedian Harmonists' sophisticated music, paired with hilarious comedy, made them the brightest of stars, the group's mixture of Jews and non-Jews put them on a collision course with history. "Harmony" is a co-production with the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta. Below, check out a first look at the cast in action!

When Manilow and Sussman began working on "Harmony," Roman "Rabbi" Cykowski was the only surviving member of The Comedian Harmonists, and was able to talk with them about his life and experiences before passing away in 1998. His memories, along with available historical information, provide the basis for the musical.

The cast includes, in alphabetical order, Matt Bailey (first national tour of "Jersey Boys"), Will Blum ("The Book of Mormon" on Broadway), Hannah Corneau ("Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson" and "Fiddler on the Roof" in Chicago), Chris Dwan ( "The Old Boy" and "Peter & I" off-Broadway), Shayne Kennon (European tour of "Madagascar"), Leigh Ann Larkin ("A Little Night Music" and "Gypsy" on Broadway), Will Taylor ("A Chorus Line" and "La Cage Aux Folles" on Broadway) and Douglas Williams ("Tigrane" at Opéra de Nice).

Photos by Craig Schwartz

Douglas Williams, Chris Dwan, Shayne Kennon, Will Taylor, Matt Bailey and Will Blum

Matt Bailey, Will Taylor, Douglas Williams, Shayne Kennon, Chris Dwan and Will Blum

Douglas Williams, Chris Dwan, Shayne Kennon, Matt Bailey, Will Taylor and Will Blum

Douglas Williams, Chris Dwan, Shayne Kennon, Will Taylor, Matt Bailey and Will Blum

Douglas Williams, Matt Bailey, Shayne Kennon, Chris Dwan, Will Blum and Will Taylor

Shayne Kennon, Douglas Williams, Will Blum (scarf), Matt Bailey, Will Taylor and Chris Dwan

Matt Bailey, Douglas Williams, Chris Dwan, Shayne Kennon, Will Blum and Will Taylor

Cast of HARMONY

Leigh Ann Larkin, Will Taylor, Matt Bailey, Will Blum, Chris Dwan and Douglas Williams

Liberty Cogen, Lindsay Moore, Matt Bailey, Douglas Williams, Shayne Kennon, Chris Dwan, Will Taylor and Will Blum

Cast of HARMONY

Shayne Kennon

Shayne Kennon

Shayne Kennon and Leigh Ann Larkin

Leigh Ann Larkin and Shayne Kennon

Shayne Kennon and Leigh Ann Larkin

Hannah Corneau and Leigh Ann Larkin

Will Taylor and Hannah Corneau

Matt Bailey, Will Blum, Shayne Kennon, Lauren Elaine Taylor, Chris Dwan, Douglas Williams and Will Taylor

Will Taylor, Chris Dwan, Matt Bailey, Douglas Williams, Will Blum and Shayne Kennon

Chris Dwan, Matt Bailey, Will Taylor, Shayne Kennon, Will Blum and Douglas Williams

Chris Dwan, Matt Bailey, Will Taylor, Shayne Kennon, Will Blum and Douglas Williams

Will Blum, Douglas Williams, Will Taylor, Matt Bailey, Shayne Kennon and Chris Dwan