Leads Announced for 2016 Production of HAIR at Kravis Center's Rinker Playhouse

Marcie Gorman-Althof and Michael Lifshitz, the producing partners behind MNM Productions, today announced that that they have cast the three major roles in the world's most famous tribal rock musical HAIR, which will run for three previews and 20 performances at the Kravis Center's Rinker Playhouse in West Palm Beach, starting on Friday, May 20, 2016, following two previews.

Three highly acclaimed veterans of numerous South Florida stages will play the leading roles in the 20-person cast:

Mike Westrich (George Berger) studied Musical Theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Manhattan. He is the recipient of two Silver Palm Awards for his performances in tick, tick...BOOM! (Jon, Outre Theatre Company), and Stars of David (Man 1, Daryl Roth Productions) & Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour, Slow Burn Theatre Company) respectively. He also received a Carbonell nomination for his portrayal of murderer Nathan Leopold in Outre's production of Thrill Me. He is currently appearing in Slow Burn's production of Dogfight at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, and will next reprise his role of Nathan in Thrill Me, followed by Romance, Romance once again with Slow Burn. Other recent credits include RENT (Slow Burn), Mommie Queerest (Empire Stage), Fugitive Songs (Theatre Lab), Pippin (Boca Raton Theatre Guild), The Timekeepers (Island City Stage), and The Rocky Horror Show (Old School Square's Crest Theatre).

Michael Scott Ross (Claude), who can currently be seen in Angry Fags at Island City Stage, is a New Yorker who now calls South Florida home. His favorite regional credits include Hello, Dolly starring Sally Struthers, Fiddler on the Roof, Spamalot and Joseph..., and he originated the role of Man 2 in the NY Regional Premiere of Edges. His additional New York credits include Twist and Raffi on Broadway, and he performed on the Las Vegas Strip in Don Arden's Jubilee! and Forever Doo Wop, as well as around the world with his one-man show, The Glory of Gershwin.

Alexa Baray (Sheila Franklin) grew up in South Florida and is a proud graduate of the University of Miami's Frost School of Music with a degree in Musical Theatre and English Literature. After graduating in 2012 she embarked on a career as a professional performer, working at regional theatres throughout the state. During that time she has had the pleasure of working with some of Broadway's finest, including: Ken Jennings, KD Smith, and Tommy Tune. Most recent credits include: Dogfight, A Funny Thing... Forum, Alice in Wonderland and MNM's A Chorus Line. With more than 20 years of dance experience under her belt, Baray is also an accomplished choreographer, working primarily with the University of Miami's Summer Theatre Academy. HAIR will be helmed by director-choreographer Kimberly Dawn (KD) Smith, who directed MNM Productions' A CHORUS LINE last December at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts. Paul Reekie will serve as musical director, the same role he played for the recent production of Side By Side By Sondheim.

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