NYU Alum Stephen Mark Lukas To Play Lead In THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA Manila

New York, March 11, 2011 - Philippine show biz royalty Karylle Tatlonghari, who will essay the role of Clara Johnson in Stages Production Specialists Inc.'s Philippine premiere of Broadway musical "The Light In the Piazza," has found a new leading man in New York University Tisch School of the Arts alumnus Stephen Mark Lukas. He auditioned for the role of young Italian Fabrizio Naccarelli in N.Y. Matthew Morrison and Aaron Lazar previously played the romantic lead in the Broadway production.

"Aaron Lazar and I have the same agent, Robert Atterman. And Aaron is someone I've always looked up to. It'd be great to be able to play the role of Fabrizio. I've never been to Manila. This is an incredible opportunity for me, said Lukas.

Stages Productions had been auditioning actors in Manila for the role of Fabrizio since last year, but ended up auditioning in Manhattan with American casting agent Judy Henderson. "Casting agents in Manila had offered very limited choices for leading men in local theater. So I opted to get a Broadway actor instead. Stephen has a beautiful tenor voice. He's a handsome and strong actor too," said Stages Productions president Audie Gemora.

Lukas' recent theater credits include the second national tour of "Little Women" (Laurie), Ogunquit Playhouse's production of "Hello, Dolly!," Summer Lyric Theater's "Oklahoma!" and Seacost Repertory Theater's "Grease" (Danny Zuko).

Stages Productions' "The Light In the Piazza" will open at Meralco Theater at Ortigas Center in Manila on July 8. Jaime del Mundo is director. Joey Mendoza is set designer.

About "The Light In the Piazza"

"The Light In the Piazza" features Adam Guettel's Tony award-winning original score and Craig Lucas's book in this adaptation of ElizaBeth Spencer's novella of the same title.

"The Light In the Piazza" takes place in Italy in the summer of 1953. Margaret Johnson, the wife of a well-heeled American businessman, is touring the Tuscan countryside with her daughter, Clara. While sightseeing, Clara, a beautiful, surprisingly childish young woman, loses her hat in a sudden gust. As if guided by an unseen hand, the hat lands at the feet of Fabrizio Naccarelli, a handsome Florentine, who returns it to Clara. This brief episode, charged with coincidence and fate, sparks an immediate and intense romance between Clara and Fabrizio. - Lincoln Center Theater

The Broadway production won six Tony Awards in 2005- Best Original Score, Best Leading Actress In A Musical for Victoria Clark, Best Scenic Design For A Musical, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design For A Musical and Best Orchestrations.

About Stages Productions

Stages Production Specialists Inc. is a full-service production solutions company based in Manila, Philippines, which specializes in event management, talent management, live booking and casting, theater production and public relations. Being one of the Philippines' most creative and reliable live production groups, Stages Productions works with many of the country's premier brands and corporations, a huge number of which are local and global market leaders in their respective industries. Recent musical Theater Productions include "Footloose," "Disney's 'High School Musical On Stage'" and "West Side Story."

Photos by Oliver Oliveros