Head to the Highlands with Pittsburgh CLO's BRIGADOON Opening July 17

Pittsburgh CLO is proud to bring Lerner and Loewe's BRIGADOON from the Scottish Highlands to the Benedum Center stage July 17 - 22. As part of its ongoing mission to celebrate musical theater, Pittsburgh CLO often revives classics, thus introducing new audiences to the masterpieces of Broadway's golden age. BRIGADOON 's popularity spans generations; and is so admired, that Pittsburgh CLO has produced it once in each of its seven decades. This year's production features an enchanting cast of Pittsburgh CLO and Broadway stars, as well as choreography influenced by Agnes DeMille's Tony Award-winning work. Pittsburgh CLO and overall theatrical legend, Lenny Wolpe, returns as Mr. Lundie for his 18th appearance with the organization. Tickets are now available at pittsburghCLO.org, at the Theater Square Box Office or by calling 412-456-6666.

When New Yorkers Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas lose their way during a vacation to the Scottish Highlands, they stumble into the mythical village of Brigadoon on the one day every hundred years it appears. Tommy, who is engaged back in New York, falls head over heels for villager Fiona, while Jeff enjoys a harmless flirtation with Meg Brockie. But a twist of fate reveals the complicated truth - if any resident leaves Brigadoon, the town and the people in it will be lost forever. Tommy is forced to choose between returning to the world that he knows or taking a chance on life and love in a mysterious new place. Including such famous hits as "Heather on the Hill" and "Waitin' for my Dearie," Lerner and Loewe's BRIGADOON has a score sure to sweep you off your feet. It's "Almost Like Being in Love."

Jason Babinsky (Jeff Douglass) is returning to Pittsburgh CLO where he was last seen in Doctor Dolittle. He has been seen on Broadway in Billy Elliot (also First National Tour) and Ghost. Off-Broadway credits include: Caucasian Chalk Circle (Classic Stage Company) and A Man's a Man (Classic Stage Company). Select Regional credits include: three seasons in repertory at the Contemporary American Theater Festival, Alley Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, McCarter Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Huntington Theater, Stageworks Hudson, Syracuse Stage, North Shore Music Theater, Theatre Under the Stars, Utah Shakespeare Festival and Paper Mill Playhouse. Film credits include: You Were Never Really Here, A Cure for Wellness, The Wizard of Lies (HBO), Contagion, You Don't Know Jack (HBO) and Law Abiding Citizen. Television credits include: The Good Wife, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, House of Cards, Billions, Law & Order: SVU, Madam Secretary, Shades of Blue, Blue Bloods, The Knick, Person of Interest, Unforgettable, American Odyssey and Forever.

Kevin Carolan (Andrew MacLaren) has been seen in multiple Broadway/National Tours including Disney's Newsies (Roosevelt), Chicago (Amos - 10th Anniversary) and Dirty Blonde (Charlie u/s). World Premiere: Baloo in Disney's The Jungle Book, directed by Mary Zimmerman (Goodman/Huntington-Winner, IRNE Award, Best Supporting Actor). Television: Gotham, Orange Is The New Black, The Good Wife, The Middle, Law & Order: SVU, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Boardwalk Empire and Vinyl (both directed by Martin Scorsese). Film: Bear With Us (2016), Disney's Newsies (2017) and Can You Ever Forgive Me(2018, with Melissa McCarthy).

Deanna Doyle (Jean MacLaren) has been seen on Broadway in Phantom of the Opera (Meg Giry) and Tuck Everlasting (Astaire Award Nomination for 17-year-old Winnie). National Tour, An American in Paris (Lise Alternate). Other favorites include: On the Town (Ivy Smith) and On Your Toes (Vera). Metropolitan Opera and Kansas City Ballet: principal roles by Donald McKayle, Paul Taylor, Agnes De Mille and Twyla Tharp. She has been featured at the Astaire Awards and Career Transitions for Dancers.

Natalie Charle Ellis (Meg Brockie) is making her Pittsburgh CLO debut having just concluded a three-year run as an original cast member of School of Rock on Broadway. Credits include: Les Misérables (Original cast member - 2014 revival), Forbidden Broadway: Alive and Kicking (OBC Off-Broadway), 9-5 the Musical (First National Tour), Lizzie the Musical (TUTS), Cinderella in Into the Woods, Millie in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly! (starring Beth Leavel) and Master of None(Netflix).

Jeffrey Howell (Archie Beaton) is a long-time Pittsburgh CLO alum whose latest projects include Citizens Market at City Theatre and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Pittsburgh Public Theater. Last summer, he appeared in Damn Yankees at Sacramento Music Circus and Disney'sNewsies at Pittsburgh CLO. His more than eighty productions at CLO also include: Bells Are Ringing, Hello, Dolly!, Sunset Boulevard, South Pacific and Me and My Girl. Other productions include: Souvenir, Choir Boy, Tigers Be Still, Worksong and Red Herring. Television: All My Children, The Young and the Restless. Film: The Dark Half, The Cemetery Club.

Jeff Kready (Tommy Albright) has multiple Broadway credits including: A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (Monty Navarro), Billy Elliot (Tony), Sunday in the Park with George and Les Misérables(Jean Valjean u/s). His regional credits include: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jimmy) at Paper Mill Playhouse, Carousel (Mr. Snow, Connecticut Critics Circle award nomination) at Goodspeed Opera House and David Sedaris's one-man-show Santaland Diaries at Hartford TheaterWorks. TV: The Good Fight (CBS), Elementary (recurring - CBS), Boardwalk Empire (HBO).

Eryn LeCroy (Fiona MacLaren) has been seen Off-Broadway in Sweeney Todd (Barrow Street Theatre). City Center Encores! Off-Center: Assassins. World Premiere: Sousatzka. National Tour: Jekyll and Hyde. Regional: My Fair Lady and Nice Work If You Can Get It (Mac-Haydn Theatre). She received a B.M from Oklahoma City University and is a National YoungArts Foundation alumna.

Chris Peluso (Charlie Dalrymple) was a member of the original cast of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. His Broadway/NY credits include: Assassins at Studio 54, Mamma Mia! (Sky) at Winter Garden Theatre, Elton John's Lestat at Palace Theatre and The Glorious Ones at Lincoln Center. West End/UK credits include: Show Boat (Gaylord Ravenal) at New London Theatre, Miss Saigon (Chris) at Prince Edward Theatre, Death Takes a Holiday (Death) at Charing Cross Theatre, Funny Girl (Nick Arnstein) UK Tour and The Woman in White (Sir Percival Glyde) at Charing Cross Theatre. Other theatre credits include: Wicked (Fiyero) US National Tour, West Side Story (Tony) at Barrington Stage Company, Les Misérables (Marius) at Marriott Lincolnshire, Frank Wildhorn's Bonnie and Clyde (Ted Hinton) at La Jolla Playhouse, Romeo and Juliet (Romeo) at Gulfshore Playhouse and Sunset Boulevard (Joe Gillis) at Music Theatre of Wichita.

Garen Scribner (Harry Beaton) is making his Pittsburgh CLO debut. Broadway and National Tour: An American in Paris (Jerry). Former soloist: San Francisco Ballet and artist of Nederlands Dans Theater I.

Erica Wong (Maggie Anderson) has been seen on Broadway in M. Butterfly and The King and I. She has also been seen on the National Tour of An American in Paris. Regional credits include: Jerome Robbins Broadway (The Muny) and In Your Arms (The Old Globe). Ballet Companies include: Milwaukee Ballet and Ballet Theatre of Maryland.

Lenny Wolpe (Mr. Lundie) returns to Pittsburgh CLO for his 18th production with the organization. Broadway: Bullets Over Broadway, Wicked, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Sound Of Music, Mayor, Into The Light, Copperfield, Onward Victoria. I: Old Jews Telling Jokes, Marry Harry, Radio City Spring Spectacular. National Tours: Wicked, Little Shop of Horrors, South Pacific, Guys and Dolls, Forum. Regional: Paper Mill, Goodspeed, St Louis Rep, McCarter, Muny, Denver Center, Pasadena Playhouse, Barrington, Coconut Grove, TUTS, Hollywood Bowl, Sacramento, Westport, Cape Playhouse, Dtc, Bucks County, KC Rep. Nearly 100 TV guest spots ranging from ER, L.A. Law, And The Band Played On, to Roseanne, The Golden Girls and Chapelle's Show.

BRIGADOON features a talented ensemble including Katie Anderson, Croix Dilenno, Jerome Doerger, Joseph Domencic, Alex Dorf, Courtney Echols, Tion Gaston, Luke Halferty, Cameron Anika Hill, Jessica Ice, Caroline Kane, Lily Kaufmann, Chloe Rae Kehm, Hunter Mikles, Quinn Patrick Shannon, Allan Snyder, Sarah Quinn Taylor, Becki Toth, OLIVIA VADNAIS, Davis Wayne, Madeline Dalesio, Will Sendera, Lauren Ivory Vail, Grace Vensel and Mario Williams.

Dontee Kiehn (Director) is joining Pittsburgh CLO for the first time. Her previous credits include: An American in Paris - Associate Director/Choreographer (Broadway, National Tour, London and upcoming Japanese production), Next to Normal - Associate Choreographer (Broadway, National Tour, Japan, Korea), The Addams Family - Associate Director/Choreographer (Broadway, National Tour, Australia, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico City), The Winter's Tale - Choreographer (NY Public Theater), A Doll's House and Ten Cents a Dance - Choreographer (Williamstown Theater Festival), The Nightingale and the Rose - Director/Choreographer (Metropolis Opera Project), 42nd Street- Choreographer (Casa Mañana), The Fabulous Lipitones - Choreographer (Wellfleet Theater). Ms. Kiehn has appeared onstage in the original Broadway revival companies of Gypsy (starring Bernadette Peters) and 42nd Street.

Mark Esposito (Choreographer) returns to Pittsburgh CLO where his work has been seen in over 12 productions over the years. His other choreographic work has been seen at York Theater in NY, Signature Theater in NY, Two River Theater in NJ, Sacramento Music Theater, Music Theater of Wichita, North Shore Music Theater, Casa Mañana and Bass Hall, Blowing Rock Stage Company, Ogunquit Playhouse, Musical Theater West, La Mirada Theater in CA, Reprise series in LA, Hollywood Bowl, Pasadena Playhouse in CA, CV Rep Theater, Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular,Yuletide Celebration with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Globus Theatre Company in Russia, Tokyo Disney Sea in Japan, Universal Studios in LA, Point Park College, University of Michigan, UCLA and New York University.

James Cunningham (Musical Director) is back for his second season as Music Director for Pittsburgh CLO. His New York credits include: Avenue Q (Conductor), Music Director for Bunnicula(TheaterworksUSA and original cast recording) and Happy Birthday (TACT). National Tours: Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Spamalot, Evita and Cats. Regionally, he has conducted productions for Arena Stage, Casa Mañana, North Carolina Theatre, Sharon Playhouse, Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Engeman Theater, Paper Mill Playhouse, The MUNY and Cape Fear Regional Theatre. He holds degrees from Manhattan School of Music and New York University.

BRIGADOON was the first successful show of the famous musical team Lerner and Loewe. It opened in 1947 and won multiple awards, including the Tony Award® for Best Choreography. In 1954, Vincent Minelli and Arthur Freed's film version was released, starring Pittsburgh's own Gene Kelly as Tommy, Cyd Charisse as Fiona and Van Johnson as Harry. Despite not being a box-office success, the film was nominated for three Academy Awards and won a Golden Globe. The Broadway production has subsequently been revived an astounding five times, including a 1957 production starring Pittsburgh CLO alum Shirley Jones and her then-husband, Jack Cassidy as Fiona and Tommy. In 1966, a television version of the show was released with Peter Falk, Sally Ann Howes and Robert Goulet. In the fall of 2017, a limited engagement of Brigadoon played New York City Center starring Patrick Wilson and Kelli O'Hara as well as Robert Fairchild and Sara Esty of An American in Paris fame.

Alan Jay Lerner (Book & Lyrics) was born in New York City. He attended Harvard University and wrote for the annual Hasty Pudding Musicals. In 1942, he met Frederick Loewe and began to collaborate. Their first hit Brigadoon opened in 1947 and was followed by Paint Your Wagon. He went on to win three Academy Awards, including Best Original Screenplay for the 1951 film An American in Paris. With Loewe, he wrote My Fair Lady, Camelot, Gigi and The Little Prince. He also won two Golden Globes, three Tony Awards®, two for My Fair Lady, two New York Drama Critics Awards and a Johnny Mercer Award.

Frederick Loewe (Music) was born in Berlin, Germany. He moved to New York and took odd jobs, including cattle punching, gold mining and prize fighting. He eventually found work playing piano in German clubs and in movie theaters as the accompanist for silent films. In 1947, his first successful show, Brigadoon, opened on Broadway. He composed the scores for some of the American theater's most memorable musicals, including My Fair Lady, Camelot, Paint Your Wagon and Gigi.

Robert Lewis (Original Director) was an American actor, director, teacher, author and founder of the influential Actors Studio in New York in 1947. In addition to his accomplishments on Broadway and in Hollywood, Lewis' greatest and longest lasting contribution to American theater may be the role he played as one of the foremost acting and directing teachers of his day. He was an early proponent of the Stanislavski System of acting technique and a founding member of New York's revolutionary Group Theatre in the 1930s. In the 1970s, he was the Head of the Yale School of Drama Acting and Directing Departments.

Agnes De Mille (Original Choreographer) was born in Harlem in 1905. In 1942, she created Rodeofor The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and Three Virgins and A Devil for the American Ballet Theater. Also that year, she was asked by Rodgers and Hammerstein to create the dances for what would become their ground breaking musical, Oklahoma! Over the next two decades, she went on to choreograph such landmark Broadway musicals such as: One Touch Of Venus, Carousel, Allegro (which she also directed), Brigadoon, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Paint Your Wagon, Goldilocks and Juno.

Photo Credit: Matt Polk

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