Kathy Voytko, Scott Logsdon & More to Lead Richland Performing Arts Center's CHESS Concert, 12/8

Scott D. Miller has announce that casting is now complete for a special concert presentation of CHESS, the hit Broadway and London musical, on December 8, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at Richland Performing Arts Center, on the campus of Richland High School in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

The performance is being done as a fundraiser for the Richland Theatre Booster's Kiersten Robertson scholarship fund. CHESS will star Broadway performers originally from the Johnstown area as well as other performers from the area and beyond. Current students and members of the Richland High School Choir and Richland Performing Arts Center Club will comprise the seventy plus person chorus. The show will be performed with a professional twenty piece orchestra.

Scheduled to star in CHESS will be Broadway vets Kathy Voytko (THE PIRATE QUEEN) as Florence, Scott Logsdon (the original LES MISERABLES) as Anatoly, Kris Koop Ouellette (PHANTOM OF THE OPERA) as Svetlana and Bart Shatto (HANDS ON A HARD BODY) as Freddie.

Kathy Voytko, formerly of Johnstown and a Bishop McCort graduate, has starred as EVITA in legendary director Hal Prince's 25th anniversary tour and has been seen as Christine in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and on Broadway in OKLAHOMA!, Stephen Sondheim's THE FROGS , THE PIRATE QUEEN and with Antonio Banderas in NINE.

Kris Koop Ouellette, formerly of Davidsville and a Conemaugh Township graduate, recently concluded a twelve year run in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA on Broadway where she was the only actress to be seen as Christine, Carlotta and Madame Giry. She has also toured in CATS as Jellylorum/Griddlebone.

Scott Logsdon, formerly of Somerset and a graduate of Somerset High School, was an originating cast member in the national company of the Tony Award-winning LES MISERABLES. He appeared in LES MIS on Broadway and internationally and was seen as Thenardier opposite Colm Wilkinson. As the show's dance captain he staged seven companies of the tour, appearing with and directing Wilkinson, Tony winners Lea Salonga, Jarrod Emick, Sutton Foster, Broadway legend Andrea McArdle and soap star Catherine Hickland. He also directed McArdle's debut at 54 Below (70s and Sunny) which was released on Broadway Records.

Bart Shatto originated the role of Quincy Morris in Frank Wildhorn's DRACULA on Broadway and was recently a part of the Broadway cast of the Tony nominated HANDS ON A HARD BODY. He's also been seen on Broadway and on tour as ValJean in LES MISERABLES and has toured as a featured soloist with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Newly announced cast members include Michael L. Marra (Broadway's LES MISERABLES, 1st National Tour of JEKYLL & HYDE) as Molokov and Buck Dietz (THE SOUND OF MUSIC tour with Marie Osmond) as The Arbiter. Scott D. Miller will play Walter and Michael Misko will appear as Gregor Vassy. Sarah Bell makes her debut as Young Florence. Nathan Magee will be seen as Leonid Vigand.

The ensemble will feature the current Pennsylvania Maple Queen Ranita Bowers and former Pennsylvania Maple Queen Mary (McClure) Mauzy as well as Kevin Bean, Jayme Brooks, Adam Bukosky, Nathan Cook, Josh Devett, Kelly Devett, Jara Dorsey-Lash, Emily Felton, Carrie Law, Mari Grace Lingenfelter, Chris Pickering, Jacob St. Clair, Tiffany Stanley and Katie Strong. Kim Rauch will make a cameo appearance as the Mayor of Merano.

Dancers in the cast include Harris Estep, Kennedy Hess and Brett Wyar as the Chess Game dancers and Sadie Carney, Hannah Fleck, Kennedy Hess, Kayla Leventry, Tori Smith, Gillian Snow and Marissa Williams as the Arbiter and Bangkok dancers.

Kevin Bean, Adam Bukosky, Nathan Cook and Jacob St. Clair will be playing the Embassy Quartet and Josh Devett will be seen as the Floor Manager.

CHESS is an award-winning musical with music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, the "BB" of the iconic pop sensation ABBA and has lyrics by legendary Academy Award, Tony Award and Emmy Award winner Tim Rice, the lyricist of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, EVITA, JOSEPH & THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, AIDA and the Disney classics THE LION KING and ALADDIN.

CHESS features the Billboard Top Ten hit "One Night in Bangkok" and the duet "I Know Him So Well", recorded by both Whitney Houston and Barbra Streisand. It focuses on the professional and personal intrigues surrounding the World Chess Championship between an American champion and his Russian challenger.

The production is produced by Kim Rauch and Scott D. Miller; stage direction by Scott Logsdon; choreography by Jackie Willnecker; musical direction by Jerrod Cannistraci and choral direction by Kim Rauch; sound design by Ben Easler, and lighting design by William Sievers.

"We are excited and proud to have been granted the rights to produce this incredible musical in concert form. It will be a thrill for our students to perform alongside former locals who became Broadway greats and to raise money for our Kiersten Robertson Scholarship Fund," says Scott D. Miller. "The score is phenomenal and blends the worlds of classical, rock and Broadway music in a way that only the guys from ABBA and Tim Rice could have created. Our audience will be treated to hearing a huge chorus, full orchestra and some of the best voices from Broadway."

The Richland Theatre Booster's Kiersten Robertson Scholarship was established in memory of the Richland student who was killed in an automobile accident in 2011 during the run of Richland's production of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT.

The performance will take place one day only Sunday, December 8, 2013 at 2:00 pm, at Richland Performing Arts Center, on the campus of Richland High School. Tickets for CHESS are Regular $24, seniors (+62) $22, Gold Card $20, Student $15, Limited View Seating $10 and are on sale. For information, directions, and to charge tickets call 814-269-0300. Tickets are also on sale online at http://www.richlandpac.com. Individuals requesting accommodations for disabilities should contact info@richlandpac.com.

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