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Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS

By: Aug. 07, 2015
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Stage 2 at the White Plains Performing Arts Center presents CHESS the Musical. The smash hit rock musical of the 1980s has been re-imagined and updated to reflect today's explosive political climate between the United States and the Middle East.

The cast is headed by Amanda Renee Baker as Florence with John Cormier and Conor McGiffin as the American and the Iranian, respectively.

They are supported by Allison Butler, Ruby Day, Andrew Hendrick, Gilgamesh Taggett, and So Young Jeon, with John Cedric Anderson, Bryan Campo, James Caposito, Carly Dieck, Victoria Dieck, Nashard Shawndell Gales, Daisy Guevara, Sarah Heinzmann, Tyler Henson, Nick LeMay, Michelle Morris, Elodie Lucinda Mamie Morss, April Nuovo, Casey O'Donnell, Simona Persampieri, Casey Sacco, Sam Stein, Kat Vaccaro, Bjorn Van den Berghe, Samantha Alicandri, Haleigh Brown and Lielle Kaidar.

Director Keith Levenson is a theatrical chameleon who runs the gamut from composer and orchestrator, to director, to arts administrator and is best known for his work conducting Broadway and National Touring productions. With the cast of CHESS he joins two of his worlds, pulling Andrew Hendrick and Conor McGiffin from the National tour of Jekyll and Hyde (where he serves as Associate General Manager and Music Supervisor) and John Cormier, Ruby Day, and Gilgamesh Taggett from the National Tour of Annie (where he serves as Music Supervisor and Resident Director.)

Levenson states, "Casting actors from these two shows may seem unlikely for CHESS, but there's no denying the performances are spectacular. Their voices really carry the rock score; we're lucky to have such formidable actors and singers with us."

CHESS is directed by Levenson with musical direction by Brent McGee and choreography by Jennifer Jonas. Scenic Design by Katie McGeorge, Costume Design by Antonio Consuegra, Lighting Design by Catherine Clark, Sound Design by Scott Tunkel, Properties Design by Emily Banks, Graphic Designs and Projections by Betsy Wilkowski and KELLYdesigns LLC.

CHESS will be on stage for ONE WEEKEND ONLY, tonight, August 7 and Saturday, August 8 at 8:00 PM and Sunday, August 9 at 2:00 PM at the White Plains Performing Arts Center. WPPAC is conveniently located minutes from the White Plains Metro North train station, a 25 minute ride from Manhattan. It is located on the third level of City Centeroff Mamaroneck Avenue in downtown White Plains. Tickets are $35 (adults) and $25 (22 & younger). For tickets: visit the theatre box office Monday-Friday (11am-6pm), purchase the tickets online at wppac.com/shows/chess or call 914-328-1600. For Group Sales, contact barbara@wppac.com.

CHESS the Musical is produced by STAGE 2, a program created by WPPAC to bridge the gap between our Conservatory and MainStage, giving college and graduate school performers the opportunity to work in a Professional Regional Theatre under the guidance of Broadway artists.

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Thomas Mendolia and Amanda Renee Baker

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
John Cormier-Burke and Conor McGiffin

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Sam Stein, Carly Dieck, Haleigh Brown, Casey Sacco, Gilgamesh Taggett and James Caposito

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Gilgamesh Taggett, Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier-Burke, So Young Jeon, Conor McGiffin, Ruby Day and Andrew Hendrick

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Cast

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Carly Dieck, James Caposito, Sarah Heinzmann, Haleigh Brown, Michelle Morris, Daisy Guevara, Victoria Dieck, Simona Persampieri and Kat Vaccaro

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
James Caposito, Sam Stein, Lielle Kaidar, Simona Persampieri, Bryan Campo, John Cormier-Burke and Bjorn Olav

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Sarah Heinzmann, Casey O'Donnell, James Caposito, Haleigh Brown, Lielle Kaidar, Samantha Alicandri, Amanda Renee Baker, Victoria Dieck, Conor McGiffin, April Elle, Daisy Guevara, Kat Vaccaro, Sam Stein and Simona Persampieri

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Sam Stein, Bryan Campo, James Caposito, Lielle Kaidar, John Cormier-Burke, Allison Butler and Gilgamesh Taggett

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Conor McGiffin

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Conor McGiffin

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Amanda Renee Baker and John Cormier-Burke

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Ruby Day

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Andrew Hendrick, Ruby Day, Conor McGiffin, So Young Jeon, John Cormier-Burke, Amanda Renee Baker and Gilgamesh Taggett

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Carly Dieck, James Caposito, Sarah Heinzmann, Michelle Morris, Casey O'Donnell, Kat Vaccaro and Simona Persampieri

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Victoria Dieck, Amanda Renee Baker and Casey O'Donnell

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Daisy Guevara, Andrew Hendrick, April Elle, Conor McGiffin and Nick LeMay.

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Sarah Heinzmann, Victoria Dieck, Amanda Renee Baker, Casey O'Donnell, April Elle and Michelle Morris

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Sarah Heinzmann, Carly Dieck, Kat Vaccaro, Amanda Renee Baker, Victoria Dieck, Michelle Morris and April Elle

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Ruby Day, Conor McGiffin, Michelle Morris, So Young Jeon, Amanda Renee Baker, Casey Sacco and Sarah Heinzmann.

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Andrew Hendrick and Allison Butler

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Andrew Hendrick, Allison Butler and Gilgamesh Taggett

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Amanda Renee Baker, Gilgamesh Taggett and John Cormier-Burke

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Conor McGiffin, Michelle Morris, So Young Jeon, Amanda Renee Baker and Sarah Heinzmann.

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
April Elle, Victoria Dieck, So Young Jeon, Casey Sacco and Michelle Morris

Photo Flash: First Look at Amanda Renee Baker, John Cormier, Conor McGiffin & More in WPPAC's CHESS  Image
Kelly Genovese and Amanda Renee Baker



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