Kohl, Pew, Parlato, Denman & More Star In Pioneer Theatre Company's 42ND STREET 4/23 - 5/8

Pioneer Theatre Company presents its season finale 42ND STREET, April 23rd through May 8th, 2010.

Twenty-five pages, ten dance numbers and six songs to learn in 36 hours. That's the plight of Peggy, a small-town chorus girl freshly arrived in the Big Apple, and just chosen to replace the leading lady in the biggest show on Broadway. With determination, a little luck, and the lullaby of Broadway propelling her, this bright-eyed gal has the talent and heart to become a star. Toes will be tapping to this show-stopping, Tony Award-winning musical.

Playing the part of the hopeful young hoofer Peggy Sawyer is Equity actress Lea Kohl. Kohl performed in the first national tour of the 42nd Street revival (Peggy US/Ensemble) and with Irving Berlin's White Christmas. She is a principal member of the award-winning NYC-based company Walden Dance Theatre and has performed in regional venues all over the U.S. including the Broadway Rose Theatre, Westchester Broadway Theatre, Papermill Theatre and Flat Rock Playhouse. This marks her PTC debut.

Peggy's suitor, the leading man Billy Lawlor, is played by Equity actor JEFFREY PEW. Utah native Pew returns to PTC after appearing as Don in A Chorus Line, and as a member of the quartet in last season's My Fair Lady. In New York, Pew also works as a pianist for The Mark Morris Dance Group, STEPS on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, and Peridance. He recently recorded a new album of ballet music with David Howard for Roper Records. Pew holds a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre from Brigham Young University.

Playing the big-time Broadway director Julian Marsh is Equity actor Dennis Parlato. Parlato's Broadway credits include Lawrence in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Mr. Robinson in The Graduate, John the Baptist in Salome, Captain Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, CIA agent Walter Anderson in Chess, and Rooster in Annie. His film credits include Tom DiCillo's Johnny Suede and Delirious, Eddie Muller's Dillinger's Dead, Greg De Felice's Bury the Evidence, Rick, First Born, Starting Out in the Evening and Bride Wars. He was last seen at PTC in The Vertical Hour, Paint Your Wagon and Touch(ed).

The aging ingénue Dorothy Brock is played by Equity actress Beth Glover. Glover has appeared on Broadway, off-Broadway, and in film and television. Some recent credits include Audrey (As You Like It, Shakespeare Theatre Co. of D.C.); Big Edie/Little Edie Beale (Grey Gardens, TheatreWorks, Palo Alto, CA-SFBACC Best Actress Award); Ellie (world premiere of The Good Girl is Gone, Playwrights Theatre of NJ); Lily (Take Me Along, Irish Rep NYC); Cora (Lortel Award Winner Counsellor-at-Law, off-Broadway, NYC); Alexa (Bees In Honey Drown, Mason Street Warehouse).

Ms. Brock's one true love, Pat Denning, is played by Equity actor KURT ZISCHKE. Zischke's Broadway, off-Broadway and national tour credits include Whistle Down the Wind, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Three Sisters, Antigone, Ulysses In Nighttown, A Doll's House, King Lear, and Barbara's Blue Kitchen among others. He has appeared in leading roles in over 90 productions at regional theatres across the country, and returns to PTC after appearing in many productions, including Julius Caesar, The Ladies Man, Camelot, and 1776, among others.

The man Ms. Brock spends all of her time with, the wealthy Texan tycoon Abner Dillon, is played by Equity member TERENCE GOODMAN. Goodman's Broadway and First National tour credits include the original production of Jesus Christ Superstar, the first revival of Damn Yankees with Gwen Verdon and Ray Walston, and as Captain Smith in Titanic. He was a series regular on Days of Our Lives and had a recurring role on The Young and the Restless. He returns to PTC after last appearing in Twelve Angry Men and Our Town.

The producers of Julian Marsh's show, Maggie Jones and Bert Barry, are played by Equity members MARY FANNING DRIGGS and Jack Doyle, respectively. Driggs, who holds a B.F.A. from Brigham Young University, has appeared in 12 PTC productions, including Les Misérables, The Producers, My Fair Lady, Disney's Beauty and the Beast and Smokey Joe's Cafe. She also maintains a private vocal studio and teaches workshops specializing in pop-belt techniques.

Jack Doyle's Broadway and national tour credits include Young Frankenstein (Mr. Hilltop), The Music Man, Tommy Tune's Doctor Dolittle, Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere), Crazy For You, The Will Rogers Follies and Funny Girl. Off-Broadway productions include Destry Rides Again, Tomfoolery, and New Faces of 1952, a Radio City Music Hall spectacular. He has worked with many stars of stage and screen, including Ginger Rogers, Mickey Rooney, and Sandy Duncan, among others. This marks his PTC debut.

The dance director Andy Lee is played by Equity actor Scott Barnhardt. His Broadway/New York/national tour credits include Deaf West's revival of Big River (Cast Recipient of the 2004 Tony Honor), Bye Bye Birdie for City Center ENCORES! and The Boy Friend, directed by Julie Andrews. He returns to PTC after appearing as Carmen Ghia in The Producers.

Featured chorus girl "Anytime" Annie Reilly is played by Equity actress Erin Denman. Denman's Broadway and national tour credits include Diane in 42nd Street (revival), Stairway to Paradise for Encores! and the national tour of The Producers (Dance Captain). She also appeared in the film version of The Producers, and has many other regional theatre, television and film credits. She recently appeared at PTC as Sheila in A Chorus Line, and as Velma Kelly in Chicago.

Playing multiple roles, including the stage manager, the doctor, and others, is Equity actor JUSTIN IVIE. Ivie's past PTC appearances include The Producers, Paint Your Wagon, Les Misérables and Othello, among many others. Utah audiences have also seen him in White Christmas at the Egyptian Theatre Company and in Kiss Me, Kate at Utah Musical Theatre.

Playing the parts of Oscar the accompanist and others is Equity member DANIEL T. SIMONS. Simons returns to PTC after appearances in Miss Saigon, The Producers, Les Misérables, Paint Paint Your Wagon and others. A Weber State graduate, Simons also manages Dark Horse Company Theatre.

Other Equity members of the cast include Brian Beach, ERIC LEE BROTHERSON, Jackie Covas, JORDAN GRUBB, Matthew Kirk, Mike Kirsch, JANELLE NEAL, Katheryn Patton, AARON LLOYD POMEROY (Dance Captain), Matthew Schneider, and LINDSEY D. SMITH.

Rounding out the cast are ensemble members MAGGY LAWRENCE, CHRISTINE MOORE, SHANNON MUSGRAVE, CODY WALKER and VALERIE WALKER. Nicholas Dunn understudies the production.

Directing the production is PTC Artistic Director CHARLES MOREY. Morey has directed more than eighty productions for Pioneer Theatre Company. Regionally he has directed for the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Asolo Theatre Company, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Meadow Brook Theatre, American Stage Festival, PCPA Theaterfest and the Utah Shakespearean Festival. Morey is also an accomplished playwright whose works have gone on to successful productions in theatres across the country, and a fellow of the MacDowell Colony.

Patti D'Beck will choreograph the production. Her Broadway credits include A Chorus Line, Annie Get Your Gun, starring Bernadette Peters, and later Reba McEntire, Bells Are Ringing, Grease! and The Will Rogers Follies, working with people such as Jeff Calhoun, Graciela Daniele, Tommy Tune and Michael Bennett. Recently at PTC, she choreographed and directed A Chorus Line, and choreographed My Fair Lady and The Producers. She is currently a faculty member in the Theatre Department at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA.

Michael Rice provides the musical direction for the production. Rice was the original arranger/conductor for the off-Broadway hit Nunsense. His Broadway and national tour credits include the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Peter Pan, Cats, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Camelot, and Grand Hotel. He was also involved with the Anne Bogart Premieres American Vaudeville and Marathon Dancing with the SITI Company (founded by Anne Bogart and Tadashi Suzuki). He returns to PTC after last conducting The Light in the Piazza.

Resident Scenic Designer George Maxwell designs the set. Maxwell recently designed the sets for A Chorus Line, Miss Saigon and My Fair Lady at Pioneer Theatre Company; his previous designs include The Producers, Chicago, You Can't Take It With You and Les Misérables. A member of United Scenic Artists, he has also designed sets for Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Utah Opera Company and the Utah Shakespearean Festival.

K.L. ALBERTS designs the costumes for the production. His recent designs for PTC include Miss Saigon, The Producers and Les Misérables. Alberts' designs have also been seen at SLAC in such shows as Rabbit Hole, SexSting, Skin in Flames, Kimberly Akimbo, and Bad Dates. For the Utah Shakespearean Festival, he designed Hay Fever, The Matchmaker and Ah, Wilderness!

Lighting design is by Dennis Parichy. Parichy's Broadway design credits include Talley's Folly, Burn This, The Water Engine and others.  He was Resident Lighting Designer for Circle Repertory Company for twenty-five years and is currently an Associate Artist at People's Light & Theatre Company. Past PTC credits include Is He Dead?, The Light in the Piazza and The Heiress.

Sound design is by PTC resident sound designer Joe Payne, and hair and makeup design is by AMANDA FRENCH, also a PTC resident designer.

Pioneer Theatre Company, Utah's premier resident professional theatre, performs at Roy W. and Elizabeth E. Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre, located on the University of Utah campus at 300 South and 1400 East in Salt Lake City, easily accessible by TRAX light rail. Free parking is also available and the theatre is equipped with an elevator, handicap parking, hearing assistance devices and other easy-access features.

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