David Pichette, Jack Fleischmann & More to Lead 5th Avenue Theatre's OLIVER!; Full Cast Announced

This winter The 5th Avenue Theatre presents a singing and dancing spectacular not to be missed: Lionel Bart's beloved classic, Oliver!, the holiday treat that will have audiences saying "Please sir, I want some more." The iconic musical returns to the celebrated 5th Avenue stage for the first time in 20 years, and will feature stunning costumes, dazzling sets, and a massive local cast of 66 (including 36 youngsters), singing and dancing their way through the streets and alleys of Victorian London. Based on the classic Charles Dickens novel, Oliver! is filled with memorable tunes including "Who Will Buy?", "I'd Do Anything," and "As Long As He Needs Me." Oliver! features direction by David Armstrong and will starDavid Pichette as Fagin, Grayson Smith as the Artful Dodger, Hans Altwies as Bill Sikes, and Merideth Kaye Clark as Nancy. Oliver Twist will be played by Jack Fleischmann and Mark Jeffrey James Weber at alternating performances.

Oliver! plays November 29-December 31, 2013 (press opening December 5) at The 5th Avenue Theatre (1308 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101). Tickets (starting at $40.50) may be purchased online at www.5thavenue.org, by phone at 206-625-1900, or at the Box Office at 1308 5th Avenue in downtown Seattle.

"Oliver! is a musical theater gem that could not be a better fit for the holidays," said Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong. "With messages of love and family at its core, Oliver! is a show that draws people closer together. And with the fantastic music and lyrics of Lionel Bart, it's no wonder. You can't walk away without humming at least one of a dozen favorite songs."

David Pichette returns to The 5th Avenue Theatre this holiday season to star as Fagin, the leader to the gang of ragamuffin street urchins that become Oliver's family. Pichette was critically acclaimed for his portrayal of Major-General Stanley in The 5th Avenue's hit production of The Pirates of Penzance this summer. He has appeared at The 5th in 1776 as John Adams, My Fair Lady as Professor Higgins, Candide as Pangloss/Voltaire, Wonderful Town as Apopolous, and Oklahoma! as Ike Skidmore. A Seattle resident, he has been seen regularly at ACT Theatre, Seattle Rep, Intiman, Seattle Children's Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare, and, in times gone by, at Empty Space and Tacoma Actors Guild. He recently portrayed Ludwig van Beethoven as part of the Seattle Symphony's "Beyond the Score" series.

Jack Fleischmann and Mark Jeffrey James Weber will play the title role of Oliver Twist at alternating performances. Fleischmann returns to The 5th Avenue Theatre after performing here last winter in ELF - The Musical. A 6th grader at Seattle Academy, he began performing at the age of four. He has been participating in Broadway Bound for the past eight years where he has appeared in their productions of Willy Wonka (Charlie), Shrek the Musical (Lord Farquaad), and Peter Pan (Michael). He will make his Book-It Repertory Theater debut in Frankenstein in 2014. Weber is thrilled to be making his 5th Avenue debut. A 7th grader at King's Schools, he has sung with jazz diva Carmen Bradford, Dove-winner Brandon Heath, the Seattle Children's Chorus, and at the Hampton and DiMiero Jazz Festivals.

Grayson Smith plays The Artful Dodger and is thrilled to be spending another holiday season at The 5th Avenue Theatre, after playing Michael Hobbs in ELF - The Musical one year ago. He recently understudied the role of Walter in the world premiere ofSecondhand Lions at The 5tH. Smith's additional credits include The Sound of Music at Leavenworth Summer Theatre and Peter Pan and A Christmas Carol at Central Washington University. He recently made his film debut in 3 Gobblers as Ralph.

The role of the menacing Bill Sikes will be taken on by Seattle star Hans Altwies. Altwies made his 5th Avenue debut as Applegate in Damn Yankees. He was seen most recently as Teach in American Buffalo at Seattle Repertory Theatre and as Antony in Antony and Cleopatra at Seattle Shakespeare Company. He has held multiple starring roles locally at New Century Theatre Company (where he is co-artistic director), Seattle Repertory Theatre, Seattle Shakespeare Company, Wooden O, Intiman, Seattle Children's Theatre, and ACT, as well as Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Altwies is the recipient of the 2010 Gregory Award for Outstanding Actor, and recently directed his first film, Taste, with MJ Sieber.

Merideth Kaye Clark makes her 5th Avenue debut as Nancy in Oliver! Clark, who makes her home in Portland, performed the role of Elphaba in the First National Tour of the Broadway musical Wicked more than 150 times in 35 major U.S. cities. Her additional credits include major roles at NY Theatre Workshop, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, The Old Globe, Northern Stage, Irish Repertory, Portland Center Stage, and the Goodspeed Opera House. She has participated in numerous developmental readings and has originated roles in two Off-Broadway musicals. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Clark studied neuroscience at Emory University before earning an MFA in musical theatre at San Diego State University.

The cast also features a host of Seattle favorites: Andrew Davison (Noah Claypole), Allen Fitzpatrick (Mr. Sowerberry/Mr. Bronlow), Hugh Hastings (Mr. Bumble, the Beadle), Naomi Morgan (Charlotte Sowerberry), Cheryl Massey Peters (Widow Corney), Matthew Posner (Dr. Grimwig), Karen Skrinde (Old Sally), Carol Swarbrick (Mrs. Sowerberry/Mrs. Bedwin), andKeaton Whittaker (Bet).

Supporting the all-star cast is an incredibly talented ensemble including Andi Alhadeff, Scott Brateng, Jared Michael Brown,Ty Cheng, Gabriel Corey, Jeannette d'Armand, Sarah Rose Davis, Paul Flanagan, Cayman Ilika, Mallory King, Robert Krahen, Trina Mills, Riley Neldam, Aaron Shanks, Indeah Thomaier, and Billie Wildrick. Blaine Boyd joins the cast as the male swing, and Alana Peters joins the cast as the female swing.

The massive children's ensemble includes 45 youngsters (not all of whom will appear in every performance): Eli Barnett, Callan Barth, Amalya Benhaim, Tyler Bocock, Jaden Bolibol, Caden Brauch, Gavyn Brayman, Abi Brittle, Benicio Bryant,Truett Burnett, Jake Carlos, Taylor Clark, Eliana Coe, Chris Coon, Gage DeSoto, Montserrat Fleck, Daniel Geiszler,Elijah Joseph Goodman, Delaney Guyer, Eliana Harrick, Jasmine Harrick, Dexter Johnson, Bryan M. Kinder, Jaryn Lasentia, Ethan Lech, Eli Lotz, Boaz Malakoff, Abigail McDaniel, Derek Mulkins, Ella Murphy, Christopher Murray, Ernie Musser, Sophie Poole, Sam Price, Lauren Raabe, Seth Remington, Anthony Rosenthal, Nathaniel Shipley, Naeem Shook, Soren Smith, Cameron Supplee, Christian West, Matt Wiles, Kyan Zielinski, and Skyler Wyatt Zimmerman.

For more information about The 5th Avenue Theatre, its season and its programs, please visit www.5thavenue.org.

Photo credit Mark Kitaoka

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