Thursday, March 29, 2012

CASTING: Nice Work If You Can Get It

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO VOTE IN THE MONTHLY THEATRE POLL AND
IN THIS WEEK'S HOT/HOTTER ROUND!  BOTH ARE TO YOUR LEFT!


CONTENT RELATED TO THIS BLOG:

  • Click HERE to go to the official show website for Nice Work If You Can Get It.
  • Click HERE for a ticket discount for Nice Work If You Can Get It.



With all the new shows coming in at once, and a few shows hogging up all of the publicity, one show is flying relatively low under the radar.  But I suspect all of that will change tonight, when Nice Work If You Can Get It begins previews.  On paper this one looks like it can't miss.  A Gershwin score loaded with classic toe-tappers and ballads.  A book by Tony winner Joe Di Pietro (Memphis).  Direction and choreography by 3 time Tony winner Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes).  And the cast ain't bad, either.  And they, if anything, have me excited for this production.

Among the 10 principals, they have collected an Oscar, 3 Tony awards, 8 Tony nominations and 2 Theatre World Awards.  The marquee names are thrilling.  The character roles are being played by a relative who's who of current Broadway regulars, and the ensemble features dancers who have been in all of the biggest shows for the past several years.



Leading the company, of course, are Matthew Broderick (The Producers, Brighton Beach Memoirs, How to Succeed (95)) and Kelli O'Hara (South Pacific, The Pajama Game, Light in the Piazza).  Estelle Parsons (August:Osage County, Good People) and Judy Kaye (The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!) offer major support, as well.

The rest of the principal cast includes: Michael McGrath (Spamalot) as Cookie McGee; Jennifer Laura Thompson (Wicked, Urinetown) as Eileen Evergreen; Terry Beaver (The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Born Yesterday) as Senator Max Evergreen; Robyn Hurder (Grease) as Jeannie Muldoon; Stanley Wayne Mathis (Wonderful Town, The Lion King) as Chief Berry; and Chris Sullivan (Lombardi, Chicago
as Duke Mahoney.


The Company


I have a feeling that the dancing will be in excellent hands, considering this ensemble: Cameron Adams, Clyde Alves, Kaitlyn Davidson, Jason DePinto, Kimberly Faure, Robert Hartwell, Stephanie Martignetti, Barrett Martin, Michael X. Martin, Vivian Nixon, Adam Perry, Jeffrey Schecter, Jennifer Smith, Joey Sorge, Samantha Sturm and Kristen Beth Williams.  Collectively, they have appeared in such dance-filled shows A Chorus Line, Chicago, Wicked, Promises, Promises, Anything Goes, How to Succeed, Movin' Out, The Music Man, The Drowsy Chaperone, La Cage aux Folles, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Memphis among many others.


Judy Kaye and the Boys in rehearsal


The design team is also top notch, with sets by Derek McLane, costumes by Martin Pakledinaz, lighting by Peter Kaczorowski, and sound by Brian Ronan.  All were involved in Ms. Marshall's Anything Goes.


With names and talent like these, Nice Work could end up being a "nice ticket if you can get it" kind of show.  Let' hope so!


3.211
Jeff

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