Kennedy Kanagawa has replaced Zachary Noah Piser in the lead role of Peiwen in the upcoming production of Tienanmen by Drew Fornarol and Scott Elemgreen at the Phoenix Theatre Company, Arizona Piser departed the production - which starts 4 October 2023 - last month. The cast also includes Ellie Wang, Grace Choi, Austin Ku, Michael Ching, Marc Oka, Sy Chounchaisit, Brandon Gille, Kuppi Jessop, Danielle Mendoza, Michelle Chin, Raymond Dimaano, Alexi Ishida, Peter Eidler, and Rommel Pierre O’Choa.
Savion Glover will not only choreograph and co-direct the New York City Center's gala production of Rodgers & hart's Pal Joey, but also be part of the dance ensemble. Featuring a new book by Richard LaGravenese and Daniel “Koa” Beaty, the revival reimagines the main character to be a Black jazz singer struggling to make it big in the Chicago nightclub circuit. That role will be played by Ephraim Sykes, alongside the previously announced Elizabeth Stanley as Vera, Aisha Jackson as Linda, Loretta Devine as Lucille, Brooks Ashmanskas as Melvin, and Jeb Brown as Tony. This version will blend songs from the original score other Rodgers and Hart tunes.
The cast of the 25th Anniversary North American Tour of Mamma Mia!, which will open in Denver this October before continuing on to play 35+ cities across North America, has been announced. Leading the tour as Donna Sheridan is Christine Sherrill. She will be joined by rising star Alisa Melendez as Sophie Sheridan. Joining them are Carly Sakolove as Rosie and Victor Wallace as Sam Carmichael. Casting also includes Jalynn Steele as Tanya, Rob Marnell as Harry Bright, Jim Newman as Bill Austin, and Grant Reynolds as Sky. The ensemble comprises Louis Griffin, Patrick Park, L’Oréal Roaché, Haley Wright, Gabe Amato, Adia Olanethia Bell, Xavi Soto Burgos, Emily Croft, Madison Deadman, Jordan De Leon, Nico DiPrimio, Patrick Dunn, Stephanie Genito, Tassy Kirbas, Danny Lopez-Alicea, Makoa, Faith Northcutt, Jasmine Overbaugh, Gray Phillips, Blake Price, Dorian Quinn, and Amy Weaver.
The US tour of the Regents Park Open Air Theatre’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar will begin the 2023-2024 season on October 3, 2023 in Columbus, OH and go on to play over 60 cities including Toronto, Charlotte, Denver, Tampa, Little Rock and more. As previously announced, Jack Hopewell and Elvie Ellis return to the tour to star as Jesus and Judas. Jaden Dominique joins the tour in the role of Mary, Grant Hodges as Caiaphas, Alex Stone as Pilate, and Mekhi Holloway as Annas. The ensemble includes Aja Simone Baitey, Ethan Hardy Benson, Joshua Bess, Sherrod Brown, Kalei Cotecson, Jaylon Crump, Alec Diem, Jaleel Green, Domanick Anton Hubbard, Haley Huelsman, Jeremy Makana Hurr, Katrice Jackson, Cameron Kuhn, Taylor Lane, Thomas McFerran, Jeilani Rhone-Collins, Johann Santiago Santos, Reese Spencer, TJ Tapp, Anakin Jace White, and John Zamborsky.
Richard Kind & John Owen-Jones to Lead Sondheim's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum in Paris. Kind will star as Pseudolus and Owen-Jones will take on the role of Miles Gloriosus. The cast also is set to include Rufus Hound as Hysterium, Patrick Ryecart as Senex, Martyn Ellis as Marcus Lycus, Valerie Gabail as Domina, Josh St Clair as Hero, and Neima Naouri as Philia.
Shirine Babb joins the Broadway's A Beautiful Noise. Babb assumes the role of the Doctor on 22 September, taking over from Linda Powell.
On the Annie US national tour, beginning October 7, Rainier “Rainey” Treviño, an 11 year old from Chesapeake, Virginia joins the company as Annie. She joins returning cast members Stefanie Londino as Miss Hannigan, Christopher Swan as Oliver Warbucks, Julia Nicole Hunter as Grace, and Mark Woodard as FDR. Additional newcomers to the family friendly musical include Jeffrey T. Kelly as Rooster and Samantha Stevens as Lily. The dog Georgie, rescued by William Berloni, stars as Sandy. The 2023-2024 orphan class are Savannah Austin, Arianna Guller, Avery Hope, Addie Jaymes, Kylie Noelle Patterson and Jade Smith. The ensemble includes Savannah Fisher, Jerquintez A. Gipson, Caroline Glazier, Chance K. Ingalls, Kaleb Jenkins, Jaelle Laguerre, Tony Mowatt, Nick Traficante, Kaylie Mae Wallace, Callie Alexa, Brooke Olivia Gatto, and Trent Tyson.
The first UK and Ireland Tour of Hamilton will star Shaq Taylor as Alexander Hamilton, Sam Oladeinde as Aaron Burr, Gabriela Benedetti as Peggy Schuyler/Maria Reynolds, KM Drew Boateng as Hercules Mulligan/James Madison, Daniel Boys as King George, Maya Britto as Eliza Hamilton, Aisha Jawando as Angelica Schuyler, DeAngelo Jones as John Laurens/Philip Hamilton, Billy Nevers as Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson and Charles Simmons as George Washington. They are joined by Simeon Beckett, Taylor Bradshaw, Cletus Chan, Kyerron Dixon-Bassey, Kyeirah D’marni, Yesy Garcia, Jonathan Hermosa-Lopez, Levi Tyrell Johnson, Honey Joseph, Akmed Junior Khemalai, Richard Logun, Buna McCreery-Njie, Mia Mullarkey, Antoine Murray-Straughan, Kiran Patel, Izzy Read, Alice Readie, Harry Robinson, Phoebe Samuel-Gray, Jasmine Jia Yung Shen, Samantha Shuma, Michael James Stewart, Rhys West, Jack Whitehead and Sian Yeo.