Cast and Creative Team Announces for New Broadway-Bound Musical “Gotta Dance”
Contact:
Rick Miramontez / Molly Barnett / Chelsea Nachman
rick@oandmco.com / molly@oandmco.com / chelsea@oandmco.com
212-695-7400
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE
“ G O T T A D A N C E ”
HAS GOT ITS TEAM!
PRELIMINARY CAST & DESIGN TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR
NEW BROADWAY-BOUND MUSICAL
STEFANIE POWERS, ANDRE DE SHIELDS,
GEORGIA ENGEL, LILLIAS WHITE
AND MORE TO STAR
AT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S
BANK OF AMERICA THEATRE
PERFORMANCES BEGIN DECEMBER 13, 2015
New York, NY (June 29, 2015) – Producers Dori Berinstein and Bill Damaschke announced today the initial casting for Gotta Dance, the new Broadway-bound musical based on the critically acclaimed 2008 documentary about professional basketball’s first ever aged 60-and-older dance team. Tony® Award nominee Andre De Shields, five-time Emmy® Award nominee Georgia Engel, Tony Award-winner Lillias White, television and film icon Stefanie Powers (making her Broadway debut), Haven Burton, Lori Tan Chinn, and Nancy Ticotin are set to star in the pre-Broadway World Premiere of Gotta Dance this winter at Broadway In Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago). Gotta Dance begins performances on December 13, 2015 and runs through January 10, 2016.
Gotta Dance brings together an all-star creative team that includes a book by Tony Award- nominee Chad Beguelin (Aladdin) and Tony Award-winner Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone), music by Tony Award nominee Matthew Sklar (Elf) and lyrics by Tony Award-nominee Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde), with additional music by Marvin Hamlisch (an Emmy, Grammy®, Tony and Oscar® winner) and direction and choreography by Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots).
The creative team of Gotta Dance reunites Mitchell with his Kinky Boots collaborators, including five time Tony Award nominee David Rockwell (Scenic Design), Tony Award-winner Gregg Barnes (Costume Design) and Tony Award-winner Kenneth Posner (Lighting Design), along with Nick Kenkel (Co-Choreography), four-time Tony Award nominee Peter Hylenski (Sound Design), Tony Award-winner Larry Hochman (Orchestrations), Charlie Alterman (Musical Director) and Telsey + Company (Casting).
In 2007, one of the unlikeliest ideas ever to come out of professional sports resulted in the formation of basketball’s first-ever dance team entirely made up of people over sixty. Over the coming months, bonds would be formed, generation gaps would be crossed, and, eventually, some pretty hot moves would be busted. The venue? Center court. The genre? Hip-hop. Gotta Dance tells the remarkable true story of these wildly diverse seniors with a common goal, the young coaches who help them achieve it, and a passion for dance that brings them all together. Gotta Dance is the age-defying blast of a musical that proves sometimes the biggest shot is the one you take late in the game.
The Pre-Broadway World Premiere of Gotta Dance will be a part of the Broadway In Chicago Fall 2015-16 Season Subscription Series. Group tickets for 10 or more are now on sale by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. Individual tickets will go on-sale at a later date. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
Additional casting for the Gotta Dance company will be announced at a later date.
BIOS
Haven Burton. Broadway credits include Kinky Boots, Violet (Violet standby), Shrek the Musical (Gingy, Fiona u/s), Legally Blonde (Margot, Elle u/s), RENT (Maureen). National Tours/ concerts: Shrek (Princess Fiona), RENT (Maureen), Carnegie Hall’s ‘Take the Stage,’ Symphony POPs in Santa Rosa.
Lori Tan Chinn. Original Broadway productions: M. Butterfly; G.R. Point; Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen (NY stage debut). Off-Broadway: The Primary English Class; G.R. Point; King & I. Regional: South Pacific (Arena Stage – recipient, Helen Hayes Award – Supporting Actress in a Musical, she has also been hailed by R&H enthusiasts, including Mary Rodgers, as “the definitive Bloody Mary”); Peter Sellars’ The Merchant of Venice (Goodman Theatre & European Tour). Seven seasons with the O’Neill Theater Center, plus 3 seasons serving as script finalist/ advisor to Artistic Director, Lloyd Richards. Recipient, 2nd Annual New Dramatists’ Charles Bowden Award, 2nd Annual Eugene O’Neill Theater Center/American Theatre Wing/Clarence Ross Fellowship. Some film credits: Mickey Blue Eyes; She-Devil; What About Bob?; Glengarry Glen Ross; Living in Oblivion. Television: ABC-TV’s “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific,” “Roseanne” (series regular, 2nd season), “Spin City,” “Law & Order,” and currently, as Chang in Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black.”
Andre De Shields. In a career spanning forty-five years, André De Shields has distinguished himself as an unparalleled actor, director and educator. A multiple Tony Award nominee, Mr. De Shields is the recipient of Florida Atlantic University’s 2014 Making Waves Award, the 2012 Fox Foundation Fellowship/Distinguished Achievement, the 2009 National Black Theatre Festival’s Living Legend Award and the 2007 Village Voice OBIE Award for Sustained Excellence of Performance. His body of work includes Broadway, Off-Broadway, Regional Theatre, Feature Films, Television, Distinguished Visiting Professorships and Motivational Speaking. Most recently he created the role of “Senior” in the world premiere of The Fortress of Solitude at both the Dallas Theater Center and New York’s Public Theater, was featured as Stool Pigeon in the Arena Stage production of King Hedley II, directed by Timothy Douglas. Mr. De Shields is best known for his show stopping performances in four legendary Broadway musicals: The Full Monty, Play On!, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and The Wiz. www.andredeshields.com. Namaste!
Georgia Engel. Downtown: Annie Baker’s Uncle Vanya (Soho Rep) directed by Sam Gold, Will Eno’s Middletown (Vineyard Theatre). Broadway: The Drowsy Chaperone; My One and Only; Hello, Dolly. Television: “Hot In Cleveland,” “Everybody Loves Raymond” (three Emmy nominations), “Coach,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (two Emmy nominations).
Stefanie Powers is best known to television audiences for her work in the long-running series “Hart to Hart.” Ms. Powers also starred in “The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.” and “Feather & Father Gang,” has made dozens of TV guest appearances, starred in and produced over 20 mini-series and countless feature films while under contract to Columbia Pictures. She most recently appeared in Follies at the Royal Albert Hall celebrating the 85th birthday of Stephen Sondheim. West End/UK: Love Letters, On Golden Pond, Matador, Applause and The King and I. New York: The Vagina Monologues. National Tours/Regional: Looped, The King and I, Sunset Boulevard, How the Other Half Loves, Sabrina, A View From the Bridge, Oliver!, Annie Get Your Gun. Ms. Powers is President of the William Holden Wildlife Foundation, serves on the advisory board of three major zoos, and is the conservation consultant to Jaguar Motor Company where she created The Jaguar Conservation Trust.
Nancy Ticotin, a native New Yorker, made her Broadway debut at age 10. Film: Ransom, The Wiz, The History of Future Folk, and soon-to-be-released GEEZER. TV: recurring roles on such series as “Law & Order,” “Law & Order:SVU,” and “Orange is the New Black.” Ticotin is an original member of Ballet Hispanico of NY under the direction of her mentor, Tina Ramirez. She was the sole mezzo-soprano in the 9-member operetta, Great Day in the Morning with Jessye Norman, directed by Robert Wilson. Broadway: The King & I, West Side Story, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Damn Yankees and In The Heights. Wild Woman (one-woman show). She was invited by Jerome Robbins to guest-star with New York City Ballet as Anita in West Side Story Suite. She is so excited to be OLD ENOUGH to play the role of Camilla in Gotta Dance!
Lillias White was last seen on Broadway in Fela! for which she received a TONY nomination. Other awarded performances include Crowns (Audelco), Romance in Hard Times (OBIE Award), “Sesame Street” (Emmy Award), The Lillias White Effect (2015 BISTRO), Texas in Paris (Lucille Lortel Nomination). For her portrayal of Sonja in The Life, Lillias received the Quadruple Crown of Broadway Awards: Friends Of New York Theatre, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, and Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Other Broadway: Barnum, Dreamgirls, Chicago, Cats, Once On This Island, and How to Succeed…. TV: “Gotham,” “Person Of Interest,” PBS’ “Great Performances” (South Pacific), “Law & Order,” “L&O SVU,” “Sesame Street.” Film: Game 6, Pieces Of April, Voice of Lead Muse in Disney’s Hercules. Lillias also enjoys Cabaret and concert performances and she’s graced the stages of Carnegie Hall, The Venetian Room, JAZZ@Lincoln Center, The Blue Note, The Sydney Opera House, and 54 Below. Lillias holds an Honorary Doctorate in Fine Arts from the City University of New York!
Chad Beguelin (Book) is a four-time Tony Nominee whose works include Disney’s Aladdin (Tony Award Nomination for Best Book and Best Original Score, Drama Desk Award Nomination for Outstanding Lyrics and Best Book) and The Wedding Singer (Tony Award Nomination for Best Book and Best Original Score, Drama Desk Award Nomination for Outstanding Lyrics). He also wrote the lyrics for the Broadway musical Elf, which broke several box office records at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. His play HARBOR premiered off-Broadway at Primary Stages. Chad also wrote the book and lyrics for Judas & Me (NYMF Award for Excellence in Lyric Writing), The Rhythm Club (Signature Theater) and Wicked City (American Stage Company). He is the recipient of the Edward Kleban Award for Outstanding Lyric Writing, the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Award, the Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Musical Theater Award and the ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award.
Nell Benjamin (Lyrics). Nell co-wrote the score to Legally Blonde, The Musical with composer Laurence O’Keefe, which received Tony Award nominations, Drama Desk nominations, and the Olivier and Helpmann Awards for Best Musical. Her play, The Explorers Club won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Play, the Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award, and an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation grant. Nell has written book and/or lyrics for Pirates! (or Gilbert and Sullivan plunder’d), Sarah, Plain and Tall, Cam Jansen (Drama Desk-nominated), I Want My Hat Back, How I Became A Pirate, The Mice, Because of Winn Dixie and Life of the Party. She is working on musical adaptations of Dave, and Mean Girls. Television writing includes Unhappily Ever After, Animal Planet’s Whoa! Sunday with Mo Rocca, and the new Electric Company.
Bob Martin (Book) has been working as an actor and writer in Canadian theatre, film and television for over 3 decades. He has had a long association with the Toronto Second City, where he co-wrote and performed in four Second City revues, directed three, and had a stint as Artistic Director. He is a co-creator of The Drowsy Chaperone, and has performed in many of its incarnations including Ahmanson Theatre (Los Angeles), Marquis Theatre (Broadway), Novello (London). Bob has won a number of awards for his work including an LA Drama Critics Circle Award, an L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Award, a Drama Desk Award, a Theatre World Award, and a Tony Award. He is also co-creator of the critically acclaimed dramatic series “Slings & Arrows.” Recent TV projects include “Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays” (CBC), “Sensitive Skin” (HBO), and “Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas” (NBC). Recent theatre projects include Elf (Broadway), Minsky’s (Ahmanson LA), and in dev., Broadway Royalty, The Sting, and Millions.
Matthew Sklar (Music) is a Tony and Drama Desk-nominated composer. His works include the musicals Elf (Broadway 2010/2012, West End 2015) and The Wedding Singer (Tony Award Nomination for Best Original Score, Drama Desk Award Nomination for Outstanding Music). Matthew adapted his music from the Broadway musical Elf for the critically-acclaimed NBC stop-motion animated television special Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas, starring Jim Parsons. He also adapted/arranged the music of Marvin Hamlisch for the Emmy Award-winning documentary film Marvin Hamlisch: What He Did For Love, seen on PBS/American Masters. Other TV credits include: Sesame Street, Wonder Pets!, and The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Awards: ASCAP Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award, the Gilman/Gonzalez-Falla Theatre Award, and the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Award.
Jerry Mitchell (Direction and Choreography) received the Tony Award in recognition of his choreography for the 2013 TONY Award-winning Best Musical, Kinky Boots, for which he was also nominated as Director. In the 35 preceding years, Jerry has choreographed more than 50 Broadway, Off-Broadway, West End and touring productions, including the following for Broadway: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; The Full Monty (TONY nomination); The Rocky Horror Show; Hairspray (TONY nomination); Gypsy; Never Gonna Dance (TONY nomination); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (TONY nomination); La Cage aux Folles (TONY Award); Legally Blonde (TONY nomination), which he also directed; Catch Me If You Can and on the West End, Love Never Dies and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Olivier Award nomination), which he also directed. Twenty-five years ago, Jerry conceived and created Broadway Bares, a comedy burlesque show performed annually for the charity, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, of which he continues to serve as executive producer. Next up: Gotta Dance, having its world premiere in Chicago this coming winter.
Nick Kenkel (Co-Choreography) was the Associate Director and Co-Choreographer for Peepshow in Las Vegas starring Holly Madison, Mel B., and CoCo Austin. The show ran for a successful four and a half years at Planet Hollywood Casino & Resort. Nick has directed/choreographed his own versions of Dreamgirls, Chicago, and Legally Blonde at North Shore Music Theatre, one of New England’s finest regional theatres, receiving numerous IRNE Award Nominations including Best Director and Best Choreographer. Nick has directed the last three annual installments of Broadway Bares in New York City. On Broadway, Nick was the Assistant Choreographer on Legally Blonde and Associate Choreographer on Catch Me If You Can. Nick choreographed and restaged the 1st National Tour of Catch Me If You Can. His work can currently be seen at Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn as he is a regular choreographer for the Brooklynettes, NBA pro dance team.
Larry Hochman (Orchestrations). Select Broadway: The Book of Mormon (Tony and Drama Desk Awards), Pippin, The Scottsboro Boys (Tony and Drama Desk Nominations), Monty Python’s Spamalot (Tony and Drama Desk Nominations), Fiddler on the Roof (Tony Nomination), A Class Act (Tony Nomination), Big Fish (Drama Desk Nomination), The Addams Family, Chaplin (Drama Desk Nomination), Jane Eyre. Select Off Broadway: Death Takes a Holiday (comp. Maury Yeston, Drama Desk Nomination). [Selected Regional] The Nutty Professor (comp. Marvin Hamlisch). Film: 17 films incl. Marvin Hamlisch’s The Informant!, Lady and the Tramp II, Annie, Little Mermaid II. TV: “The Wonder Pets!” (5 EMMY Awards as Lead Composer, Nickelodeon). Concerts/Recordings: In Memoriam (symphonic poem published by E.B. Marks), Barbra Streisand, Mariah Carey, Eric Idle, Hugh Jackman, Audra McDonald, Barry Manilow, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Betty Buckley, Mandy Patinkin, Boston Pops, San Francisco Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Big Apple Circus, Sir Paul McCartney.
David Rockwell (Scenic Design). Theatrical designs: this season’s On the Twentieth Century, Side Show and You Can’t Take It With You; Kinky Boots (Tony nomination); Lucky Guy (Tony nomination); Catch Me If You Can; Hairspray (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle nominations); Legally Blonde The Musical (Drama Desk nomination); Harvey; The Normal Heart; A Free Man of Color; CQ/CX; The Rocky Horror Show (Drama Desk Nomination); All Shook Up (Drama Desk Nomination); Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; Armed and Naked in America; Omnium Gatherum. Film: Team America. TV: 81st and 82nd annual Academy Awards (2010 Emmy Award). He is the founder of Rockwell Group, an architecture and design firm.
Kenneth Posner (Lighting Design) has more than 50 Broadway play and musical theatre credits. He designs extensively off-Broadway, for resident theatres and touring productions throughout the United States as well as internationally. Select Broadway credits: If/Then, Kinky Boots, Pippin, Cinderella, Hairspray, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Legally Blonde, Catch Me If You Can, The Coast of Utopia – Shipwrecked, Other Desert Cities, The Merchant of Venice, The Frogs, Side Man, Finding Neverland, and Wicked. He is the recipient of the Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics’ Circle and OBIE Awards.
Gregg Barnes (Costume Design). Broadway: Something Rotten! (Tony nomination), Aladdin, Kinky Boots (Tony nomination), Follies (2012 Tony Award,Drama Desk), Elf, Legally Blonde (2007Tony nomination), The Drowsy Chaperone (2006 Tony Award, Drama Desk Award), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Flower Drum Song (Tony nomination), Side Show, Bye Bye Birdie. New York: The Wizard of Oz, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The Merry Widow (NYC Opera), Pageant (NY and London, Olivier nomination), The Kathy and Mo Show. Regional: Robin and the 7 Hoods, Mame, Allegro (Helen Hayes Award). TDF Young Master Award.
Peter Hylenski (Sound Design). Grammy, Olivier and four time Tony award nominated. Selected Broadway Designs include: Something Rotten, After Midnight, Motown, The Scottsboro Boys, Side Show, Rock of Ages, Rocky, Bullets Over Broadway, Shrek the Musical, On A Clear Day, Lend Me A Tenor, Elf, Wonderland, Cry Baby, The Times They Are A-Changin’, The Wedding Singer, Sweet Charity, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, Little Women, Brooklyn. Other credits: Le Reve and ShowStoppers at Wynn Las Vegas, Ragtime (London), Rocky Das Musical (Hamburg), King Kong (Melbourne), How To Train Your Dragon (International Arena Tour), Walking with Dinosaurs (International Arena Tour), Bull Durham, Mame.
Charlie Alterman (Musical Director). Music Director for the Tony Award winning revival of Pippin, as well as Next to Normal and Godspell, Charlie made his Broadway debut in Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me (as both Music Director and standby for several roles). Other Broadway credits include Legally Blonde (Associate Conductor). He has toured with Grease and served as Music Supervisor for the North American tour of Next to Normal. Off-Broadway favorites: Almost Heaven: Songs of John Denver and Silence: The Musical!. Regional work includes shows at The Muny, A.R.T., Arena Stage, Huntington Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Trinity Rep, and nine seasons with the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Concert appearances include shows with Brooke Shields, Frankie Avalon, Dana Reeve, Emily Skinner, Billy Porter, Carol Woods and Ken Page.
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