Every day is opening night.

Contact:
Rick Miramontez / Briana Sanchez / Shea McGovern
rick@omdkc.com / briana@omdkc.com / shea@omdkc.com
212 695 7400

FOR RELEASE ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2025

“JOY: A NEW TRUE MUSICAL”
CELEBRATING BUSINESS ICON
JOY MANGANO
ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL CASTING

GABRIELA CARRILLO
AS
‘RONNI’
AND
PAUL WHITTY
AS
‘COWBOY EDDIE’

PERFORMANCES BEGIN SATURDAY, JUNE 21
FOR A SUNDAY, JULY 20 OPENING NIGHT
PLAYING THROUGH SUNDAY, AUGUST 17
FOR 8 WEEKS ONLY
AT THE LAURA PELS THEATRE
AT THE HAROLD AND MIRIAM STEINBERG CENTER FOR THEATRE

TICKETS ARE ON SALE
AT WWW.JOYTHEMUSICAL.COM

New York, NY (April 22, 2025) –Today, producers Sandi Moran and Ken Davenport announced that Gabriela Carrillo and Paul Whitty will be joining the cast of JOY: A New True Musical starring Tony Award^® nominee Betsy Wolfe as ‘Joy.’

Based on the life of trailblazing businesswoman and inventor Joy Mangano, Wolfe will play ‘Joy’ with the previously announced Jill Abramovitz as ‘Toots,’ Adam Grupper as ‘Rudy,’ Mauricio Martinez as ‘Tony,’ Honor Blue Savage as ‘Christie,’ and Charl Brown as ‘Dan.’

Headshots for the cast can be found HERE.

Previews will begin at the Laura Pels Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46^th Street) on Saturday, June 21 with an opening night set for Sunday, July 20.

Also joining the creative team are Yael Lubetzky (Lighting Designer) and Daniel Lundberg (Sound Designer).

Tickets for JOY: A New True Musical are on sale now at www.joythemusical.com or by calling (833) 274-8497.

JOY: A New True Musical is an uplifting work based on the true story of entrepreneur and inventor Joy Mangano. Her journey—also told in the 2015 film JOY, starring Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence—now comes to life on stage. From single motherhood and financial struggles to building a business empire, Joy’s story epitomizes the power of resilience and determination, an inspiring celebration of a woman who never gave up and redefined the American Dream!

The powerful and uplifting new musical features a book by Tony winner Ken Davenport, music and lyrics by GRAMMY^® and Tony Award nominee AnnMarie Milazzo, music supervision and arrangements by Andy Einhorn, choreography by Emmy Award^® winner Joshua Bergasse, and direction by Lorin Latarro.

The creative team for JOY: A New True Musical includes Tony Award nominee Anna Louizos (Scenic Design), Tina McCartney (Costume Design), Yael Lubetzky (Lighting Designer), Daniel Lundberg (Sound Designer), Tony Award nominee David Bengali (Projection and Video Design), Darion Matthews (Hair and Wig Design), Jillian Zack (Music Director), Gary Mickelson (Production Stage Manager), with ShowTown Theatricals serving as general manager.

In addition to Moran and Davenport, JOY: A New True Musical is also co-produced by TBD Theatricals, Christine Petti, Jonathan & Rae Corr, Scott Abrams, Adam Riemer, Christine G. Williamson, Sheri & Les Biller, Michael T. Cohen & Robin Reinach, Ashley Howe, Stark Sands, Laurie & Emily Tisch, Marco Santarelli, Beauty Theatrical Productions, Mark Jacobs, Shalini Matani, Sara Miller McCune, Megan Ann Rasmussen, and Larry & Robin Kaufman.

Earlier this year, Milazzo released “The Shape of Things: Songs From Joy The Musical,” a concept album inspired by JOY: A New True Musical on Joy Machine Records.

Written and performed by Milazzo, produced by Sonny Paladino, and with music supervision by Andy Einhorn, the digital album is available for streaming HERE.

Additionally, the music video for “The Shape of Things” performed by Milazzo is now available HERE.

Though it is being performed at The Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre, JOY: A New True Musical is not a Roundabout Theatre Company production.

BIOGRAPHIES

Gabriela Carrillo (Ronni) is a Mexican-American actor, singer, songwriter and independent artist originally from Chicago. She is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, with focuses in vocal performance, songwriting and drama. Recently, she played Catherine Parr in SIX: The Musical on Broadway, making her Broadway debut after playing the same role for two years on the First National Tour.

Other favorite roles include Lucha in American Mariachi, Miriam in The Prince of Egypt, and Elsa in Frozen.

Aside from her career in theatre, Gabriela has also worked as a vocalist with artists like Beyoncé (Homecoming on Netflix) and Hugh Jackman (Live at Radio City).

Gabriela is a passionate songwriter and artist, with a discography currently available on streaming platforms under the name “Gabriela Francesca”. In her free time, she’s a passionate polyglot, budding novelist, YouTuber, and total sucker for her 10-year-old rescue pup, Mochi. Find her on TikTok/Instagram: @officialgabrielacarrillo

Paul Whitty (Cowboy Eddie). Broadway: The Great Gatsby, Camelot, Come From Away, Gettin The Band Back Together, Amelie, Once, The Full Monty. TV/Film: “Law & Order SVU,” “FBI Most Wanted,” “Song One,” Come From Away. Regional: Papermill Playhouse, MUNY, Old Globe, Berkeley Rep, Pittsburgh CLO, A.R.T. Yes, I am a composer, and no I’m not the guy from Northern Ireland. I do it all for FRAK. Fight the fascists. Thanks for being here.

Yael Lubetzky (Lighting Designer) Designed the Broadway production of Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam which won a Tony award for Best Special Theatrical Event; Designs Off-Broadway including productions with The New Group, The Public Theater, Playwrights Horizons, Minetta Lane Theatre, WP Theatre, National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, Cherry Lane and others. Regional designs at American Conservatory Theatre, The 5th Avenue Theatre, Writer’s Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Drury Lane, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Trinity Repertory Company and more. Dance designs at The Joyce, and Baryshnikov Arts Center. Recent designs include Natasha Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (Writer’s Theatre); On Your Feet, Kinky Boots (Riverside Theatre); Master Class (Arizona Theatre Company); Legally Blonde (Village Theatre). Yael is a recipient of the NEA/TCG Career Development Grant for Designers.

Daniel Lundberg (Sound Designer) Design credits include The Cher Show (Tour), His Story (Dallas), Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live (Tour), and productions for Roundabout Theatre Company, American Repertory Theater, The Public Theater, Ogunquit Playhouse, New York Stage and Film, The REV, ZACH Theatre, and A Contemporary Theatre of Connecticut. Sound engineer and assistant design credits include 19 Broadway productions, 11 tours, six circuses, two theme parks, and many concerts. BFA Carnegie Mellon. It’s great to be here!

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