New Musical Piece Of My Heart announces full cast

The new musical about the life and career of Songwriter Bert Berns called Piece Of My Heart, which will premiere Off Broadway at the Irene Diamond Stage at the Pershing Square Signature Center this Summer with previews beginning on 25 Jun 2014 and an official opening set for 21 Jul 2014, has now announced full casting. The musical is booking through to 31 Aug 2014.

The cast of Piece Of My Heart features Zak Resnick as Bert Berns, Leslie Kritzer as Jessie, Linda Hart as Mom, Joseph Siravo as Wazzel, Tony Award nominee De'Adre Aziza as Candace, Derrick Baskin as Hoagy, and Teal Wicks as Ilene, with an ensemble that includes Carleigh Bettiol, Teresa Gattison, Shonica Gooden, Sydney James Harcourt, Harris Milgrim, Michael Millan, Gabrielle Ruiz, Amos Wolff, and Mark Zeisler.

Bios:

Zak Resnick (Bert Berns) made his Broadwap debut in 'Mamma Mia!' in 2012 as Sky. Off-Broadway credits include 'Disaster' (Chad) and 'Lucky Guy'. TV credits include 'Lovestruck' (DJ).

Linda Hart (Mom) made her Broadway debut in 'Bette! Divine Madness' in 1979 and went on to appear in 'Anything Goes', for which she won a Theatre World Award in 1988, 'Sid Caesar & Company' (1989), 'Hairspray' (2002) and was most recently seen as Carol Strong in 'Catch Me If You Can' (2011).

Leslie Kritzer (Jessie) has been nominated for two Drama Desk Awards for her roles in 'A Catered Affair' (2008) and 'The Great American Trailer Park Musical' (2006). Other Broadway credits include 'Hairspray' (2004), 'Legally Blonde' (2007), 'Sondheim on Sondheim' (2010) and most recently in 'Elf' (2012).

Derrick Baskin (Hoagy) has appeared on Broadway in 'Memphis' (Gator), 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee' (Mitch Mahoney), and 'Disney's The Little Mermaid' (Jetsam). Outside of Broadway, Derrick is coming off of a successful tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Film and TV credits include 'Law and Order SVU', 'Submissions Only', 'Annie', and 'Anesthesia'.

Joseph Siravo (Wazzel) made his Broadway debut in 'Conversations With My Father' in 1992. His other Broadway credits include 'A Small Family Business' (1992), 'The Boys from Syracuse' (2002) and 'The Light in the Piazza' (2005).

De'Adre Aziza (Candace) was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in 'Passing Strange' (2008). Since then, she has appeared on Broadway in 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown' (2010), 'Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth' (2012) and most recently in 'A Night with Janis Joplin' (2013).

Teal Wicks (Ilene) made her Broadway debut as Elphaba in 'Wicked' in 2011 and has also appeared in 'Jekyll & Hyde' (2013).

Piece Of My Heart features a book by Daniel Goldfarb, with direction and choreography by Denis Jones. The creative team also includes Alexander Dodge (Scenic Design), David Woolard (Costume Design), Ben Stanton (Lighting Design), Carl Casella (Sound Design), Garry Sherman (Music Supervision & Orchestrations) and Lon Hoyt (Music Direction).

Synopsis: Bert Berns was born in New York in 1929 and died tragically of a heart attack at just 38 years of age. But in his short career, Berns left an indelible mark on popular music; he made fifty-one pop chart singles in seven years and became one of the most successful songwriters of the 1960s. Piece Of My Heart tells his remarkable story, once dubbed by Rolling Stone "one of the great untold stories of rock and roll," through his hit songs, which include "Twist and Shout," "Tell Him," "I Want Candy," "Hang On Sloopy," "Cry, Baby," and many more.

Piece Of My Heart is produced Off-Broadway by Merged Work Productions and Jack Thomas.

- by Tom Millward