Prince of Broadway: new musical announces cast

The cast has been announced for the new Broadway musical, Prince of Broadway, that will celebrate the life and career of multi Tony Award-winning director and producer Harold "Hal" Prince. As previously reported, the musical will open on Broadway in Nov 2012 at a theatre to be announced.

Directed by Harold Prince, co-directed and choreographed by 5-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman, Prince of Broadway will star Tony Award winners Linda Lavin (Broadway Bound), LaChanze (The Color Purple) and Shuler Hensley (Oklahoma!), and Tony nominees Daniel Breaker (Passing Strange), David Pittu and Emily Skinner (Side Show).

The cast will also star; Sebastian Arcelus (Elf, Jersey Boys), Sierra Boggess (Master Class, The Little Mermaid), Josh Grisetti (Enter Laughing, the Musical; After the Ball), Richard Kind (The Producers, "Spin City"), Amanda Kloots-Larsen (Follies - 2011) and Caroline O'Connor (Chicago, Moulin Rouge).

Celebrating one of the most influential and successful careers in the American theatre of the past 60 years, Prince of Broadway will look at the circumstances and fortune, both good and bad, that led to Hal Prince creating some of the most enduring musical productions of all time, including The Pajama Game, West Side Story, Fiorello!, Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Evita, and The Phantom of the Opera, the longest-running show in Broadway history.

Produced by Aubrey Dan, Martyn Hayes and Peter W. Lamb for Dancap Productions Inc, Prince of Broadway features a book by David Thompson (The Scottsboro Boys, Chicago [adaptation]) and will feature words and music from the shows that have earned Hal Prince a record 21 Tony Awards.

The creative team includes scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Howell Binkley and sound design by Jonathan Deans.

Bios:

Harold Prince is the recipient of 21 Tony Awards. He as directed the original productions of 'Cabaret,' 'Sweeney Todd,' 'A Little Night Music,' 'The Phantom of the Opera,' 'She Loves Me,' 'Company,' 'Follies,' 'Candide,' 'Pacific Overtures,' 'Evita,' 'Parade,' 'LoveMusik' and 'Paradise Found.' Before becoming a director, Prince's productions included 'The Pajama Game,' 'Damn Yankees,' 'West Side Story,' 'Fiddler on the Roof,' 'Fiorello!' and 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.' Among the plays he has directed are 'Hollywood Arms,' 'The Visit,' 'The Great God Brown,' 'End of the World,' 'Play Memory' and his own play, 'Grandchild of Kings.'

Prince has served as a trustee for the New York Public Library and on the National Council of the Arts of the NEA. Recently, he became an officer with the Order of Arts and Letters from the French Government for "contributing significantly to furthering the arts in France and throughout the world." He is the recipient of a National Medal of Arts for the year 2000 from President Clinton for a career spanning more than 40 years, in which "he changed the nature of the American musical."

Susan Stroman is a five-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer. Broadway credits include 'The Producers,'' Contact,' 'Crazy for You,'' Show Boat,' 'Oklahoma!,' 'Young Frankenstein,' 'The Frogs,' 'The Music Man,' 'Thou Shalt Not,' 'Steel Pier,' 'Big,' 'Picnic' and, most recently, 'The Scottsboro Boys.' Her choreography received an Emmy nomination for the HBO presentation "Liza Minnelli: Live from Radio City Music Hall." Other TV credits include co-conceiver/choreographer for PBS's "Sondheim - a Celebration at Carnegie Hall," "An Evening with the Boston Pops - A Tribute to Leonard Bernstein" and the "2009 Kennedy Center Honors". She received the American Choreography Award for her work in Columbia Pictures feature film "Center Stage." She directed and choreographed "The Producers: The Movie Musical," nominated for four Golden Globes. She is the recipient of the George Abbott Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Theatre and the winner of a record five Astaire Awards.

Linda Lavin returns to Broadway this spring starring in Nicky Silver's comedy 'The Lyons,' having created the role of 'Rita Lyons' when the play debuted last fall at Vineyard Theatre. Her many Broadway credits include having won the Tony Award for 'Broadway Bound,' along with Tony nominations for 'Collected Stories,' 'The Tale of the Allergist's Wife,' 'The Diary of Anne Frank' and 'The Last of the Red Hot Lovers.' She starred for nine seasons on the TV series "Alice," winning two Golden Globes. Her numerous film roles include the recent "Wanderlust."

Sebastian Arcelus most recently appeared in the off-Broadway production of 'The Blue Flower' at Second Stage Theater. He also created the leading role of 'Buddy' in the Broadway musical Elf. Other Broadway credits include 'Jersey Boys' (Bob Gaudio), 'Wicked' (Fiyero), 'Rent' (Roger Davis) and 'Good Vibrations.' Additional Off-Broadway credits include 'Happiness' (Lincoln Center Theater, directed by Susan Stroman) and 'Where's Charley?' (Encores!).

Sierra Boggess is currently appearing off-Broadway in 'Love, Loss and What I Wore.' Last seen on Broadway opposite 'Tyne Daly' in 'Master Class' as well as originated the title character in Disney's 'The Little Mermaid.' In London, she appeared in the 25th Anniversary Concerts of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'The Phantom Of The Opera' and played 'Christine Daaé' in his new musical 'Love Never Dies' (Olivier Award nomination).

Daniel Breaker. Broadway: 'Shrek the Musical,' 'Passing Strange' (Tony nomination), 'Cymbeline' (LCT) and 'Well.' Off-Broadway: 'By the Way, Meet Vera Stark' (2nd Stage), 'Passing Strange' (Public) and 'Fabulation' (Playwrights). London: How to Act Around Cops (Soho Theatre). Film: "Passing Strange" (dir. Spike Lee), "Limitless" and "He's Way More Famous Than You." TV: "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Unforgettable."

Josh Grisetti. Broadway: Neil Simon's ill-fated 'Broadway Bound.' Off-Broadway: 'Rent,' 'Enter Laughing' (York Theatre - Lucille Lortel nomination), 'Candida' (Irish Rep), 'After the Ball' (Irish Rep). TV: "Nurse Jackie," "The Knights of Prosperity and" "The Superagent." Film: "Lowlife," "Revolutionary Road," "The Namesake," "Public Interest" and "The Sandpiper."

Shuler Hensley won a Tony Award for his portrayal of 'Jud Fry' in the Broadway revival of 'Oklahoma!' for which he also received an Olivier Award in London. Other Broadway appearances include 'Young Frankenstein,' 'Tarzan' and 'Les Miserables.' On film, Shuler was featured in "Van Helsing," "The Legend Of Zorro", and the upcoming "Odd Thomas."

Richard Kind. Broadway: 'The Producers,' 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,' 'Sly Fox' and 'The Tale of the Allergist's Wife.' Film: "The Hereafter," "A Serious Man," "The Visitor," "The Station Agent," "A Bug's Life," "Cars" and many others. TV: HBO's "Luck," "Spin City," "Mad About You," "Carol Burnett & Company," "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and more.

Amanda Kloots-Larsen. Broadway: 'Follies' (2011 revival), 'Young Frankenstein' and 'Good Vibrations.' London: 'Paradise Found.' National Tours (Original Companies): 'Young Frankenstein,' 'Spamalot,' '42nd Street.'

LaChanze. Broadway: 'The Color Purple' (2006 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical), 'Once on This Island' (Tony nomination), 'Ragtime,' 'Company' and 'Uptown It's Hot.' Film credits include "The Help," "Breaking Upwards," "Confessions of a Shopaholic," "Disney's Hercules," "For Love or Money" and "Leap of Faith." Television credits include "Handel's Messiah Rocks" (Emmy Award), "Lucy" (CBS TV movie), "Law & Order: SVU," "Sex and the City," "New York Undercover" and "The Cosby Show."

Caroline O'Connor most recently played 'Rose' in 'Gypsy' (UK), 'Phyllis' in 'Follies' (Chicago) and 'Mrs. Lovett' in 'Sweeney Todd' (Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris). She made her Broadway debut as 'Velma' in 'Chicago.' West End: 'Mabel Normand' in 'Mack and Mabel' (Olivier nomination), 'Hildy Esterhazy' in 'On The Town,' 'Romance, Romance,' 'Street Scene,' 'Matador,' 'The Rink,' 'Cabaret,' 'Me and My Girl,' 'Showboat' (RSC), 'Damn Yankees,' 'Baby,' 'Into the Woods' and 'A Chorus Line.'

David Pittu first worked with Harold Prince when he starred as 'Leo Frank' in the national tour of 'Parade,' for which he received the National Broadway Award. For 'LoveMusik,' also directed by Prince, he received his first Tony nomination. His received his second Tony nomination for 'Is He Dead?' He created and starred in' What's That Smell: The Music of Jacob Sterling', which received two Outer Critics Circle nominations, including Best Musical. Other Broadway: 'The Coast of Utopia.'

Emily Skinner most recently appeared on Broadway as 'Mrs. Wilkinson' in 'Billy Elliot.' Broadway: original companies of 'Side Show' (Tony nomination), 'Jekyll & Hyde,' 'The Full Monty,' James Joyce's 'The Dead' (with Christopher Walken) and 'Dinner at Eight.'