Public announces casting for Southern Comfort

Tom Millward
Tom Millward

The Public Theater has announced complete casting of the upcoming new musical Southern Comfort, which will officially open at the Public's Anspacher Theater on 7 March 2016, following previews from 23 February, and will play a limited engagement through to 27 March 2016.

The cast includes Annette O'Toole (Robert Eads) and Jeff McCarthy (Lola Cola) who are both reprising their roles from the Barrington Stage Company and Cap21 productions, along with Donnie Cianciotto (Sam), Lizzie Hagstedt (Storyteller, Bass), Jeffrey Kuhn (Jackson), Elizabeth Ward Land (Storyteller Musician, Djembe), David M. Lutken (Storyteller Musician, Guitar), Morgan Morse (Musician), Aneesh Sheth (Carly), Robin Skye (Melanie) and Joel Waggoner (Storyteller Musician, Violin).

Described as a 'transformative musical', Southern Comfort features book and lyrics by Dan Collins and music by Julianne Wick Davis, based on the film by Kate Davis and conceived for the stage by Robert DuSold and Thomas Caruso, who also directs.

Synopsis: "Southern Comfort tells the true story of a group of transgender friends living life on their own terms in the back hills of rural Georgia. Winner of the prestigious Jonathan Larson Award, this folk and bluegrass-inspired musical is a celebration of redefining family and choosing love over every obstacle."

Southern Comfort features scenic design by James J. Fenton, costume design by Patricia E. Doherty, lighting design by Ed McCarthy, sound design by Andrew Keister and choreography by Ryan Kasprzak.

The musical adaptation is based on a 2001 Sundance award-winning documentary about transgender people in rural Georgia. It began life at the Playwrights Horizons with a developmental reading in 2010, followed by numerous workshops before a full production at the Barrington Stage, MA, in 2013.

- by Tom Millward

Annette O'TooleJeff McCarthy

Originally published on

Subscribe to our newsletter to unlock exclusive New York theatre updates!

Special offers, reviews and release dates for the best shows in town.

You can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy