110 in the Shade: Steve Kazee joins cast

Steve Kazee is to star opposite Audra McDonald in the Roundabout Theatre Company's production of musical 110 in the Shade, by Harvey Schmidt, Tom Jones and N. Richard Nash, which is to open on Broadway at Studio 54 on 9 May 2007, following previews from 13 Apr and running through to 15 Jul 2007.

110 in the Shade, is based on N. Richard Nash's play 'The Rainmaker', and tells the story of the mercurial Bill Starbuck (Steve Kazee) who promises rain for a drought-stricken town and passion for the stalwart but resigned Lizzie Curry (Audra McDonald).

Steve Kazee was recently seen on Broadway when he played Sir Lancelot in Monty Python's Spamalot.

Audra McDonald's many Broadway credits include: 'Carousel' (revival 1994) and 'Master Class' (1995). She was last seen on Broadway when she played Ruth Younger in A Raisin in the Sun (revival 2004).

Song writing duo Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones are the same people who wrote The Fantasticks, which became the world's longest running musical playing off-Broadway for 17,162 between 3 May 1960 to the 13 Jan 2002. The musical was revived off-Broadway earlier this year and is currently playing at the Snapple Theater Center.

110 in the Shade will be directed by Lonny Price and choreographed by Dan Knechtges, with set and costume design by Santo Loquasto, lighting by Christopher Akerlind and sound by Dan Moses Schreier.

110 in the Shade first played on Broadway at Broadhurst Theatre opening on 24 Oct 1963 with Robert Horton as Bill Starbuck and Inga Swenson as Lizzie Curry.

Tickets go on sale to the general public on 2 Dec 2006.