Kristina: Louise Pitre & Kevin Odekirk join cast of Carnegie Hall concert of Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus� new musical

The full cast has been announced for Benny Andersson and Bj�rn Ulvaeus� upcoming Carnegie Hall concert presentation of the new musical Kristina.

Tony Award nominee Louise Pitre returns to the New York stage after originating the role of 'Donna Sheridan' in the composing team�s global smash hit musical 'Mamma Mia!' on Broadway.

Kevin Odekirk originated the role of 'Robert' in the New York workshop presentation of Kristina after making his Broadway debut in 'Les Mis�rables.'

Previously announced stars Helen Sjoholm, who originated the title role in the Swedish production of Kristina, and internationally renowned tenor Russell Watson, lead a cast featuring Derin Altay, Chris Bohannon, Jane Brockman, Walter Charles, Rebecca Eichenberger, Osborn Focht, Blythe Gruda, Liz Griffith, Joy Hermlyn, David Hess, Michael James Leslie, T. Doyle Leverett, Rob Lorey, Frank Mastrone, Raymond Jaramillo McLeod, Linda Mugleston, Jan Neuberger, Robert Ousley, Sal Sabella, Greg Stone, Jessica Vosk and Kathy Voytko.

Directed by Lars Rudolfsson and featuring the 50 piece American Theatre Orchestra conducted by Tony Award winner Paul Gemignani, Kristina will be performed in concert for two performances only at Carnegie Hall on 23 and 24 Sep 2009.

This will mark the first presentation in English with lyrics by Bj�rn Ulvaeus and Herbert Kretzmer.

Originally titled 'Kristina fr�n Duvem�la,' the musical premiered at the Malmo Music Theatre in Sweden in 1995. The musical ran for almost four years, winning four Guldmasken Theatre Awards (Sweden�s Tony!) and was seen by more people than any other musical in Swedish history.

In 1996, a concert version of Kristina was performed (in Swedish) at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, Minnesota; a part of the country where many of the events in the Moberg novels took place. The Minneapolis Star Tribune called the concert �engaging, emotionally charged and haunting.�

Based on The Emigrants series of novels by Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg ('The Emigrants,' 'Unto a Good Land,' 'The Settlers,' and 'The Last Letter Home'), Kristina tells the epic story of an extended family�s migration from Sweden to America in the mid-19th Century.

Universal Music is proud to promote the concert alongside Benny Andersson and Bj�rn Ulvaeus. A cast recording will follow, released through Universal Music�s Decca Records. Best known as the song-writing partners of ABBA, Benny Andersson and Bj�rn Ulvaeus are also the composers of the stage musicals 'Chess' and 'Mamma Mia!'

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