On the Levee: LCT3 announces cast

Lincoln Center Theater has announced that Amari Cheatom, Brian D. Coats, Chuck Cooper, Maria Couch, Harriett D. Foy, Dion Graham, April Matthis, Jacob Ming-Trent, Seth Numrich, Stephen Plunkett, Michael Siberry and Shelley Thomas will be featured in its upcoming LCT3 world premiere production of On The Levee, a play with music, conceived and directed by Lear deBessonet, with play by Marcus Gardley, and music and lyrics by Todd Almond.

On The Levee will open at The Duke on 42nd Stree on 28 Jun 2010, following previews from 14 Jun and running through to 10 Jul 2010.

On The Levee tells the story of two fathers and sons - a white cotton farmer (Michael Siberry) and his poet son (Sam Numrich), and an African-American bootblack (Dion Graham) and his offspring (Amari Cheatom) - inspired by the Great Flood of 1927 in Greenville, Mississippi when 5000 black laborers were left stranded on a levee.

The production has sets by Peter Ksander, costumes by Emily Rebholz, lighting by Justin Townsend and sound by Leon Rothenberg.

Amari Cheatom: Off-Broadway: 'Book of Grace' (Public Theater) and 'Zooman and the Sign' (Signature Theatre). TV: "Numb3rs."

Brian D. Coats: Off-Broadway: 'Merry Wives of Windsor 'and 'Two Gentlemen of Verona' (NYSF at the Delacorte), and productions at HERE, Theatre for the New City and The Culture Project. TV: "Law & Order," "How To Make It in America," "The Sopranos" and "Jag." Film: "Friendship."

Chuck Cooper: Broadway: 'Finian's Rainbow,' 'Lennon,' 'Caroline or Change,' 'Chicago' and 'The Life' (Tony Award). Off Broadway: 'Marco Polo Sings a Solo,' 'Avenue X' and'Police Boys.' TV/Film: "Gossip Girl," "Nurse Jackie," "Law & Order," "Without a Trace," "Third Watch," "Oz," "American Gangster," "Evening" and "Noise."

Maria Couch: New York theater: 'Wallenberg,' 'A Time to be Born,' 'Unlock'd,' 'Iron Curtain' and 'Happy Anniversary.

Harriett D. Foy: Broadway: 'The American Plan,' 'Mamma Mia!' and 'Once On This Island.' Off-Broadway: 'Crowns' and 'Lone Star Love.' TV: "Rescue Me" and "Law & Order."

Dion Graham, Broadway: 'Not About Nightingales.' Off Broadway: '10 Things to Do Before I Die,' 'Lobby Hero,' 'Elliot Loves' and 'A View of the Dome.' TV: "Gossip Girl," "The Wire," "Third Watch," "Law & Order: SVU," "Homicide" and "NYPD Blue."

April Matthis, New York theater: 'Crippled Sisters' (NYS&F), 'Black Idiot Box' (NYSF), 'Anna Bella Rema' and 'Devil Must Be Deep' (New Georges), 'Providence' (MCC), and 'I Bought a Bunker, B****' (EST), 'Snake Oil' (Ontological Theater). Film: "Breakdown."

Jacob Ming-trent, Broadway: 'Shrek, The Musical.' Film/TV: "Law & Order: C.I.," "The Unexpected" and "The Crime."

Seth Numrich, Off-Broadway: 'Blind and Slipping' (Rattlestick Theatre), 'Gates of Gold,' 'Too Much Memory' and 'Iphigenia 2.0.'TV: "Gravity." Film: "How To Kill A Mockingbird."

Stephen Plunkett, Off-Broadway: 'The Orphan's Home Cycle,' 'Finding Neverland,' 'This Beautiful City'' 'Gone Missing' and 'The Horton Foote Project.' TV: "Mercy, Law & Order:C.I." Film: "Baader Meinhof."

Michael Siberry, LCT:' When the Rain Stops Falling,' 'The Frogs.' Broadway: 'Spamalot,' 'The Sound of Music' and 'Nicholas Nickleby.' Film and TV: "If Looks Could Kill," "Victoria & Albert," "Beast," "Sherlock Holmes" and "Noble House."

Shelley Thomas, Broadway: 'Brooklyn, The Musical' and 'Rent.' Off-Broadway: 'Zanna, Don't.' TV: "Immaculate Conception" (Lifetime).

LCT3 is Lincoln Center Theater's programming initiative devoted to producing the work of new artists and developing new audiences. Paige Evans is the Director of LCT3.