Once to welcome four new cast members

Ben Hope will star as 'Guy,' and Laura Dreyfuss will star as 'Girl,' from 26 Mar 2013 in Once, the winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical. They replace original cast members Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti who will give their final performance on 24 Mar 2013.

Also on 26 Mar 2013, Carlos Valdes and Claire Wellin will assume the role of 'Andrej' and 'Reza' respectively, replacing original cast members Will Connolly and Elizabeth A. Davis, who also play their final performance on 24 Mar 2013.

Ben Hope (Guy) currently understudies the role of 'Guy.' He is the leader of the honky-tonk band "Ben Hope and the Uptown Outfit," and has appeared regionally as 'Hank Williams' in 'Hank Williams: Lost Highway' and 'Buddy Holly' in 'Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story.' Laura Dreyfuss (Girl) made her Broadway debut in the Swing of 'Rock of Ages' and also appeared in the first national tour of the Tony Award winning production of 'Hair.'

Carlos Valdes (Andrej) has toured with 'Jersey Boys' and appeared regionally in 'High School Musical,' 'The Wedding Singer' and 'Fiddler on the Roof' (WVPT).

Claire Wellin (Reza) has appeared at regional theatres such as the Lookingglass Theatre Company, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre and Profiles Theatre. She has appeared on TV on ABC's "Detroit 1-8-7," and NBC's "Reconstruction".

Once opened at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on 18 Mar 2012, following previews from 28 Feb 2012, and is currently booking through to 09 Feb 2014.

The show opened to excellent reviews: Vital and surprising (NY Times); Wonderful (NY Daily News); Gem of a show (NY Post); The most exuberant, feel-good show in town (Record); Wistful little charmer in every musical way (Newsroom Jersey).

Directed by the Scottish director of 'Black Watch,' John Tiffany, with choreography by Steven Hogget, the musical stars Steve Kazee ('110 in the Shade') as 'the Guy' and Cristin Milioti ('The Little Foxes') as 'the Girl.'

The cast currently features David Abeles, Claire Candela, Will Connolly, Elizabeth A. Davis, David Patrick Kelly, Anne L. Nathan, Lucas Papaelias, Andy Taylor, Erikka Walsh, Paul Whitty and J. Michael Zygo.

The set and costume design are by Bob Crowley, lighting design is by Tony winner Natasha Katz and sound design is by Clive Goodwin.

The musical won eight 2012 Tony Awards: Best Musical; Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Steve Kazee); Best Direction of a Musical; Best Book of a Musical; Best Orchestrations; Best Scenic Design of a Musical; Best Lighting Design of a Musical; and Best Sound Design of a Musical.

Once, a stage adaptation of the 2007 Academy Award-winning film of the same name, is a modern day musical set on the streets of Dublin about a street musician and a Czech immigrant. During an eventful week the two meet, begin writing songs together, rehearse and record their songs to take to London in hopes of landing a music contract. Through the music they write, the duo works through their past loves, and are confronted with their new feelings for each other.

The musical features the Academy Award-winning music and lyrics of Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, with a book by award-winning Irish playwright & screenwriter, Enda Walsh (Penelope,' Hunger, The New Electric Ballroom). Steven Hoggett (American Idiot, Black Watch) will provide musical staging and Martin Lowe (Mamma Mia!) is the music director.

Once is produced on Broadway by Barbara Broccoli, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo, Brian Carmody, Michael G. Wilson, and Robert Cole.

The 2007 Academy Award-winning film, Once, was written and directed by John Carney, and starred Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, with original music and lyrics by Hansard and Irglová.