Pipe Dream: Tom Wopat and Will Chase join cast

Tom Wopat and Will Chase have joined the previously announced Laura Osnes in the New York City Center Encores! production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Pipe Dream, the second New York City Center Encores! production of the season, running from 28 Mar - 1 Apr 2012.

In addition to Tom Wopat, Will Chase and Laura Osnes, the cast will also includes James Clow, James Moye, Steve Routman and Stephen Wallem. The production will be directed by Marc Bruni and choreographed by Kelli Barclay.

Pipe Dream, based on John Steinbeck's novel 'Sweet Thursday,' features music by Richard Rodgers, with book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.

The musical is about a group of outcasts yearning for a better life who populate the bordellos and flophouses of a 1950's California seaside town. The show features many of Steinbeck's Cannery Row characters and tells the story of the romance between 'Doc' (Will Chase), a marine biologist, and 'Suzy' (Laura Osnes), a young woman who hitchhikes into town looking for a better life. Doc's friends include 'Mac' (Tom Wopat), 'Hazel' (Stephen Wallem), and 'Fauna,' the owner of the local brothel.

The show premiered at the Shubert Theatre on 30 Nov 1955 and ran for 246 performances. It was nominated for nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Pipe Dream has not been seen on the American stage in more than two decades, owing to a technicality involving the underlying rights.

This Rodgers and Hammerstein rarity includes the songs "All at Once You Love Her," "The Next Time It Happens" and the wistful ballad "Everybody's Got a Home but Me."

Bios:

Will Chase (Doc) currently stars as "Michael Swift" on the new NBC show "SMASH". Chase made his Broadway debut as 'Roger' in the musical 'Rent.' He went on to star in many Broadway productions including 'Billy Elliot,' 'Miss Saigon,' 'The Full Monty,' 'High Fidelity,' 'The Story of My Life,' 'Aida' and 'Lennon.' He starred in last season's Encores! production of 'Bells Are Ringing.'

Tom Wopat (Mac) Broadway: 'Catch Me if You Can,' 'Sondheim on Sondheim,' 'A Catered Affair' (Tony nomination), 'Glengarry Glen Ross,' 'Chicago,' '42nd Street,' 'Annie Get Your Gun' (Tony nomination),' Guys and Dolls,' 'City of Angels,' 'I Love My Wife.' He is still known to TV fans as "Luke Duke" from the TV series "The Dukes of Hazzard."

Laura Osnes (Suzy) returned to Broadway this fall as 'Bonnie Parker' in 'Bonnie and Clyde' after originating the role at Asolo Repertory Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse. Before that, Osnes starred as 'Hope Harcourt' in the Tony-winning revival of 'Anything Goes' and as 'Nellie Forbush' in Lincoln Center Theater's production of 'South Pacific.' She made her Broadway debut as 'Sandy 'in the most recent revival of 'Grease,' having won the role on NBC's reality competition "Grease: You're The One That I Want."

James Clow (Ray) appeared on Broadway in 'Assassins,' 'Blood Brothers,' 'Company,' 'She Loves Me,' 'Wonderful Town' and 'Irving Berlin's White Christmas.' He last appeared at City Center in the Encores! production of 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.'

James Moye (Jim) has appeared on and off-Broadway in 'Million Dollar Quartet,' 'Ragtime,' 'A Tale of Two Cities,' 'The Full Monty,' 'Urinetown' and 'Happiness' (Lincoln Center).

Steve Routman (George) has appeared on and off-Broadway in 'La Bête,' 'The Shaggs,' 'The Fantasticks,' 'Shmulnik's Waltz' and 'Lingoland.'

Stephen Wallem (Hazel) is best known as "Thor" on the Showtime series "Nurse Jackie".

Marc Bruni (Director) has directed 'Ordinary Days' (Roundabout), 'Such Good Friends,' 'The Sound of Music,' 'The Music Man,' 'My One and Only', 'Seven Brides..'. (all for St. Louis Muny), 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee '(Paper Mill/PTC), 'High Spirits' (York Theater), and 'Glimpses of the Moon' (Oak Room). He was associate director of the Broadway, London and touring productions of 'Legally Blonde' and appeared on MTV's "Search for Elle Woods." He directed the Encores! production of 'Fanny.'

Kelli Barclay (Choreographer) was associate choreographer on the Broadway productions of '42nd Street' (revival), 'Irving Berlin's White Christmas,' 'State Fair' and 'Ain't Broadway Grand,' as well as the Encores! productions of 'Do, Re, Me,' 'Face the Music,' 'Of Thee I Sing' and 'No, No Nanette.'