Scandalous: George Hearn to join cast

Two-time Tony Award winner George Hearn ('Sunset Boulevard,' 'La Cage aux Folles) is to co-star in the new Broadway musical Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson.

In this, his 19th Broadway show, Hearn will portray the dual roles of 'James Kennedy,' Aimee's kindhearted father; and 'Brother Bob,' a popular preacher whose growing resentment of Aimee and her public power fuels him to vehemently discredit her from his pulpit.

He joins previously announced leading lady and two-time Tony Award nominee Carolee Carmello (Parade, Lestat) as 'Aimee Semple McPherson.'

Additional casting is still to be announced.

With book and lyrics by Kathie Lee Gifford and music by David Pomeranz and David Friedman, Scandalous will open at the Neil Simon Theatre on 15 Nov 2012, following previews from 13 Oct 2012.

Directed by David Armstrong, scandalous is based on the life of Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944), the world's first media superstar evangelist - a woman whose passion for saving souls equaled her passion for making sensational headlines and attracting overflow crowds of thousands throughout the world. Time Magazine named Aimee Semple McPherson one the most influential people of the twentieth century.

Set in 1920's Los Angeles, holiness collides with Hollywood in this extraordinary tale of one remarkable woman's charismatic rise to fame amidst scandalous love affairs and growing controversy, inevitably ending in her much-publicized fall from grace.

With choreography by Lorin Latarro and musical direction by Joel Fram, Scandalous features scenic design by Walt Spangler, costume design by Gregory A. Poplyk, lighting design by Natasha Katz and sound design by Ken Travis.

Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson is produced by Dick and Betsy DeVos, Foursquare Foundation and Jeffrey Finn, Executive Producer, in association with The 5th Avenue Theatre (David Armstrong, Executive Producer and Artistic Director; Bernadine Griffin, Managing Director; Bill Berry, Producing Director).