The Most Happy Fella: Laura Benanti & Cheyenne Jackson

Laura Benanti and Cheyenne Jackson will join the previously announced Shuler Hensley in the New York City Center Encores! production of Frank Loesser's Musical The Most Happy Fella, the second producion of New York City Center's Encores! 2014 season.

The production, directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, with music direction by Rob Berman, will play at New York City Center for seven performances from 02 - 06 Apr 2013.

The Most Happy Fella tells the heart-stopping story of a love triangle between an aging Napa Valley farmer (Shuler Hensley), a young waitress (Laura Benanti) and a handsome, restless ranch hand (Cheyenne Jackson).

The musical is based on the play 'They Knew What They Wanted' by Sidney Howard, and features a book, music and lyrics by Frank Loesser. Loesser's score includes the songs "Somebody Somewhere," "My Heart Is So Full of You," "Big D" and "Standing on the Corner."

The musical premiered at Broadway's Imperial Theatre on 03 May 1956 and ran for 676 performances. Directed by Joseph Anthony nd choreographed by Dania Krupska. The show was nominated for six Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Choreography, Conductor and Musical Director, Best Actor in a Musical (Robert Weede), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Jo Sullivan.). The musical has had three Broadway revival: 1959, 1979 and 1992.

As previously announced, New York City Center's Encores! 2014 season begins with with Jerry Bock's and Sheldon Harnick's 'Little Me' (05 - 09 Feb 2013), followed by Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella (02 - 06 Apr 2014), which concludes with Marguerite Monnot's, Julian More's, David Heneker's and Monty Norman's 'Irma La Douce' (07 - 11 May 2014).

Bios:

Laura Benanti (Rosabella) won a Tony Award for her performance as 'Gypsy Rose Lee' in the Broadway revival of 'Gypsy,' after playing the role in the Encores! SummerStars production. She garnered Tony nominations for her work in 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,' 'Into the Woods,' and' Swing,' and also appeared on Broadway in 'In The Next Room, or The Vibrator Play,' 'The Wedding Singer,' 'Nine' and 'The Sound Of Music.' She recently starred in NBC's comedy series "Go On" as well as "The Playboy Club." She has also appeared on "The Big C" and continues to be seen on "Law and Order: SVU." Her previous Encores! credits also include the role of 'Eileen' in 'Wonderful Town.'

Shuler Hensley (Tony) will be seen in the upcoming Broadway productions of 'No Man's Land/Waiting For Godot' at the Cort Theater. His additional Broadway credits include 'The Monster' in 'Young Frankenstein,' 'Jud' in 'Oklahoma!' (Tony Award),'Inspector Javert' in 'Les Misérables' and 'Tarzan.' His Off-Broadway credits include starring in the title role in 'The Whale' (Lortel, Obie Awards), and as 'Hannibal Lecter' in 'Silence! The Musical' and 'The Apple Plays.' His opera and concert credits include 'Carousel' (New York Philharmonic and PBS), 'Wozzeck' (Curtis Institute of Music), 'Regina' (Kennedy Center), and performances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony and Detroit Symphony. His film credits include "Van Helsing" and "The Legend of Zorro." Hensley starred as 'Ben Marino' in the Encores! production of 'Fiorello.'

Cheyenne Jackson (Joey) previously starred in the Encores! productions of 'Finian's Rainbow' and 'Damn Yankees.' His Broadway credits include 'The Performers,' 'Finian's Rainbow,' 'Xanadu,' 'All Shook Up,' 'Aida' and 'Thoroughly Modern Millie.' Off-Broadway he has been seen in 'The Agony & The Agony,' 'Altar Boyz, '8,' 'The 24 Hour Plays' and' On the Twentieth Century.' Jackson's notable television credits include "Onion News Empire," "30 Rock," "Mockingbird Lane," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," "Glee," and the upcoming "Full Circle." His film credits include "Behind the Candelabra," "United 93," and the upcoming "Love is Strange."

Casey Nicholaw (Director and Choreographer) won the 2011 Tony Award for his work as co-director of 'The Book of Mormon.' He directed and choreographed the Broadway productions of 'Elf: The Musical' and 'The Drowsy Chaperone' (Tony nomination) and choreographed 'Monty Python's Spamalot,' (Tony nomination). His Encores! credits include 'Anyone Can Whistle,' 'Follies' and 'Bye Bye Birdie.'