Star Power

There are plenty of familiar names in the casting announcements recently made for some upcoming L.A, productions.

The Rubicon Theatre’s revisit to Edward Albee’s lacerating classic Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, opening January 31, will topline Emmy-winner Joe Spano (of NCIS, Hill Street Blues, and NYPD Blue, and many acclaimed theatre productions), pictured, as George, opposite Rubicon’s founder Karyl Lynn Burns as Martha. Jason Chanos will play Nick, and at this writing, the role of Honey is to be cast.

It was previously announced that Leslie Uggams would star as legendary actor-singer Lena Horne in the Pasadena Playhouse’s bio-musical Stormy Weather, which opens January 30. Now we learn that her costars will be Nikki Crawford as young Lena and Tony-nominated Broadway veteran Dee Hoty (The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public, Footloose, The Will Rogers Follies) as Kay Thompson. Among others in the accomplished cast are Yvette Cason, Cleavant Derricks, Jeffrey Rockwell, and Robert Torti.

When the Geffen Playhouse premieres the drama Time Stands Still by Pulitzer-winning Donald Margulies, on February 11, the cast will include Anna Gunn (HBO’s Deadwood), Alicia Silverstone (Clueless), David Harbour (Quantum of Solace, Revolutionary Road) and Robin Thomas (Damages, Murphy Brown). Tony winner Daniel Sullivan (Proof) directs.

And Center Theatre Group has revealed the casts for its two big musicals, soon to open. In the Deaf West Theatre/Mark Taper Forum coproduction of Stephen Schwartz’ Pippin (reportedly extensively re-imagined), which opens January 25, the titular role will be shared by hearing performer Michael Arden (Big River, Bare: A Pop Opera), pictured, and deaf performer Tyrone Giordano. Among others in the large company are Dan Callaway, Bryan Terrell Clark, James Royce Edwards, Sara Gettelfinger, Aleks Pevec, Troy Kotsur, and Alexandria Wailes.

Across the Music Center Plaza, at the Ahmanson, the saucy burlesque-era musical frolic Minsky’s opens February 7, in its world premiere engagement. Among the players will be Christopher Fitzgerald (as Billy Minsky), Katherine Leonard (as his love interest Mary), Rachel Dratch, George Wendt, Beth Leavel, John Cariani, Gerry Vichi, Kevin Cahoon, and Paul Vogt. Inspired by the 1968 William Freidkin film The Night They Raided Minsky’s, the tuner includes music by Charles Strouse (Annie, Bye Bye Birdie, Applause), lyrics by Susan Birkenhead (Triumph of Love), and a reuniting of The Drowsy Chaperone creators--Bob Martin wrote the libretto, while Casey Nicolaw directs and choregraphs.
--Les Spindle