Casting is complete for Theatre Aspen's upcoming summer season, reported Artistic Director Paige Price. The award-winning regional theatre unveils the brand new Hurst Theatre in Rio Grande Park on June 24th with two musicals and a comedy. The new theatre tent was installed during a snow storm on May 19th, work on the interior will begin immediately.
The theatre's 28th season of summer repertory features the regional premiere of Becky's New Car, by native Coloradan Steven Dietz, starring Emmy- and Tony-nominee Sandy Duncan. Opening July 7th is the beloved musical Annie, by Thomas Meehan (book), Charles Strouse (music) and Martin Charnin (lyrics), and the new musical Vices: A Love Story, (story by Michael Heitzman & Ilene Reid, and music and lyrics by Susan Draus, Everett Bradley, Michael Heitzman and Ilene Reid). Vices closes out the season with a final performance on August 20th.
Becky's New Car will be directed by Drama League Fellow Kate Powers. Duncan, a multiple Emmy and Tony Award® nominee, is beloved for her portrayal of Peter Pan on Broadway, as well as her recent appearance as Roxie Hart in Chicago. Television audiences will remember Ms. Duncan as the star of "The Sandy Duncan Show" as well as "The Hogan Family," and for her Emmy-nominated performance in the groundbreaking "Roots."
Ms. Duncan asserts, "I am thrilled my pal Paige Price and the folks at Theatre Aspen have invited me to do "Becky's New Car." I am thrilled it is a quirky and uniquely touching play. I am thrilled to be working with my son and the rest of the talented cast. I am thrilled to be directed by the gifted Kate Powers. And I am thrilled to be spending two months in glorious Aspen. I am clearly thrilled."
The show also stars Duncan's son, Jeffrey Corriea, who also appeared with his mom in The Glass Menageriei in 2009. Featured are Laurence Lau (August: Osage County, One Life to Live), Autumn Hurlbert (Legally Blonde, Little Women), David Ledingham (Light in the Piazza),Ted Pejovich (As The World Turns) and Heather Lee (Gypsy, Guys and Dolls) round out the cast.
Annie, opening July 7th, is the biggest production ever staged at Theatre Aspen, and features local favorite Nina Gabianelli as Miss Hannigan, Broadway's David Hess (Sweeney Todd, Ragtime, Annie Get Your Gun) as Warbucks, Joan Hess (Flight of the Conchords,Mamma Mia, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) as Grace, Julia Foran as Annie, Melinda Cowan as Lily and Dennis Kyle as Rooster. Thadd Krueger, Franz Alderfer (Marie Christine),Tess Ferrell, Chelsie Nectow and Jeffrey B. Duncan round out the cast, along with the orphans played by Sophie Schlosser, Karlie Nelson, Kaia Vresilovic, Talitha Jones and Tatum Shane. Marjorie Mae Treger directs and choreographs, with musical direction by David Dyer. Casting for "Sandy" is underway.
Vices: A Love Story was first staged at Florida's Caldwell Theatre. The Theatre Aspen production features both a new director (Amanda Dehnert) and choreographer (Andrew Palermo), with Danielle Greaves(Rescue Me, RENT, Hairspray) remaining from the original cast. Greaves is joined by Destan Owens (RENT, Chicago, Smokey Joe's Café), Catherine Brookman (Hair), Jason Reiff (Les Miserables) and the dancers, upon which the show centers, will be portrayed by Samantha Harvey (dre.dance company member) and Matthew Steffens (Women on the Verge, Promises, Promises).
