42nd Street Moon, the company that presents intimate productions of “Uncommon Musicals” by great 20th Century composers, today announced casting for SUGAR, the first 2012 mainstage production of the season. The show will feature Michael Kern Cassidy, Tony Panighetti and Riley Krull in the starring roles, under the direction of Dyan McBride. SUGAR opens at the Eureka Theater on April 7, with three low-priced previews April 4 - 6, and runs through April 22.
Based on Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond’s screenplay Some Like it Hot, SUGAR, with book by Peter Stone, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Bob Merrill, premiered in 1972 and was nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, the following year.
“Some Like it Hot is a classic – it’s on everyone’s list of great American films,” said 42nd Street Moon’s Artistic Director Greg MacKellan. “SUGAR reimagines the story as a madcap musical farce. The leading men witness a gangland massacre in Chicago, and join an all-girl band in Miami to escape the wrath of gangsters. Tap-dancing gangsters, I should add.” The farcical delight that follows features such songs as “Doin’ It for Sugar,” “Penniless Bums,” “Sun on My Face,” “Hey, Why Not?” and “The Beauty That Drives a Man Mad.”
Michael Kern Cassidy portrays the Tony Curtis movie role of Joe/Josephine. Tony Panighetti takes the Jack Lemmon role of Jerry/Daphne, which Robert Morse memorably originated onstage. Both actors have appeared in several Moon productions including the recent American premiere of Three Sisters.
Riley Krull appears in the title role of Sugar Kane, the beautiful band singer with a slight drinking problem, who wants to marry a millionaire. Krull made her Moon debut in What a Swell Party – The Cole Porter Salon earlier this season, and went on to appear in Three Sisters.
“Marilyn Monroe iconically portrayed Sugar Kane in the movie,” MacKellan said, “and we plan to honor her with a special ‘Marilyn Contest’ our second Wednesday.” The details of the contest will be available on the Moon website.
Scott Hayes makes his Moon debut as the wealthy Osgood Fielding who falls in love with “Daphne,” while Darlene Popovic appears as bandleader Sweet Sue, and Zack Thomas Wilde as tapping gangster “Spats” Palazzo. Others in the cast are RJ Castaneda, Tyler Costin, Caleb Haven Draper, Grant “Buzz” Halsing and David Visini. The all-girl band members are portrayed by Michelle Drexler, Erica Kimble, Emily Morris and Skye Violet Wilson.
Assisting Director Dyan McBride on the creative team are Saif Eddin as music director, and choreographer Tom Segal. Ellen Brooks provides lighting, Ron Gasparinetti, sets, Samantha Young, props, and Felicia Lilienthal is costume designer on the production.
The last production of the season will be the Kander and Ebb classic, ZORBÁ (1968), directed by Greg MacKellan. The show plays May 2 – 20. Casting for ZORBÁ will be announced soon.
