You don’t have to be a Broadway baby to scratch your onstage acting itch. In fact, all around the country—and outside of it—there are bustling theater communities producing works so vibrant they’d have Edward Albee rolling over in his grave. Want in on that action? You’d be wise to know the ins and outs of industry happenings, and this is a good place to start: From across the pond and back again, here is the week’s biggest regional theater news.
You’re an (Australian) wizard, Harry.
All 42 performers for the upcoming Australian premiere production of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” have been announced. Leading the cast in the title role will be Gareth Reeves alongside Paula Arundell as Hermione, Gyton Grantley as Ron Weasley, Lucy Goleby as Ginny, Tom Wren as Draco Malfoy, among others. Performances will begin Jan. 19, 2019 at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne. The Broadway production, which opened this past spring, won the Tony Award for Best Play.
A dreamy “Seymour” heads to D.C.
Coming to the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater in Washington D.C. for seven performances, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s “Little Shop of Horrors” will receive a new mounting Oct. 24–28. Leading the fits-like-a-glove cast will be Josh Radnor as Seymour, Megan Hilty as Audrey, and Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart as the human-eating plant Audrey II. Mark Brokaw is in place to direct.
A “Wise” world premiere announces cast.
Casting has been set for the upcoming Old Vic production of “Wise Children,” the world premiere production directed and adapted for the stage by Emma Rice. The ensemble will include Sam Archer, Ankur Bahl, Stu Barker, Omari Douglas, Mirabelle Gremaud, Alex Heane, Paul Hunter, Melissa James, Bettrys Jones, Patrycja Kujawska, Etta Murfitt, Katy Owen, Ian Ross, Gareth Snook, and Mike Shepherd. Performances will run Oct. 8–Nov. 10 at the London theater, with a U.K. tour to follow.
Grand cast for “Grand Hotel.”
A first round of casting has been announced for the upcoming reprise 2.0 production of “Grand Hotel” at Los Angeles’ UCLA Freud Playhouse. Leading the Tony-winning musical will be Jonah Platt as the Baron, Maxwell Caulfield as Preysing, and Sharon Lawrence as the Ballerina. Arthur Allan Seidelman will direct the production, running Oct. 24–Noc. 4.
Far-from-rotten casting.
The upcoming nonequity tour of the Tony-nominated “Something Rotten!” has announced complete casting for its run, beginning Sept. 19 in Columbus, Georgia. Leading the cast will be Matthew Baker, Matthew Janisse, Greg Kalafatas, Emilyy Kristen Morris, and Mark Saunders. Directed on Broadway by Casey Nicholaw, this production will receive adapted staging by associate director Steve Bebout. The tour will make stops in California, Florida, Texas, and beyond, before concluding May 19, 2019 in Richmond, Virginia (see a full schedule here).
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