John Carrafa to Choreograph Goodman's Animal Crackers, Featuring Mara Davi, Joey Slotnik, Tony Yazbeck

Tom Judson to Play NYC's Metropolitan Ro...

By Dan Bacalzo • Jul 28, 2009 • Chicago

Mara Davi
(© Joseph Marzullo/WENN)

Tony Award-nominee John Carrafa will choreograph the Goodman Theatre's production of the musical Animal Crackers, to play the Albert Theatre, September 18-October 25. Henry Wishcamper will direct.

Written by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, with music and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, the show's action is set in motion when a celebrated piece of art is stolen during a party honoring the African explorer Captain Spaulding. The musical is perhaps best known for its 1930s film adaptation starring the Marx Brothers.

As previously announced, the cast will feature Joey Slotnik as Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding, along with Jonathan Brody as Emmanuel Ravelli, Molly Brennan as The Professor, Mara Davi as Arabella Rittenhouse, Ed Kross as Horatio Jamison, Ora Jones as Mrs. Rittenhouse, Stanley Wayne Mathis as Hives, Jessie Mueller as Grace Carpenter, and Tony Yazbeck as Wally Winston.

The creative team will include Paul Kalina (clowning director), Doug Peck (music director), Robin Vest (set designer), Jenny Mannis (costume designer), Matthew Richards (lighting designer), and Richard Woodbury (sound designer).

For more information, visit www.GoodmanTheatre.org.