Aldredge, Gurwin, Harriell, Kim, Rutigliano Join Kismet Cast

Tom Aldredge, Danny Gurwin, Marcy Harriell, Randall Duk Kim, and Danny Rutigliano have joined previously announced stars Brian Stokes Mitchell and Marin Mazzie in the cast of the City Center Encores! production of Kismet, which will kick off the series’ 2006 season with performances February 9-12.

The show will be directed by Lonny Price, with musical direction by Paul Gemignani. It will also feature an ensemble of 30 singers and dancers including Elizabeth Parkinson, Solange Sandy, Rachelle Rak, Roland Rusinek, Scott Watanabe, and Michael X. Martin. Mitchell will play Hajj and Mazzie will play Lalume; the pair have starred together in three Broadway shows: Ragtime, Kiss Me, Kate, and Man of La Mancha.

Aldredge, who will play Jawan, is a five-time Tony Award nominee; his Broadway credits include Sticks and Bones, On Golden Pond, Passion, Twentieth Century, and Twelve Angry Men. Gurwin, who will play the Caliph, has been seen on Broadway in The Full Monty, Urinetown, and Little Women. Harriell, who will play Marsinah, most recently appeared on Broadway in Lennon and previously played Mimi in Rent. Kim, who will play Omar, has starred on Broadway in Golden Child and revivals of Flower Drum Song and The King and I. Rutigliano, who will play the Wazir, appeared on Broadway in The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public and The Lion King.

Kismet has a score by Robert Wright and George Forrest, based on themes by the classical composer Alexander Borodin, and a book by Charles Lederer and Luther Davis, based on the play by Edward Knoblock. The original Broadway production starred Alfred Drake and Joan Diener; the 1955 film version starred Howard Keel and Dolores Gray.

The Encores! season will continue March 30-April 2 with 70, Girls, 70, the 1971 Kander & Ebb musical about spunky senior citizens, followed by the Pulitzer Prize-winning Of Thee I Sing, May 11-15. For further information on the season and other City Center events, visit www.citycenter.org.