Kathie Lee Gifford’s Broadway Musical, Scandalous, Starring Carolee Carmello, Records Its Cast Album

A record label and release date have not yet been announced. Featuring a book and lyrics by talk show host Kathie Lee Gifford and music by David Pomeranz and David Friedman, the musical biography of noted Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson ran for 31 previews and 29 regular performances at Broadway’s Neil Simon Theatre in late 2012.

Along with two-time Tony nominee Carmello (who played Semple McPherson), the cast included two-time Tony Award winner George Hearn (La Cage Aux Folles) as both Aimee’s father and her chief rival, Roz Ryan (Chicago) as her assistant, Andrew Samonsky (South Pacific) as radio broadcaster Kenneth Ormiston, Candy Buckley (Cabaret) as her mother, and Edward Watts (The Fantasticks) as love interests Harold McPherson and David Hutton. Featured in the ensemble were Nick Cartell, Joseph Dellger, Erica Dorfler, Carlos L. Encinias, Hannah Florence, Corey Greenan, Benjamin Howes, Karen Hyland, Elizabeth Ward Land, Alison Luff, Jesse Nager, Sam Strasfeld, Betsy Struxness, Billie Wildrick, Dan’yelle Williamson, and Matt Wolfe.

Prior to its brief Broadway bow, Scandalous, which follows Semple McPherson’s rise from farm girl to radio host to controversial media sensation, had been produced regionally, at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre (under the title Saving Aimee) and the Signature Theatre in Arlington (under the title Hurricane Aimee).