Final Casting Announced for Jerry Springer — The Opera

Final casting has been announced for Jerry Springer — The Opera in Concert, which will play Carnegie Hall January 29-30. The production will be directed by Tony Award nominee Jason Moore, with musical direction by Stephen Oremus.

In addition to Harvey Keitel in the title role, the cast will feature Max von Essen, Emily Skinner, David Bedella, Katrinia Rose Diderikson, Linda Balgord, Lawrence Clayton, Sean Jenness, Sam Kitchin, Patricia Phillips, and Laura Shoop. The ensemble will include Katie Banks, Kristy Cates, Katrina Rose Dideriksen, Patty Goble, Chris Gunn, Celisse Henderson, Robert Hunt, John Eric Parker, Eddie Pendergraft, Richard Poole, Soara-Joye Ross, Tory Ross, Roland Rusinek, John Schiappa, Michael James Scott, Dennis Stowe, Edwin Vega, Sasha Weiss, Betsy Werbel, Jim Weitzer, and Lauren Worsham.

The show, which has music by Richard Thomas, and book and lyrics by Thomas and Stewart Lee, is inspired by Springer’s television talk show. It presents a series of unusual characters, each of whom are desperate for their “Jerry Springer moment.” In Act I, Springer’s guests include a man with a fiancée, a lover, and another lover with a secret. Act II depicts Springer in hell. It was first produced at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and then at London’s National Theatre in 2003. It transferred to the West End in 2005, where it won the Olivier Award, Critic’s Circle Award, Evening Standard Award, and Whatsonstage.com Award for Best Musical.