Theater News

Vroman, Hocking, Murphy, Korbich, Scherer, Hernandez Will Co-Star in NYCO’s Most Happy Fella

Leah Hocking
(Photo © Joseph Marzullo)
Leah Hocking
(Photo © Joseph Marzullo)

Lisa Vroman, Leah Hocking, Karen Murphy, Eddie Korbich, John Scherer, and Ivan Hernandez will join the previously announced Paul Sorvino in the upcoming New York City Opera revival of Frank Loesser’s The Most Happy Fella, March 4-22. The production will be directed by Philip Wm McKinley (The Boy From Oz) and will feature choreography by Peggy Hickey, sets by Michael Anania, costumes by Ann Hould Ward, and lighting by Robert Wietzel.

Based on the play They Knew What They Wanted by Sidney Howard, The Most Happy Fella tells the story of a middle-aged Italian winemaker in Napa, California who tries to lure a much younger San Francisco waitress into marrying him by sending her a photo of his young, handsome ranch foreman. The show first opened in Broadway in 1956; it ran more than 675 performances and garnered six Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical. Loesser’s score includes such well-known tunes as “Standing on the Corner,” “Big D”, and “My Heart is So Full of You.”

Vroman, who will play Rosabella, has been seen on Broadway in The Phantom of the Opera and Aspects of Love. Hocking, who will play Cleo, has appeared on and Off-Broadway in such shows as Hairspray, All Shook Up, and The Thing About Men. Murphy, who will play Marie, starred on Broadway in All Shook Up and 42nd Street. Korbich, who will play the Doctor, had leading roles in Broadway revivals of Sweeney Todd and Carousel. Scherer, who will play Herman, co-starred in the Broadway production of By Jeeves. Hernandez, who will play Joey, recently appeared in the NYMF production of Yank!

Sorvino was seen on Broadway in Bajour and That Championship Season, for which he received a Tony Award nomination; he also starred in the original production of The Baker’s Wife, which closed before reaching Broadway. His film credits include Goodfellas, Dick Tracy, Reds, and Nixon.

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