Max von Essen and More Join Rebecca Luker in Secret Garden Benefit Concerts

Additional casting has been announced for the Friends in Theater Company benefit concert production of The Secret Garden, set to take place January 11 and 17 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. The concerts will be hosted by original cast member and youngest Tony Award winner Daisy Eagan.

Directed and choreographed by Curtis Holbrook (If/Then), the performances will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York and Western New York. The production will feature Original Secret Garden cast members Rebecca Luker and Bill Nolte as Lily and Ben, with Gabriella Pizzolo (Fun Home) as Mary, Eli Tokash (The King and I) as Colin, Ali Ewoldt (The King and I) as Ayah, and Cortney Wolfson (Kinky Boots) as Martha.

Newly announced for the show are Max von Essen (An American in Paris) as Dr. Neville Craven, Tamika Lawrence (The Wiz Live!) as Rose, Tom Deckman (Spamalot) as Dickon, and Frances Mercanti-Anthony (Jerusalem) as Mrs. Medlock.

The ensemble will be made up of Lacey Angerosa, Zech Azazi, Phillip Claflin, Michael Gioia, Emma Grimsley, Megan Johnson, Travis Kent, Jenna Miller, and Michael Yeshion. Additional casting will be announced at a later date. Jonathan Rose serves as musical director.

This version of Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman's Tony-winning musical is unrelated to Manhattan Concert Productions' upcoming staging of The Secret Garden, which stars another Fun Home veteran, Tony nominee Sydney Lucas. Stafford Arima (Allegiance) directs that production, which will be mounted at David Geffen Hall on February 21 and 22.

For tickets to the Friends in Theater Company production, click here.