Theater News

Kristin Chenoweth and Jennifer Holliday Set for Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Reading

Christopher Sieber, James Naughton, and Kerry Butler are also in the cast.

Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth leads Best Little Whorehouse in Texas reading.
Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth leads Best Little Whorehouse in Texas reading.
(© David Gordon)

Casting has been announced for a private industry reading of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas taking place today in New York City.

Produced by Jeffrey Richards and Will Trice, the reading is led by stage and television star Kristin Chenoweth (On the Twentieth Century), playing Miss Mona Stangley. The cast also features Kevin McKidd as Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd, Jennifer Holliday (Chicago) as Jewel, Christopher Sieber (Pippin) as Melvin P. Thorpe, James Naughton (Democracy) as the Governor, Kerry Butler (Disaster!) as Doatsey Mae, Jim Newman (Hands on a Hardbody) as the Band Leader, Helene Yorke (American Psycho) as Angel, Madeline Brewer as Shy, Bob Gaynor (Leap of Faith) as Edsel Mackey/Dogette, Greg Hildreth (Cinderella) as Mayor Rufus Poindexter/Dogette, Darius Nichols (Hair) as C.J. Scruggs/Dogette, Ryan Andes (Big Fish) as Reporter/Dogette, and Peter Benson (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) as Senator Wingwoah.

Also in the cast are Krystal Joy Brown as Linda Lou, Kate Marilley as Ginger, Morgan Weed as Beatrice, Erica Sweany as Taddy Jo, Anne Horak as Eloise, Ashley Park as Dawn, Anna Eilinsfeld as Durla, and Syndee Winters as Ruby Rae, as well as Jared Dixon, Aaron Finley, Anthony Sagaria, Sam Simahk, and Alex Michael Stoll.

With a score by Carol Hall and a book by Larry L. King and Peter Masterson, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is inspired by the goings-on at the Chicken Ranch brothel in La Grange, Texas, which operated from 1905 to 1973. The musical follows an eclectic cast of characters including Miss Mona Stangley, the brothel's proprietor, who must contend with a crusading television reporter working to get the destination shut down.

In August 2014, it was announced that the classic musical had its sights set on Broadway, to be directed and choreographed in 2015 by Tony winner Rob Ashford.