Carolee Carmello, Andréa Burns to Star in World Premiere of Pamela's First Musical
(© David Gordon)
Two River Theater has announced casting for the world premiere of Pamela's First Musical.
Running September 8-October 7, Pamela's First Musical features a book by the late Wendy Wasserstein and by Christopher Durang, with a score by David Zippel and the late Cy Coleman. Graciela Daniele directs and choreographs. It is based on Wasserstein's 1996 children's book.
The production will star Sarah McKinley Austin in the title role, alongside Howard McGillin, Carolee Carmello, Andréa Burns, David Garrison, and Michael Mulheren. The cast also includes Wesley J. Barnes, Jeanine Bruen, Mary Callanan, Nick Cearley, Erica Dorfler, Hillary Fisher, Jacobi Hall, Elizabeth Ritacco, and Blake Zolfo.
Featured on the creative team are music director Gregory J. Dlugos, orchestrator Charlie Rosen, scenic designers David Gallo and Viveca Gardiner, costume designer Gabriel Berry, lighting designer David Lander, and sound designer Drew Levy. The production will have music supervision and arrangements by Kevin Stites.
The musical tells the story of Pamela (Austin), an unhappy, imaginative young girl whose mother has died. Her father (McGillin), though well-meaning, doesn't fully understand his creative, unusual daughter. When Pamela's eccentric and fabulous Aunt Louise (Carmello) sweeps her away on her birthday to see her very first Broadway musical, Pamela meets many of the colorful personalities of the New York theater world.
Pamela's First Musical was originally scheduled to have its world premiere in 2005; that production was canceled after Coleman's death in 2004 and Wasserstein's illness, which led to her untimely death in 2006. Neither artist was able to see the dream of a full production realized.
