Broadway’s Scandalous, With Book and Lyrics by Kathie Lee Gifford, to Close on December 9
© Jeremy Daniel
The Kathie Lee Gifford-penned musical Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson will end its Broadway run at the Neil Simon Theatre on Sunday, December 9. At the time of its closing, the production will have played 31 previews and 29 regular performances.
Featuring a book and lyrics by talk show host Gifford and music by David Pomeranz and David Friedman, the biographical musical stars two-time Tony Award nominee Carolee Carmello as Aimee Semple McPherson, the noted Evangelist who became the world’s first media sensation through charismatic speeches, radio broadcasts, much-publicized love affairs, and a controversial alleged kidnapping.
David Armstrong directs the musical, which also stars two-time Tony Award winner George Hearn (La Cage Aux Folles) as Aimee’s father, James Kennedy, and her chief rival, Brother Bob, Roz Ryan (Chicago) as her assistant, Emma Jo, Andrew Samonsky (South Pacific) as radio broadcaster Kenneth Ormiston, Candy Buckley (Cabaret) as her mother, Minnie Kennedy, and Edward Watts (The Fantasticks) as love interests Harold McPherson and David Hutton.
The Scandalous ensemble includes Nick Cartell, Joseph Dellger, Erica Dorfler, Carlos L. Encinias, Hannah Florence, Corey Greenan, Benjamin Howes, Karen Hyland, Elizabeth Ward Land, Alison Luff, Jesse Nager, Sam Strasfeld, Betsy Struxness, Billie Wildrick, Dan’yelle Williamson, and Matt Wolfe.
On the creative side, Lorin Latarro serves as choreographer, with Joel Fram as musical director, Walt Spangler as scenic designer, Gregory A. Poplyk as costume designer, Natasha Katz as lighting designer, Ken Travis as sound designer, and Bruce Coughlin as orchestrator.
Gifford and company had been developing Scandalous regionally for a number of years. Versions of the musical have previously been seen at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre (under the title Saving Aimee) and the Signature Theatre in Arlington (under the title Hurricane Aimee). She is also the book writer/lyricist of the musical Under the Bridge, co-written with Pomeranz.
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