City Center Encores! has completed casting for its upcoming production of the classic Sigmund Romberg- Oscar Hammerstein II operetta The New Moon, which will be performed Thursday, March 27 through Sunday, March 30.
The original production of The New Moon opened on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre in 1928 and ran for 509 performances. Featuring such songs as “Stouthearted Men” and “Lover, Come Back to Me,” the operetta concerns a young revolutionary who is discovered hiding from French authorities in 1790s New Orleans and is shipped back to France on a vessel called “The New Moon.”
The Encores! production of The New Moon will star Rodney Gilfry (A Streetcar Named Desire at the San Francisco Opera, Sophie’s Choice at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden) as Robert Mission, Christiane Noll (Jekyll and Hyde, It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues) as Marianne, F. Murray Abraham (Triumph of Love, Angels in America) as Vicomte Ribaud, Peter Benson (Little Me) as Alexander, Simon Jones (Waiting in the Wings) as Msr. Beaunoir, Brandon Jovanovich (The Student Prince at Paper Mill, Salome at New York City Opera) as Philippe, Alix Korey (45 Seconds From Broadway, Triumph of Love) as Clotilde, Mary Ann Lamb (Seussical, Fosse) as a featured dancer, Burke Moses (Kiss Me, Kate, Beauty and the Beast) as Captain Duval, Danny Rutigliano (The Lion King) as Besac, Alex Sanchez (Follies, Fosse) as Jacques, and Lauren Ward (Violet, Follies, 1776) as Julie. They will lead a cast of 46, the largest ever assembled for an Encores! show.
Gary Griffin will direct the production in a concert adaptation by David Ives. Musical direction will be by Rob Fisher, choreography by Daniel Pelzig, lighting design by Ken Billington, and sound design by Scott Lehrer. John Lee Beatty and Michael Krass will serve as scenic and costume consultants, respectively.
Tickets range from $85-$25 and may be purchased at the City Center box office (West 55th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues), by phoning CityTix at 212-581-1212, or through the website www.citycenter.org.