Sophia Anne Caruso, Aidan Gemme, MJ Rodriguez, and More Set for Runaways

New York City Center has announced casting for its upcoming production of Elizabeth Swados' Runaways as part of the Encores! Off-Center series.

The diverse company is made up of New York theater regulars including Frenie Acoba (Matilda The Musical), Taylor Caldwell (School of Rock), Sophia Anne Caruso (Lazarus), Aidan Gemme (Finding Neverland), Matthew Gumley (The Addams Family), Sam Poon (The King and I), Jeremy Shinder (A Christmas Story), MJ Rodriguez (Rent), Ripley Sobo (Matilda The Musical), and Chris Sumpter (Matilda The Musical).

Also in the cast are Sumaya Bouhbal, Kenneth Cabral, Maxwell Cabral, Xavier Casimir, Joshua DeJesus, Adleesa Edwards, Reyna Guerra, Christina Jimenez, Kylie McNeill, Cele Pahucki, Siena Rafter, Claudia Ramirez, Ren, Deandre Sevon, and Maxwell Vice.

Inspired by interviews that Swados conducted with real-life runaways, Runaways premiered at the Public Theater on February 21, 1978, before moving to Broadway's Plymouth Theater that spring where it ran for 274 performances. Swados, then 27 years old, was the show's composer, book writer, director, and choreographer. She was nominated for four 1978 Tony Awards for each of her contributions to the work, as well as Drama Desk Awards for her direction, music, and lyrics. Swados died at the age of 64 earlier this year.

Runaways will be directed by Sam Pinkleton and choreographed by Ani Taj, both of whom were students of Swados' at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. The production is set to run from July 6-9.

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