Wicked actress Helene Yorke, who had originally been cast in the role, sustained a foot injury during a Jan. 4 run-through of the new musical, which employs numerous cheerleading maneuvers. Doctors later diagnosed the injury as a fracture, and Yorke has been sidelined from the production while she heals, representatives for Bring It On informed Playbill.com.
LaVergne (2007 Broadway revival of Grease), who understudied the role of Campbell, will now join principal cast members Adrienne Warren (Dreamgirls national tour) as Danielle and Nick Blaemire (Cry-Baby, Glory Days) as Randall for the Atlanta run.
Tony Award-winning In the Heights choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler directs and choreographs the production that will officially open Jan. 28 for a run through Feb. 20. Though the title and subject matter are inspired by the popular film franchise, Tony Award-winning Avenue Q book writer Jeff Whitty has penned an original libretto for the musical that retains its setting of the world of competitive cheerleading.
Bring It On has music and lyrics by Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda (In The Heights), as well as music by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning composer Tom Kitt (Next to Normal) and lyrics by his High Fidelity collaborator, lyricist Amanda Green.
The cast also features Ariana DeBose, Brandon Espinoza (Gypsy, Big), Gregory Haney (Memphis, Wicked), Rod Harrelson (Legally Blonde), Dominique Johnson, Janet Krupin, Michael Mindlin (Mamma Mia!), Ryann Redmond, Elena Ricardo, Kate Rockwell (Legally Blonde), Jon Rua (In the Heights), LaQuet Sharnell (Memphis) and Ephraim M. Sykes. Among the cheerleaders who bring the explosive aerial stunts of Bring It On to life are Antwan Bethea, Michael Naone-Carter, Courtney Corbeille, Brooklyn Freitag, Melody Mills, Sheldon Tucker, David Ranck and Lauren Whitt.
The Atlanta premiere is presented by the Alliance Theatre in special arrangement with Universal Pictures Stage Productions/Glenn Ross, Beacon Communications/Armyan Bernstein and Charlie Lyons, and Kristin Caskey and Mike Isaacson.
For tickets phone (404) 733-5000 or visit AllianceTheatre.
