The cast for the Kennedy Center run of the Michael Stewart-Bob Merrill musical, which plays through March 11, features Ereni Sevasti as Lili, Jim Stanek as Paul, Sebastian La Cause as Marco, Natascia Díaz as Rosalie, Michael Arnold as Jacquot and Jonathan Lee Iverson as Schlegel.
The remainder of the company comprises Matt Baker, Alan Bennett, Elisabeth Page Carpenter, Laura Ann Carpenter, Ed Christie, Jazmin Gorsline, Sarah Lin Johnson, Amanda Kloots, Adam Laird, Denis Lambert, Sean McKnight, Nanette Michele, Mike Mosallam, Lance Olds, Lauren Pastorek, Krista Saab, Chad L. Schiro, Christopher Sergeeff, Tara Siesener, Steven Wenslawski and Rebecca Young. Koh Mochizuki is the dance captain; Mochizuki and Jillian Owens are swings.
The creative team for the new Kennedy Center production includes Andrew Jackness (set design), Paul Tazewell (costume design), Ken Billington (lighting design), Kurt Fischer (sound design), Ed Christie (puppets) and Joe Eddie Fairchild (magic).
Based on the 1953 film "Lili," Carnival, according to press notes, tells the store of "Lili - a girl from an isolated village in France who joins the traveling Grande Imperial Cirque de Paris. Falling for the troupe's manipulative magician, she also enchants a disillusioned puppeteer, who can only show his love through his whimsical creations."
Song titles include "Direct from Vienna," "Mira," "I've Got to Find a Reason," "A Sword and a Rose and a Cape," "Humming," "Yes, My Heart," "Magic Magic," "Love Makes the World Go Round," "Everybody Likes You," "Yum Ticky Ticky Tum Tum," "We're Rich," "Beautiful Candy," "Her Face," "Grand Imperial Cirque De Paris," "I Hate Him," "Always, Always You," "She's My Love" and "Finale Ultimo." Carnival!, which bowed on Broadway in 1961, features a score by Bob Merrill and a book by Michael Stewart. The original Broadway cast featured Anna Maria Alberghetti, Kaye Ballard, Henry Lascoe, James Mitchell, Pierre Olaf and Jerry Orbach.
Jim Stanek has been seen on Broadway in Lestat, Forum, The Rivals, Little Women and Indiscretions. Stanek is currently part of the Off-Broadway cast of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.
Sebastian La Cause's Main Stem credits include The Rocky Horror Show, Minnelli on Minnelli, Once Upon a Mattress and Chicago. His screen credits include "All My Children," "One Life to Live," "As the World Turns," "Boogie Nights," "Scream II," "Chicago," "Eraser," "Showgirls" and "Penny Dreadful."
Natascia Diaz, currently in the Off-Broadway revival of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, has performed on Broadway in Man of La Mancha, Seussical, The Capeman and Carousel. Her Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick . . . BOOM!, Saturday Night and Bright Lights, Big City.
Michael Arnold, a Fred Astaire Award winner, has been seen on Broadway in Jumpers; 42nd Street; Kiss Me, Kate; Little Me; Cabaret; Chicago; The Who's Tommy; and Cats.
Jonathan Lee Iverson began his career singing with the Boys Choir of Harlem; at 22 he became the first African-American ringmaster of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.
Ereni Sevasti has appeared in productions of The Sound of Music, Little Shop of Horrors and The Mystery of Edwin Drood at such theatres as the Paper Mill Playhouse, the George Street Playhouse and The Chatham Playhouse.
Carnival plays Tuesday-Sunday evenings at 7:30 PM with matinees Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 PM. Tickets, priced $25-$90, are available by calling (202) 467-4600. For more information visit www.kennedy-center.org.
