The creative team includes director Sarna Lapine (the librettist's niece), music director Chris Fenwick, scenic designer Beowulf Boritt, projection designer Wendall K. Harrington, costume designer Clint Ramos, lighting designer Ken Billington, sound designer Kai Harada, music coordinator Seymour Red Press, orchestrator Michael Starobin, and production stage manager Peter Lawrence with casting by Carrie Gardner, C.S.A./Stephen Kopel, C.S.A.
The cast will be headed by Jake Gyllenhaal and Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford with Brooks Ashmanskas (Mr.), Phillip Boykin (Boatman), Max Chernin, Carmen Cusack (Yvonne), Gabriel Ebert (Franz), Claybourne Elder (Soldier), Lisa Howard (Nurse), Zachary Levi (Jules), Liz McCartney (Mrs.), Michael McElroy, Ruthie Ann Miles (Frieda), Stephanie Jae Park, Solea Pfeiffer (Celeste #1), Gabriella Pizzolo (Louise), Phylicia Rashad (Old Lady), Jaime Rosenstein, and Lauren Worsham (Celeste #2).
Gyllenhaal, who was critically acclaimed for his performance in the New York City Center concert staging of the musical Little Shop of Horrors — opposite original stage and screen Audrey, Ellen Greene — will star in the title role of painter Georges Seurat with Ashford (You Can't Take It With You, Kinky Boots) as Dot.
Fun Home Tony winner Jeanine Tesori, the outgoing artistic director of Encores! Off-Center, will produce the evening.
The Sondheim-Lapine work opened at Broadway's Booth Theatre May 2, 1984, where it ran for 604 performances. Starring Mandy Patinkin as George and Bernadette Peters as Dot, the premiere Broadway company also included Barbara Bryne as the Old Lady, Brent Spiner as Franz, Charles Kimbrough as Jules, and Dana Ivey as Yvonne. Sondheim's score — which was nominated for a Tony Award — features such titles as “Finishing the Hat,” “Putting It Together,” “Children and Art,” “Move On,” and “Beautiful.” Sunday in the Park received ten Tony Award nominations, winning two—Scenic Designer (Tony Straiges) and Lighting Designer (Richard Nelson). It was also awarded a Pulitzer Prize.
Tickets for the October 24 Gala performance and dinner at The Plaza Hotel honoring business leader and philanthropist Adrienne Arsht are currently on sale for $2,500, $5,000 and $10,000. Tables of ten are available at $25,000, $50,000, $100,000 and $150,000. For benefit table and ticket details, call (212) 763-1205. For more information, visit nycitycenter.org.
View photos of the City Center Little Shop of Horrors below:
Loved 'Em in Little Shop? 7 Other Musical Pairings for Ellen Greene & Jake Gyllenhaal
