Elder taps his way into the role of Bobby Child, having most recently portrayed song-and-dance man Don Lockwood in Singin' in the Rain for Goodspeed. Elder is a veteran leading man of numerous Broadway musicals, including 42nd Street; Kiss Me, Kate; Titanic; Once Upon a Mattress; and Damn Yankees.
Julie Tolivar will portray Polly Baker for the St. Louis production. Previously, Tolivar was seen on Broadway as Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Off-Broadway in Lone Star Love, for which she also recorded the original cast album on the PS Classics label.
Joining Elder and Tolivar are Steve Isom as Lank Hawkins, Kari Ely as Irene Roth and Jeffrey C. Wolf as Bela Zangler. The ensemble features Melinda Cowan, Molly Mahoney, Lois Enders, Gia Valenti, Erica Sweany, Nikol Wolf, Ellen Isom, Lisa M. Ramey, Zoe Vonder Haar, Nic Thompson, Shaver Tillitt, Drew Humphrey, Ben Nordstrom, Drew Nellessen, Vernon Goodman, Rob Reynolds, Scott Seay, Whit Reichert, John Flack and Michele Burdette Elmore.
Crazy for You is directed by Michael Hamilton, with choreography by Gayle Holsman and Dana Lewis, and musical direction by Al Fischer. The artistic team includes scenic designer Mark Halpin, costume designer Lou Bird, lighting designer Matthew McCarthy and orchestral designer Stuart M. Elmore.
Crazy for You features a book by Ken Ludwig and a score culled from the numerous popular hits of the George and Ira Gershwin catalogue. The original 1992 Broadway production, which ushered in Susan Stroman in her Broadway debut as a show-stopping choreographer, won three Tony Awards for Best Choreography, Best Costume Design and Best Musical. Songs featured include "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Embraceable You," "I Got Rhythm," "They Can't Take That Away From Me," "But Not For Me" and the title song. The five-week engagement concludes Oct. 7. Crazy for You plays Stages St. Louis, located within the Kirkwood Civic Center, 111 South Geyer Road, St. Louis, MO. Tickets are availably by calling (314) 821-2407 or by visiting www.stagesstlouis.org.
