Playbill.com has learned that the cast, which is still in formation, will include George Dvorsky as Harold Nichols, Merle Louise as Jeanette Burmeister and Milton Craig Nealy as Noah "Horse" T. Simmons. Directed and choreographed by Barry Ivan, The Full Monty will play the newly renovated North Shore Nov. 1-20.
The creative team for the musical also includes Dale Rieling (music director), Dex Edwards (scenic designer), Susan Picinich (costume designer), Scott Davis (lighting designer), John A. Stone (sound designer) and Gerard Kelly (hair and wig designer).
About the upcoming production North Shore Artistic Director and Executive Producer Jon Kimbell said in a statement, "Recovering from the fire and re-opening our doors in just over three months is truly a testament to the drive, determination and passion of the entire staff and Board of Trustees at NSMT. I could not be more proud."
The Full Monty features a book by Terrence McNally and a score by David Yazbek. The musical opened at Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre in October 2000 playing 770 performances before closing Sept. 1, 2002. The original cast included Patrick Wilson, Jason Danieley, André De Shields, Kathleen Freeman, Annie Golden, Marcus Neville and Emily Skinner.
The musical, according to production notes, "is the raucous, heartfelt story of six unemployed steelworkers in Buffalo, New York who go to great lengths to make some cash and help out a friend in trouble. When a local male strip show — whose dancers venture down to their G-strings — is a hit with the local women, the cash-strapped factory workers figure they can really cash in if they go 'the full Monty.' The buddies, desperate for self-respect, must overcome their fears, their nerves, and their clothes for a shot at success." George Dvorsky was seen in the Broadway casts of The Scarlet Pimpernel, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Passion and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and has appeared in the North Shore Music Theatre's production of A Christmas Carol for over a decade.
Merle Louise's Broadway credits include the original Broadway productions of Gypsy, Company, Sweeney Todd, La Cage aux Folles, Into the Woods and Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Most recently on Broadway in Caroline, or Change, Milton Craig Nealy has also appeared in Five Guys Named Moe, Miss Saigon, Once on This Island, Mail and Dreamgirls.
The North Shore Music Theatre is located at 62 Dunham Road in Beverly, MA. Tickets, priced $35-$68, are available by calling (978) 232-7200 or by visiting www.nsmt.org.
