As previously reported, the production plays the Goodspeed Opera House July 8-Sept. 18 in East Haddam, CT, prior to a Goodspeed-produced national tour that begins this fall in Wilmington, DE.
Oscar and Emmy Award-winner Julie Andrews created the role of Polly, making her Broadway debut with the musical in 1954. Book, music and lyrics are by Sandy Wilson, who spoofs musicals of the 1920s with his happy, Charleston-spiked show. Revisions to the script are being explored.
"Amidst happy flappers and perfect young ladies, romance blooms on the French Riviera as an English heiress suddenly falls for the delivery boy," according to Goodspeed.
Casting was announced June 8. Bethe B. Austin will play Hortense; Paul Carlin will play Percival, Andrea Chamberlain will be Maisie, Drew Eshelman will play Lord Brockhurst, Rick Faugno as Bobby Van Husen, Nancy Hess will portray Madame Dubonnet, Sean Palmer ( Saturday Night Fever) will play Tony, and Darcy Pulliam is Lady Brockhurst.
The cast of 18 also includes Andrew Briedis as Pierre, Scott Barnhardt as Alphonse, Jordan Cable as Marcel, Margot de La Barre as Nancy, Renee Pugh as Monica, Krysta Rodriguez as Fay, Eric Daniel Santagata as Phillipe, Tom Souhrada as Garcon, Kirsten Wyatt as Dulcie. Mike Frankey and Marissa Joy Ganz are swings for this production. Jessica Grové was seen in Broadway's Thoroughly Modern Millie and Les Misérables and received a Jefferson nomination for her role as Dorothy in Radio City Entertainment's The Wizard of Oz .
Andrews, whose acting credits include such showbiz landmarks as My Fair Lady, Camelot and the films "Mary Poppins" and "The Sound of Music," originally created this version of The Boy Friend for the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, NY in August 2003.
Choreography is by John DeLuca. The musical director for The Boy Friend is Michael O'Flaherty, in his 14th season as Goodspeed's resident music director. F. Wade Russo is assistant music director with orchestrations by Dan DeLange.
Scenic and costume design is by Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award-winning Tony Walton (Andrews' close pal and former husband), with Kelly Hanson as associate scenic designer and Rachel Navarro as co-costume designer. Lighting is designed by Richard Pilbrow.
The Boy Friend is produced for Goodspeed Musicals by Michael P. Price.
For more information, visit www.goodspeed.org.
