The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles has announced that Bradley Bredeweg and Brad Hooks’ new musical Headless will kick off a developmental lab at the theatre July 6. The modern gothic rock opera—from the creators of The Fosters—is inspired by Washington Irving’s well-known tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
The two-and-a-half week lab, which continues through July 23, will feature a cast made up of Ashley Argota (The Fosters, The Lion King), Reeve Carney (Penny Dreadful, Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark), Rob Evans (Jekyll & Hyde), Tamyra Gray (American Idol, Boston Public), Jon Robert Hall (Grease: Live, Glee), Emma Hunton (Spring Awakening, Freaky Friday), and Scott Porter (Friday Night Lights, Scorpion).
The story takes place years after the original event in Sleepy Hollow, and imagines a town that is controlled by a tyrannical mayor, who exploits the legend of the Headless Horseman to control the townspeople. All of that may change with the arrival of writer Ichabod Crane III, who has come to discover what really happened to his ancestor.
The Wallis and creators are collaborating with Google on the development lab, which will employ next-generation technology onstage. The Headless lab will wrap up with two private presentations on July 22 and 23.
“With our commitment to support LA-based artists in the three genres of theatre, music and dance, we are thrilled to host Bradley, Brad and the Headless lab cast during the early stages of this exciting project,” commented Paul Crewes, The Wallis’ artistic director, in a press statement.
“Brad and I consider ourselves so fortunate to be in such great hands at The Wallis,” said Bredeweg. “The Wallis is extremely supportive and at the forefront in nurturing forward-thinking musical theater. Along with Google's generous support in developing new technologies for live theatre, the early support of our co-producers Dave Hansen and Johnny Mac, and this first class Broadway bound cast that we have assembled—we’re kids in a theatrical candy store. We just can't wait to get into a room with such incredible talent.”
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