Playbill On-Line has learned that Skinner and Sutherland are both in final talks to portray, respectively, Diane and Julian in the new show, which borrows from Disney's beloved canon of songs. The On the Record tour kicks off Nov. 9 at the Palace Theatre in Playhouse Square in Cleveland, OH.
A spokesperson for the musical could not confirm casting as of press time. (A recent workshop of On the Record featured Rebecca Luker, Brent Barrett, Andrew Samonsky, Ashley Brown, Lenny Wolpe, Matt Farnsworth, Meredith Inglesby, Tyler Maynard and Kelly Sullivan.)
Directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom, On the Record will play Cleveland through Nov. 21 before launching a national tour that includes stops in Illinois, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan, Indianapolis, Florida and Texas. The creative team includes Natasha Katz (lighting), Robert Brill (scenery), Gregg Barnes (costumes), David Chase (musical supervision and arrangements) and Chad Beguelin (scenarist).
On the Record features songs from the Disney canon — both from classic Disney films and Disney's Broadway outings — and will be set in a recording studio. Over 50 songs comprise the musical, including tunes from "The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin," "Tarzan," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Sleeping Beauty," "Dumbo," "Peter Pan," "Pinocchio," "Lady and the Tramp," "Cinderella" and "Snow White."
Emily Skinner received a joint Tony Award nomination — with co-star Alice Ripley — for her performance in Side Show. Skinner's other Broadway credits include Jekyll & Hyde, James Joyce's The Dead, The Full Monty and Dinner at Eight. On Broadway, Brian Sutherland has been seen in the revivals of The Sound of Music and 1776 as well as Steel Pier, A Change in the Heir, Dance a Little Closer and Cats. He appeared in the national tours of Cabaret, Peter Pan and 42nd Street as well as regional productions of Breaking Legs, She Loves Me and A Chorus Line.
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As of press time, the On the Record itinerary follows:
Nov. 9-21 at Palace Theatre in Cleveland, OH
Nov. 30-Dec. 12 at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, IL
Dec. 14-19 at the Palace Theatre in Louisville, KY
Dec. 21-Jan. 2, 2005 at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in MN
Jan. 5-16, 2005 at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, PA
Feb. 1-6 at the Landmark Theater in Richmond, VA
Feb. 8-27 at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit, MI
March 1-6 at the Wharton Center East Lansing, MI
March 22-27 at the Clowes Memorial Hall in Indianapolis, IN
April 19-May 1 at the Broward Center in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
May 3-8 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center in Tampa, FL
May 10-15 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Ft. Myers, FL
May 24-May 29 at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio, TX
May 31-June 12 at the Hobby Center in Houston, TX
Aug. 30-Sept. 4 at the Civic Theatre in San Diego, CA
