By Andrew Gans
18 Jul 2008

Jeff McCarthy
photo by Aubrey Reuben

Complete casting has been announced for the upcoming production of the George and Ira Gershwin-Peter Stone-Timothy S. Mayer musical My One and Only at the St. Louis Muny, the nation's oldest and largest outdoor theatre.

Directed by Marc Bruni with choreography by Niki Harris, the Broadway hit will play the St. Louis venue July 28-Aug. 3.

The cast will boast Dirk Lumbard as Captain Billy Buck Chandler, Jeff McCarthy as Prince Nicolai, Meredith Patterson as Edythe Herbert, Julyana Soelistyo as Mickey, Peggy Quinn as Reporter, Ken Page as Rt. Rev. J.D. Montgomery, Eugene Fleming as Mr. Magix, Joneal Joplin as Chorus Line (Penn Station) and Robert Earl Gleason as Achmed. The New Rhythm Boys include Brandon Bieber, Drew Humphrey and Bryan Langlitz with John Flack, Robert Earl Gleason, Joneal Joplin and John Meurer as the Ritz Quartet. Brandon Bieber is the Dance Captain.

The ensemble comprises Michael Baxter, Brandon Bieber, John Flack, Eric Sean Fogel, Robert Earl Gleason, Leah Hofmann, Nicole Hren, Drew Humphrey, Joneal Joplin, Bryan Langlitz, Ana Llewellyn, John Meurer, Tony Niedenbach, Peggy Quinn, Scott Seay, Michaeljon Slinger, Karilyn Ashley Surratt and Gia Grazia Valenti.

The creative team also includes musical director Lawrence Goldberg, scenic designer Michael Anania, lighting designer F. Mitchell Dana and sound designer Jason Krueger with costumes by the Kansas City Costume Company. Joseph Schulte is resident stage manager, Peggy Imbrie is production stage manager and Timothy Eaker is assistant stage manager.

With a score by George and Ira Gershwin and a book by Peter Stone and Timothy S. Mayer, My One and Only, according to press notes, concerns "an aviator, a Channel swimmer and America in 1972." The musical opened at Broadway's St. James Theatre in May 1983, playing 37 previews and 767 regular performances before closing March 3, 1985. Tommy Tune and Twiggy led the cast, and the musical received nine Tony nominations. My One and Only features such Gershwin classics as "S'Wonderful," "Strike Up the Band," "Nice Work if You Can Get It," "Funny Face" and the title tune.

The summer at the Muny will also include productions of Miss Saigon (July 21-27) and Fiddler on the Roof (Aug. 4-10).

For more information call (314) 361-1900, ext. 550 or visit www.muny.org.