By Adam Hetrick
31 Mar 2009

Becca Ayers

Complete casting has been announced for the Dallas Theater Center production of Sarah, Plain and Tall, the musical, which begins performances April 22.

Previously presented in a one-act version Off-Broadway in 2002, the Dallas Theater Center production is an expanded two-act presentation of the musical that has a book by Julia Jordan and a score by Tony nominees Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde).

As with the Off-Broadway production, Joe Calarco again directs the musical based on the award-winning novel by Patricia MacLachlan. It officially opens April 27 and runs through May 24 in the Dallas Theater Center's Kalita Humphreys Theater.

The new production of Sarah, Plain and Tall boasts the return of original 2002 Off-Broadway cast members Becca Ayers (South Pacific) as Sarah, Herndon Lackey (Parade, Kiss of the Spiderwoman) as Jacob and Kenneth Boys (Anne of Green Gables) as William. Kate Wetherhead (Legally Blonde, Spelling Bee), who portrayed Anna in the 2006 Off-Broadway return of the musical, repeats her performance for Dallas.

New for the Dallas production are Colin Hanlon (Rent, I Love You Because) as Matthew, Kate Loprest (Xanadu) as Estelle, Cristen Paige (The Visit, Cry-Baby) as Maggie and Max Ary as Caleb.

According to DTC, "The American classic's tale begins when a young unconventional fisherwoman named Sarah from Maine answers a widowed Kansas farmer's personal ad looking for someone to be his wife and a mother to his two children. A captivating and heartwarming journey begins as she sets out from the Eastern seaboard and arrives in the Midwest to meet her potential new family. Together, Sarah, Jacob Witting and his daughter and son overcome fear and loneliness through patience, love and understanding to experience the hopeful joy and challenges of building a family."

Designing the production are Tony nominee Anna Louizos (set design), Anne Kennedy (costume design), Chris Lee (lighting design) and Ryan Rumery (sound design). Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Company, The Addams Family) is musical director.

For tickets, phone (214) 252-3923, or visit DallasTheaterCenter. The Dallas Theater Center is located at 3636 Turtle Creek Blvd. at Blackburn St. in Dallas, TX.

Sarah, Plain and Tall stars Becca Ayers, Kate Wetherhead and Herndon Lackey
photo by Brandon Thibodeaux