By Andrew Gans
and Ernio Hernandez
24 Feb 2005

Jeff Calhoun
photo by Joan Marcus

Jeff Calhoun, who directed and choreographed the recent, acclaimed revival of Big River, has joined the creative team for the world premiere of the new musical Himself and Nora at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre.

Calhoun will share directorial duties with Joseph Hardy and will also supply the musical staging. Himself and Nora, which is set to run March 16-April 4, features music by Jonathan Brielle, a book by Sheila Walsh and lyrics by Brielle and Walsh. Matt Bogart will star as famed writer James Joyce with Kate Shindle as Nora Barnacle.

The cast will also include David Edwards as Priest/Giorgio Joyce, Frank Mastrone as John Joyce/Doctor/Ezra Pound and Kathy Santen as Joyce's Mother/Harriet Weaver/Sylvia Beach/Lucia Joyce. The creative team also features Tobin Ost (scenic and costume design), Michael Gilliam (lighting design), Jon Weston (sound design) and Jana Zielonka (music director).

Himself and Nora, according to the Globe website, "shines a light on one of modern literature's most influential artists, James Joyce, viewing his accomplishments through the prism of his unique relationship with Nora Barnacle. Although she was an uneducated Irish chambermaid, Nora became Joyce’s quintessential muse, helping him through a myriad of artistic and emotional challenges, while providing both inspiration and salvation."

Jeff Calhoun received a 1994 Tony Award nomination for Best Choreography for the long-running revival of Grease!, which he also directed. His other Broadway credits include Big River, Bells Are Ringing, Annie Get Your Gun, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public, Tommy Tune Tonite! and The Will Rogers Follies. Calhoun also directed and choreographed the new Broadway musical Brooklyn.

Matt Bogart was seen as Paul in the Kennedy Center mounting of Stephen Sondheim's Company, and his Broadway credits include Aida, The Civil War, Miss Saigon and Smokey Joe's Cafe. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music, Bogart has appeared in regional productions of Camelot, Carousel and Side Show, and his debut solo recording, "Simple Songs," is available on the Jay Records label. He was also recently part of the premiere cast of Frank Wildhorn's Camille Claudel at the Goodspeed and was seen in Orpheus Descending at the Arena stage.

Singer-actress Kate Shindle earned the title of Miss America in 1998. She portrayed Sally Bowles in the Roundabout revival of Cabaret and also appeared on Broadway as Lucy in Jekyll & Hyde. Shindle took part in the all-star benefit concerts of Children of Eden and Pippin and was recently seen in the remake of "The Stepford Wives."

For more information about The Old Globe's current season, contact Globe Ticket Services at (619) 23-GLOBE. Visit the company's website at www.theoldglobe.org.