By Andrew Gans
01 Feb 2006

Alan Muraoka, most recently seen on Broadway in the revival of Pacific Overtures, is the latest addition to the cast of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' upcoming production of Mame.

Muraoka will play Ito in the Jerry Herman musical, which is scheduled to begin performances May 27 at the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater. The company also includes the previously announced Christine Baranski (in the title role), Harriet Harris (as Vera Charles), Emily Skinner (as Agnes Gooch) and Max von Essen (as the adult Patrick). Directed by Eric Schaeffer, the limited engagement will officially open June 1 and will run through July 2.

The musical's creative team comprises Warren Carlyle (choreographer), Walt Spangler (set designer), Ken Billington (lighting designer) and Gregg Barnes (costume designer).

Mame, according to press notes, "follows the whirlwind adventures of an unconventional aunt and her nephew with a rogue's gallery of memorable characters - including the has-been actress Vera Charles, timid secretary Agnes Gooch, and southern gentleman Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside - plus encounters with proper society."

Mame, based on Patrick Dennis' novel "Auntie Mame," features a score by Jerry Herman and a book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. The original Broadway production opened in May 1966 at the Winter Garden Theatre with Angela Lansbury as Mame and Bea Arthur as Vera Charles. Both Lansbury and Arthur won Tony Awards for their work. A subsequent film version cast Lucille Ball as the vivacious Mame. The classic Herman score includes such tunes as "If He Walked Into My Life," "It's Today," "Open a New Window," "Mame," "Bosom Buddies" and "We Need a Little Christmas."

Alan Muraoka has been seen on Broadway in Pacific Overtures, The King and I, My Favorite Year, Miss Saigon, Shogun-The Musical and Mail. The actor is also a regular on the long-running PBS series "Sesame Street."

Mame will play Tuesday-Sunday evenings at 7:30 PM with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 PM. Tickets, priced $25-$90, are available by calling (202) 467-4600 or (800) 444-1324. For more information visit www.kennedy-center.org.