Casting Complete for LuPone Regina at Kennedy Center

By Andrew Gans
February 22, 2005

Complete casting has been announced for the upcoming production of Marc Blitzstein's Regina at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

As previously announced, Tony and Olivier Award winner Patti LuPone will star in the title role as Regina Giddens with Oklahoma! Tony winner Shuler Hensley as Horace Giddens. They will be joined by Leena Chopra (Alexandra Giddens), Sheryl Woods (Birdie Hubbard), Marietta Simpson (Addie), Tim Noble (Benjamin Hubbard), Tim Nolen (Oscar Hubbard), Mark Ledbetter (Leo Hubbard), Elmore James (Cal) and Eugene Galvin (William Marshall). The ensemble comprises Sandy Bainum, Dorian Balis, Michael Bunce, Josué Boustos, Elaine Dalbo, Erin Driscoll, Mary Gressock, David Kozisek, Matthew Lepold, Edrie Means, Eleni Peyser, Jacqueline Quirk, Thomas Adrian Simpson, Stephen Gregory Smith, Harlie Sponaugle, Jennifer Suess and William Weiss.

Gerald Freedman directs the March 10-12 semi-staged concerts at the famed D.C. theatre. The creative team also includes Steven Mercurio (conductor), Jim Noone (set designer), Kevin Adams (lighting designer), Scott Lehrer (sound designer), Tracey Christensen (costume designer), Colleen Keseterson and Mary Wolfson (assistant costume designers), Paul Huntley (wig designer for LuPone) and Jeffrey Frank (wig designer).

Regina, with music and libretto by Marc Blitzstein, is based on Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes. The original production played the 46th Street Theatre Oct. 1949-Dec. 1949. The company included Lillyn Brown as Addie, Donald Clarke as Marshall, Clarise Crawford as Belle, Priscilla Gillette as Alexandra Giddens, Brenda Lewis as Birdie Hubbard, George Lipton as Ben Hubbard, Russell Nype as Leo Hubbard, Jane Pickens as Regina Giddens, Lee Sweetland as Manders, David Thomas as Oscar Hubbard, Peggy Turnley as Ethelinda, William Warfield as Cal and William Wilderman as Horace Giddens.

Tickets for Regina are now on sale. Visit www.kennedy-center.org for more information.